Remember that brief discussion about the wise man loving reproof . . . or reproach? Well, I've not been able to determine whether Zach was right with his "reproach" comment or me with my "reproof" thought . . . but here is a link that discusses the essence of proverbs, the wise man, and one who appreciates instruction and correction.
I've not been able to find what i thought i was quoting . . . so i must have made it all up in some sort of mind jumble. I think I had the essence of the truth correct: the wise person loves to be corrected because it increases their knowledge.
So . . . take that thought with you today and I'll give you more choir corrections tomorrow.
Peace!
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Random Thoughts
Great rehearsal last week, choirs, and I'm looking forward to Sunday at Mountain Brook Baptist Church. Remember, practice driving there--those roads in MB are quirky.
Radio show free download. Would you like to listen/download the wierd show I listen to at night? They are having a free MP3 download event this weekend. Topics include: 9-11 Enigmas, UFOs, Aliens & Underground Bases; Near Death Accounts; End Times Visions; and Investigating Skull & Bones.
Fall Concert: Since we are only doing one long set, I'm going to eliminate "I Have Had Singing" from the concert, even though we have it memorized. I'll give you a copy of the program next week. Chamber Singers will begin, followed by Women's Chorale, followed by Concert Choir.
Family Success: My sister-in-law just called and they are tailgating next to the Manning's at Ole Miss this weekend. She says they are all there--Archie, Peyton, Eli and the rest. Amy (Leigh's sister) has had a great week. She found out yesterday that she won a 2005 GMC Envoy. She's a drug rep for Abbott Laboratories and this was a national promotional for the person that sells the most drugs . . . we're very proud of her. Congratulations, Amy!
OK, that's it. It seems my blog to the choir occasionally explores family and other completely unrelated matters. I guess it is because you are an important group of people to me. Blessings to all!
Radio show free download. Would you like to listen/download the wierd show I listen to at night? They are having a free MP3 download event this weekend. Topics include: 9-11 Enigmas, UFOs, Aliens & Underground Bases; Near Death Accounts; End Times Visions; and Investigating Skull & Bones.
Fall Concert: Since we are only doing one long set, I'm going to eliminate "I Have Had Singing" from the concert, even though we have it memorized. I'll give you a copy of the program next week. Chamber Singers will begin, followed by Women's Chorale, followed by Concert Choir.
Family Success: My sister-in-law just called and they are tailgating next to the Manning's at Ole Miss this weekend. She says they are all there--Archie, Peyton, Eli and the rest. Amy (Leigh's sister) has had a great week. She found out yesterday that she won a 2005 GMC Envoy. She's a drug rep for Abbott Laboratories and this was a national promotional for the person that sells the most drugs . . . we're very proud of her. Congratulations, Amy!
OK, that's it. It seems my blog to the choir occasionally explores family and other completely unrelated matters. I guess it is because you are an important group of people to me. Blessings to all!
Monday, October 11, 2004
Proud Father and More
All of you know about my girls, Catherine, Caroline, and Claire.
I just posted a recent picture of them on my website in case you'd like to see it. I'm incredibly proud of these girls. Tonight's victory was that we all climbed down the steps without falling.
Claire, technically the youngest and definitely the fattest, is the best climber. She's the one in the lower part of the picture. Catherine is her identical twin sister and she is doing OK with descending the stairs. Caroline was the slowest in getting down the stairs by herself. She was doing OK a couple of weeks ago in the descending mode before a nasty collision with Catherine who was on her way "up" the stairs.
Did you know that we multiple parents have online support groups? On this website, you can find fascinating discussions about White Cloud (walmart brand) diapers, new triplet moms, and even discussions about avoiding perverts who seek pictures of women with large pregnant bellies.
I think the neatest thing that i have seen in the past several days is this picture of the Hayes sextuplets. The six children - three boys and three girls - weighed a total of 24 pounds and 14 ounces, a world record for the heaviest set of sextuplets. All i can say is: wow.
And you thought this blog was just about choir?
I just posted a recent picture of them on my website in case you'd like to see it. I'm incredibly proud of these girls. Tonight's victory was that we all climbed down the steps without falling.
Claire, technically the youngest and definitely the fattest, is the best climber. She's the one in the lower part of the picture. Catherine is her identical twin sister and she is doing OK with descending the stairs. Caroline was the slowest in getting down the stairs by herself. She was doing OK a couple of weeks ago in the descending mode before a nasty collision with Catherine who was on her way "up" the stairs.
Did you know that we multiple parents have online support groups? On this website, you can find fascinating discussions about White Cloud (walmart brand) diapers, new triplet moms, and even discussions about avoiding perverts who seek pictures of women with large pregnant bellies.
I think the neatest thing that i have seen in the past several days is this picture of the Hayes sextuplets. The six children - three boys and three girls - weighed a total of 24 pounds and 14 ounces, a world record for the heaviest set of sextuplets. All i can say is: wow.
And you thought this blog was just about choir?
Tag Change
Following up on Charles' suggestion, the tag line to our "blog" now reads:
"the best singers performing the greatest music of all time"
It used to be:
"the best singers in Alabama performing the greatest music of all time"
Charles' first suggestion was:
"the best singer of all time (charles henry) and the best singers in Alabama performing the greatest music of all time"
Thanks, Charles, for letting me slightly modify your first suggestion.
of course, that last part was a joke . . .
"the best singers performing the greatest music of all time"
It used to be:
"the best singers in Alabama performing the greatest music of all time"
Charles' first suggestion was:
"the best singer of all time (charles henry) and the best singers in Alabama performing the greatest music of all time"
Thanks, Charles, for letting me slightly modify your first suggestion.
of course, that last part was a joke . . .
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Pictures, Promotions, Posters and a Press Release
To those who might be interested, we've got a press release out on the UAB webpage for our concert on October 24. It's got one picture from one of our performances in the Alys Stephens Center and two from the brief concert we did for the UAB Alumni. Pretty cool, huh?
I especially like this picture. I think I will print it somewhere and use it for other promotional purposes this year.
It is time to start TALKING UP our concert on Sunday, October 24. On Tuesday, I will have posters ready for you to distribute across town. I'd like you to put them in your dorms, churches, high schools, etc. I would love 1500 people to attend our concert on Sunday. Is it possible? I don't know . . . it's up to us to get the word out!
I especially like this picture. I think I will print it somewhere and use it for other promotional purposes this year.
It is time to start TALKING UP our concert on Sunday, October 24. On Tuesday, I will have posters ready for you to distribute across town. I'd like you to put them in your dorms, churches, high schools, etc. I would love 1500 people to attend our concert on Sunday. Is it possible? I don't know . . . it's up to us to get the word out!
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Trips, Choir, and Friendships
Choir,
First, thanks for a great three rehearsals last week. We are doing well and progressing towards our goal.
As most of you know, Leigh and I went on a weekend trip to Louisville with our friends Joey and Jennifer. Louisville is a great place to visit and an even better place to live. Here are a couple of highlights:
Joey and Jennifer and Leigh and myself were all once members of the choir at Ole Miss. Joey and I were in the choir together for only one semester. We became friends in Louisville and had the common Ole Miss choir bond between us all.
College choir can be a very special part of your life, if you haven't figured that out yet. You will definitely meet many great people in your college choir--especially our college choir. If you stay in it long enough, you may get a chance to visit some of the most famous cities of the world and sing in the world's greatest cathedrals. You might even meet the person you will marry and have children with in choir. I did . . . and so did Joey and Jennifer. So watch out--it can happen.
Anyway, the Wilkinson's had great things to say about you in the rehearsal they observed on Thursday. Thanks for your great attention and great singing.
First, thanks for a great three rehearsals last week. We are doing well and progressing towards our goal.
As most of you know, Leigh and I went on a weekend trip to Louisville with our friends Joey and Jennifer. Louisville is a great place to visit and an even better place to live. Here are a couple of highlights:
- The Brown Hotel (where we stayed)
- Breakfast at Lynns Paradise Cafe
- Actor's Theater: we saw the play called The Miser, an adaptation of Moliere's play. (i liked it, but here is a so-so review)
- We went to a comedy club . . . something we rarely do. The comedian was hilarious--Scotty K. The wierd part was that this guy lives around the corner from us here in Birmingham! He even has a graduate degree in counseling from UAB and anundergrad degree from Samford. Strange, huh?
Joey and Jennifer and Leigh and myself were all once members of the choir at Ole Miss. Joey and I were in the choir together for only one semester. We became friends in Louisville and had the common Ole Miss choir bond between us all.
College choir can be a very special part of your life, if you haven't figured that out yet. You will definitely meet many great people in your college choir--especially our college choir. If you stay in it long enough, you may get a chance to visit some of the most famous cities of the world and sing in the world's greatest cathedrals. You might even meet the person you will marry and have children with in choir. I did . . . and so did Joey and Jennifer. So watch out--it can happen.
Anyway, the Wilkinson's had great things to say about you in the rehearsal they observed on Thursday. Thanks for your great attention and great singing.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Not THAT Advanced in Age . . .
A senior citizen?
I felt the need to blog my response to that one . . as i look at my computer clock right now, i note that it is 11:43 p.m.
And I'm still awake. I've been reading news stories like this one, like this one, and even like this one.
There is some choir news, if any of you are reading this before our performance tomorrow. The administrative superpowers have allowed us one other song besides the Alma Mater tomorrow, so we are doing "See What the End Is Going to Be." Now . . . that could be the new title for the Karai "Alleluia," (after our first performance of the piece) but i'm talking about the spiritual by Ron Staheli.
As long as i'm responding to previous comments, i'd like to thank Keith Kendrick about the "to whom much is given" compliment. I've found a couple of interesting websites on the phrase, this one discussing the bible version and this one from the speech by J.F. Kennedy.
Wow . . . now it is after midnight and my radio show is about to come on. It seems that tonight they are talking about some guy named Jonathan Goldman (his website: healingsounds), an authority on sound healing, will explain how certain sounds influence physical, mental and spiritual dimensions.
I don't really get into the healing mumbo jumbo aspect of the show. I like the quasi-science things like this and UFO things. Listen to the radio show sometime . . . occasionally crazy and occasionally thought-provoking. Have i identified myself as a nut yet?
I felt the need to blog my response to that one . . as i look at my computer clock right now, i note that it is 11:43 p.m.
And I'm still awake. I've been reading news stories like this one, like this one, and even like this one.
There is some choir news, if any of you are reading this before our performance tomorrow. The administrative superpowers have allowed us one other song besides the Alma Mater tomorrow, so we are doing "See What the End Is Going to Be." Now . . . that could be the new title for the Karai "Alleluia," (after our first performance of the piece) but i'm talking about the spiritual by Ron Staheli.
As long as i'm responding to previous comments, i'd like to thank Keith Kendrick about the "to whom much is given" compliment. I've found a couple of interesting websites on the phrase, this one discussing the bible version and this one from the speech by J.F. Kennedy.
Wow . . . now it is after midnight and my radio show is about to come on. It seems that tonight they are talking about some guy named Jonathan Goldman (his website: healingsounds), an authority on sound healing, will explain how certain sounds influence physical, mental and spiritual dimensions.
I don't really get into the healing mumbo jumbo aspect of the show. I like the quasi-science things like this and UFO things. Listen to the radio show sometime . . . occasionally crazy and occasionally thought-provoking. Have i identified myself as a nut yet?
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Saturday, September 11, 2004
Great Beginnings
"That was one great example of the many great things you will find here at UAB." That's what our university president, Carol Garrison, said about our choir. (at least, that is pretty close to what i heard her say--my memory isn't what it could be)
Do you catch the significance in that? Before this morning, I had never met our president and she had never heard the UAB Concert Choir. In a short 10-minute, 3-song span of time, we "became" one of the great things about UAB in the eyes of the administration.
Now, the people involved in and around our music department already knew that good things were happening in all of our areas. We've known it for some time! Today was an important step in making it real to many other people.
Now . . . a short review from your director about Saturday:
1. Overall . . . fantastic energy, diction and tone. Faces were OK not great . . . we will be working on that for the entire year. Our faces will get better every day (or else I might pull a Menterro on one of you).
2. Pitch fell early in "Praise to the Lord." Leigh (my beautiful wife and outstanding musician-singer) thinks that the women sag a bit in their descending lines of the opening verse. I thought that it happened when sopranos ascend to the word "creation." Both may be correct.
3. Nuance on "Nobody Knows" excellent. You followed me very well and i felt complete freedom to hold, crescendo, emphasize, de-emphasize . . . basically, to do what i wanted to do. Memorizing music gives the conductor that freedom.
4. See What the End is Going to Be . . a very good ending work. Great job. It will get better as we go along. There is a way to make the last page even more exciting and we'll get to that very soon.
The best thing: our performance was musical, exciting, and procured a good image for us.
The worst thing: FAR TOO MANY STUDENTS WERE LATE FOR THE 9:00 REHEARSAL. Believe this: I will not tolerate people being late. It is not who we are and not who we want to be.
And finally . . . the most important thing . . . Remember that we are on the first steps of a long journey. Our next steps will tell us where that journey will end.
Wasn't that poetic? See you Tuesday.
Do you catch the significance in that? Before this morning, I had never met our president and she had never heard the UAB Concert Choir. In a short 10-minute, 3-song span of time, we "became" one of the great things about UAB in the eyes of the administration.
Now, the people involved in and around our music department already knew that good things were happening in all of our areas. We've known it for some time! Today was an important step in making it real to many other people.
Now . . . a short review from your director about Saturday:
1. Overall . . . fantastic energy, diction and tone. Faces were OK not great . . . we will be working on that for the entire year. Our faces will get better every day (or else I might pull a Menterro on one of you).
2. Pitch fell early in "Praise to the Lord." Leigh (my beautiful wife and outstanding musician-singer) thinks that the women sag a bit in their descending lines of the opening verse. I thought that it happened when sopranos ascend to the word "creation." Both may be correct.
3. Nuance on "Nobody Knows" excellent. You followed me very well and i felt complete freedom to hold, crescendo, emphasize, de-emphasize . . . basically, to do what i wanted to do. Memorizing music gives the conductor that freedom.
4. See What the End is Going to Be . . a very good ending work. Great job. It will get better as we go along. There is a way to make the last page even more exciting and we'll get to that very soon.
The best thing: our performance was musical, exciting, and procured a good image for us.
The worst thing: FAR TOO MANY STUDENTS WERE LATE FOR THE 9:00 REHEARSAL. Believe this: I will not tolerate people being late. It is not who we are and not who we want to be.
And finally . . . the most important thing . . . Remember that we are on the first steps of a long journey. Our next steps will tell us where that journey will end.
Wasn't that poetic? See you Tuesday.
Friday, September 10, 2004
Friday Concert Thoughts . . .
I thought our concert today was excellent and you are to be commended for a tremendous effort. Alabama's teachers were incredibly complimentary of you and it is significant that they rewarded you with a standing ovation. Unless I am mistaken, it was the "immediate" kind of standing ovation and not the kind where people half-heartedly stand to their feet because someone else did.
A few thoughts:
Alleluja: obviously, something happened at the end that noone expected. It's not happened before and we'll fix it before tomorrow!
Ave maris stella: beautiful and haunting. One teacher described it as "angelic" and I agreed.
Praise to the Lord: great. dynamics excellent. diction outstanding.
Nobody Knows: Megan Wicks (Vestavia HS) noted that you had emotion/soul on that one. I thought so too. Nearly everyone commented on Lindsey's beautiful voice. Remind me that we need to be softer on the end of her solo.
See What the End is Going to Be: Everyone loved this one and most thought it was our strongest piece. I thought that we had great dynamics on this one and good diction.
THE GOOD NEWS: Everything gets better after the first concert.
THE BAD NEWS: There is no bad news. So, that's good news, right?
A few thoughts:
Alleluja: obviously, something happened at the end that noone expected. It's not happened before and we'll fix it before tomorrow!
Ave maris stella: beautiful and haunting. One teacher described it as "angelic" and I agreed.
Praise to the Lord: great. dynamics excellent. diction outstanding.
Nobody Knows: Megan Wicks (Vestavia HS) noted that you had emotion/soul on that one. I thought so too. Nearly everyone commented on Lindsey's beautiful voice. Remind me that we need to be softer on the end of her solo.
See What the End is Going to Be: Everyone loved this one and most thought it was our strongest piece. I thought that we had great dynamics on this one and good diction.
THE GOOD NEWS: Everything gets better after the first concert.
THE BAD NEWS: There is no bad news. So, that's good news, right?
Two more dress pictures
Here are two more dress possibilities.
Possible Dress Picture #1 and Possible Dress Picture #2
Comments?
Possible Dress Picture #1 and Possible Dress Picture #2
Comments?
Thursday, September 09, 2004
I meant what i said . .
We are much further along than we were at this time last year and we are well on course to accomplish great things. Congratulations on your work so far!
I spoke with Dr. Reynolds today about new dresses for women and we will be moving that direction very soon. The plan is for UAB to get out of the dress business and have the women purchase their own outfit and sell it (eventually). The great part about that is that we get to wear something new, different and (hopefully) better. The thing we need to remember is that the dresses must look good on all body types--not just the models wearing the dresses. I'm sure we'll be looking here for dresses:
http://www.southeasternperf.com/dresses.htm
and some girls have already indicated an interest in dresses like this one: http://stageaccents.com/8728-large.htm
I spoke with Dr. Reynolds today about new dresses for women and we will be moving that direction very soon. The plan is for UAB to get out of the dress business and have the women purchase their own outfit and sell it (eventually). The great part about that is that we get to wear something new, different and (hopefully) better. The thing we need to remember is that the dresses must look good on all body types--not just the models wearing the dresses. I'm sure we'll be looking here for dresses:
http://www.southeasternperf.com/dresses.htm
and some girls have already indicated an interest in dresses like this one: http://stageaccents.com/8728-large.htm
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Time Change, Europe, and Good2Great
Choir,
Good rehearsal yesterday.
Special thanks to Erin, Delia, and Sarah for helping with the outfits.
Some information for you:
Time change: The performance on Saturday, September 11 will begin at 10:00 a.m. and not 9:00 a.m. as previously scheduled. Let's plan on gathering at 9:00 on Saturday morning in the choir room.
Europe trip: I hope to have brochures and information about our planned trip to France next Tuesday, September 14. Get ready!
Remember these determining factors concerning whether we will be an average choir, a very good choir, or a great choir:
1. are you watching me? Scively?
2. are you listening to the instructions/changes/interpretation that i give you in rehearsal and CHANGING WHAT YOU ARE DOING? Sopranos, remember the feeling of meter in Karai Alleluia! It isn't a good use of time if we stop to change something, work it out and practice it, and then the change isn't instituted in the next run through!
3. Look at your music outside of class!
That's it . . . see you in class.
Good rehearsal yesterday.
Special thanks to Erin, Delia, and Sarah for helping with the outfits.
Some information for you:
Time change: The performance on Saturday, September 11 will begin at 10:00 a.m. and not 9:00 a.m. as previously scheduled. Let's plan on gathering at 9:00 on Saturday morning in the choir room.
Europe trip: I hope to have brochures and information about our planned trip to France next Tuesday, September 14. Get ready!
Remember these determining factors concerning whether we will be an average choir, a very good choir, or a great choir:
1. are you watching me? Scively?
2. are you listening to the instructions/changes/interpretation that i give you in rehearsal and CHANGING WHAT YOU ARE DOING? Sopranos, remember the feeling of meter in Karai Alleluia! It isn't a good use of time if we stop to change something, work it out and practice it, and then the change isn't instituted in the next run through!
3. Look at your music outside of class!
That's it . . . see you in class.
Monday, September 06, 2004
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
UAB choirs
Choir,
I hope I remember to mention this to you on Tuesday. If you haven't seen the Birmingham Botanical Gardens yet, you need to.
Here is their website:
Take time to visit the place. It is beautiful and relaxing and highly recommended.
Choir,
I hope I remember to mention this to you on Tuesday. If you haven't seen the Birmingham Botanical Gardens yet, you need to.
Here is their website:
Take time to visit the place. It is beautiful and relaxing and highly recommended.
Friday, September 03, 2004
Greetings, choir (or whoever reads this)
And welcome to my first attempt at "blogging."
I've got several goals for this blog . . . .
I've got several goals for this blog . . . .
- My primary intent is to thoroughly reference some of the things that I talk about in rehearsal. I don't like to take alot of our precious rehearsal time to chase rabbits and tell stories even though a certain amount of that is important.
- With the "comments" section, you can talk back to me (and discuss with others, of course) about the subjects I bring up.
- I hope to use the vast online resources as well as my own webpage to help all of us learn more and reference information to make our music more meaningful to us.
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