Question of the Week

Opinions expressed represent those of the person who posted them. All entries are posted as per the original author. Thanks to all who responded!

 

Question 9 & 10. What do you consider the primary hallmark of a successful choral director?


Your Name: Jo Brinkle
Your Email Address: jabrinkle@hotmail.com
Type your answer here: I studied under two of the best, Alfred Skoog and Gary Morris. They both had many wonderful qualities, first of all never except mediocrity and secondly always, always the music is the most important thing. I believe as we go through life in this business, we enjoy many successes with our students, but never lose sight of the fact that we were put here to inspire them.
Your Name: suzanne callahan
Your Email Address: swcall@cox-internet.com
Type your answer here: organization!
Your Name: Beverly Finley
Your Email Address: cfinley@bscn.com
Type your answer here: Developing your students into independent musicians.
Your Name: elaine harris
Your Email Address: elaineh_72120@yahoo.com
Type your answer here: To develop students to be lifetime singers and supporters of music programs.
Your Name: Rhonda Hawley
Your Email Address: rhondahawley@cox.net
Type your answer here: Students who go through your program who choose Choral Directing as their career.
Your Name: Rachel Pinto
Your Email Address: rachel.pinto@yahoo.com
Type your answer here: Successful students.
Your Name: Andrea Ramsey
Your Email Address: aramsey@bentonville.k12.ar.us
Type your answer here: Many great choir directors concern themselves with excellence in choice of literature, quality & stylistic variety of choral tone, and successful teaching of a sightreading method. Truly exceptional choir directors find a place beyond all music & technicality where they connect with their singers as people....sharing in their successes & failures, caring and nurturing them as a person. A good choir director makes you a better singer. A great choir director makes you a better person.

Your Name: W. Thomas Rickman
Your Email Address: trickman@gobs.k12.ar.us
Type your answer here: If the teacher has instilled in his/her students the value of putting self behind in favor of the good of the group, then they have been successful.

Ratings and Numbers and Region chairs are all merely indicators of this. If the group mentality is deep seeded, then all these other things will follow.

Your Name: Sharon Cooper
Your Email Address: swardcooper@m34u.net
Type your answer here: There are so many things that a successful choral director must know and be able to teach. 1.Be able to teach students to read music by whatever method the teacher is comfortable with.
2. Be able to hear problems with vocal production, pitch, rhythm, blend, balance, vowels, etc. and know how to correct the problems.
3. Must be a great communicator.
Your Name: Tom Street
Your Email Address: tomstreet@arkcda.org
Type your answer here: Well, first you have to define success. In general though I would say that the primary hallmark of a successful choral director is that he/she never ceases to be a STUDENT. He/she is always on the lookout for new literature, new techniques, new ways to communicate with singers. There is a keen sense of curiosity coupled with a desire to learn.
Your Name: Alecia Stringer
Your Email Address: asrs815@aol.com
Type your answer here: I believe a successful choral director can show improvement in their choir from the beginning of the year to the end. It proves that the students gain more confidence and experience.
Your Name: tinan
Your Email Address: tinan@searcyschools.org
Type your answer here: How about two things: Never giving up on the belief that you and your students can perform the music as the composer intended it to be sung and then taking the steps to make it happen. Secondly always remember the power and magic that choral music possesses(spelling?).

Your Name: tinan
Your Email Address: jayniederbrach@cablelynx.com
Type your answer here: OK- I know I have already put my two cents in BUT- I remembered this quote from Jane Marshall and couldn't resist:Good teaching is built on three foundation blocks:
the learner’s self-confidence,
the learner’s motivation,
And the Director’s clarity in presenting the material.”
Jane Marshall Grace,Noted p. 105