SKU: GI.G-9566
ISBN 9781622773589.
What do coaches, master teachers, and studies of the psychology of learning have to teach us about conducting? It turns out, quite a bit. In this concise yet insightful volume, Richard Sparks draws from years of experience in the professional choral world and from his time teaching at two leading universities to help choral conductors transform their craft and create truly artful experiences. He gains inspiration from legendary college basketball coach John Wooden and shares striking and refreshing parallels between coaching sports teams and conducting music ensembles. Sparks draws equally from research in the fields of teaching and the psychology of learning—and what a conductor can take from those areas as well. Just as an artisan builds a set of skills and learns the tools of the trade, conductors too must build a box of tools to help them learn, understand, and interpret music, lead rehearsals, and conduct. The Conductor’s Toolbox conveniently and succinctly compiles these tools. Highlights include: Assessing yourself and your choir Using modeling Developing good habits in yourself and your choir Learning and teaching new skills Rehearsing more efficiently Teaching fundamental elements of music Selecting repertoire that improves your and your choir’s skills Improving your planning and pacing of rehearsals This book is for the young conductor starting out who wants to build a truly solid craft. It is also for the experienced conductor who wonders how to move to the next level, reenergize, and grow. Richard Sparks was Professor of Music and Chair of Conducting & Ensembles at the University of North Texas from 2009–2019, and he served as Director of Choral Activities at Pacific Lutheran University from 1983–2001. He has founded and led a number of professional choral organizations and guest conducted ensembles including the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and the Swedish Radio Choir. Choral Music Skill Building Evaluation Form. This evaluation form, created by Alan Davis and available here as a free PDF download, touches on many of the skill building ideas discussed in The Conductor's Toolbox. A unique and deftly effective instructional reference guide and manual that is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library collection, The Conductor's Toolbox should be considered essential reading for anyone seeking a career in orchestral conducting in any form or format. —James A. Cox, Library Bookwatch, October 2019.
SKU: GI.G-9815T
ISBN 9781622773671.
Habits of a Successful Choral Musician is a resource for both choir directors and choral singers that builds music fundamentals (sight-singing and ear training) and vocal functions (from posture to tone). This book has provided a clear and well-organized pedagogy that is helping my students to improve in all facets of being a choral musician. — Alan Davis, Director of Choirs, Hemet High School, Hemet, CA Habits of a Successful Choral Musician by Eric Wilkinson and Scott Rush is a fantastic resource for choir directors who seek to develop all levels of singers. The book provides a pedagogical approach to teaching voice building, rhythm work, tuning exercises, sight-reading, theory exercises, and suggestions to nurture the entire musician. I love how this one method book covers multiple aspects of musicianship, rather than having to use multiple books to build each individual skill. — Emily Chandler, Director of Choirs, Seven Lakes High School, Katy, TX Habits of a Successful Choral Musician is a field-tested, vital, and—most important—musical collection of more than 200 sequenced exercises for building fundamentals and artistry. Perfect for use by an entire choir or soloist, this book contains carefully sequenced warm-ups, vocalises, chorales, rhythm work, tonal patterns, sight-singing etudes, and much more. In one place, this book presents everything an aspiring singer needs to build fundamental musicianship skills and then be able to transfer those skills directly into the performance of great literature. Habits of a Successful Choral Musician: Provides material for use during fundamentals time that promotes a comprehensive approach to developing skills necessary to fill the musical toolbox. Includes a sequential format that leads to the mastery of reading rhythms and, ultimately, to musical sight-singing. Provides chorales and other ensemble exercises for the development of tone quality, ensemble sonority, and musicianship. Includes partner songs, folk songs, and rounds to develop harmony skills. Combines pedagogy, literacy, fundamentals development, sight-singing, and musicianship into one book under one cover. Promotes the idea that technique and artistry are not taught in silos but are simultaneously taught as students build capacity in both areas. Habits of a Successful Choral Musician is the answer to the question, What should I be learning during fundamentals time? Eric Wilkinson is the Director of Choral Studies at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Scott Rush is the Director of Fine and Performing Arts in Dorchester District Two (SC) and is the lead writer for the Habits series published by GIA. Preview the contents with Erik Wilkinson in this video...
