texas sings! spring 2011

TTEEXXAASS SSSIINNGGSS!!!VOLUME 27 NUMBER 3 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF TEXAS CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION SPRING 2011

NON-PROFITU.S. Postage Paid

Austin, TexasPermit No. 789

56th Annual ConventionSAN ANTONIO • JULY 27-30, 2011

Jonathan Reed

Sandra Snow

Donald Neuen

The House Jacks

ADT

SUMMIT TRAVELFULL PAGE AD

Spring 2011 TEXAS√SINGS! 3

TEXAS SINGS!

OFFICERS

Volume 27 Number 3 Spring 2011

PRESIDENTAmy Allibon, Fort Worth

PAST PRESIDENTBob Horton, The Woodlands

PRESIDENT ELECTJeff Rice, Waco

COLLEGE/COMMUNITYVICE PRESIDENTPam Elrod, Dallas

HIGH SCHOOL VICE PRESIDENTSharon Paul, Houston

MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGHVICE PRESIDENTDianna Jarvis, San Antonio

ELEMENTARY VICE PRESIDENTPhyllis King, Killeen

CHURCH VICE PRESIDENTGreg Shapley, Hurst

SECRETARY/TREASURERKay Owens, Arlington

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDan L Wood, Austin

EDITORDan L Wood

ART DIRECTORJames A Black, Coppell

PUBLISHERGood/Wood AssociatesPO Box 6472Austin, Texas 78762

Candidates for TCDA Board of Directors 4

President’s Page 9Staying Inspired, Remaining Gratefulby Amy Allibon

Performing Groups 10

Clinicians 12

Conductors 14

Accompanists 14

Tentative Schedule 15

How Do We Teach the ’How To‘? 17by Sharon L Radionoff, PhD

Officer Comments 19

Official Publication of theTexas Choral Directors Association7900 Centre Park Drive, Suite A

Austin, TX 78754512/474-2801

Copyright 2011 by Texas Choral Directors Association. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the Executive Director. TCDA is an

affiliate of ACDA

TEXAS SINGS!TEXAS SINGS!TABLE OF CONTENTS

On the Cover:The 56th Annual TCDA Convention and New Music Reading Clinic, scheduled for July 27-30 at San Antonio’s Henry B GonzalesConvention Center, features headliners Donald Neuen, Sandra Snow, and JonathanReed. Renowned acoustic vocal group, TheHouse Jacks, will perform at the TCDA BBQ.The group will also offer a clinic for HighSchool Student Day attendees Friday afternoon and for all on Saturday morning.

TCDA Mission StatementThe mission of TCDA is to support and foster the success of

Texas choral directors and music teachers and to instill a love ofmusic in every Texas school, church, and community singer.

4 TEXAS√SINGS! Spring 2011

Robin Brockway-Nichols has taughtsecondary choral music in Texas for 18years. During her eight-year tenure asDirector of Choirs at Newman SmithHS in the Carrollton–Farmers BranchISD, the choral program has grown toinclude seven performing ensembles, allgroups earning consistent superiorratings at UIL competitions. The NSHSA Cappella Choir under her directionwas invited to perform for the 2010TMEA Convention. Prior to her tenureat Newman Smith, she was the AssociateChoral Director at Haltom HS inBirdville ISD for six years.

A native of Plano, Robin received anoutstanding public school musiceducation, and was twice selected formembership in the Texas All-State MixedChoir while attending Plano Senior HS.She graduated cum laude from NorthTexas State University (now the Universi-ty of North Texas) and served as theA Cappella Choir soprano section leaderand accompanist under the direction ofHal Gibbons.

After several years working as aprofessional pianist and singer, Robinbegan her teaching career in Plano at

Bowman MS, where she was selected“Beginning Teacher of the Year”. Anactive choral clinician and collaborativeaccompanist, she has conducted TMEAAll-Region choirs across North Texas,and has accompanied numerous All-Region choirs as well as the Texas All-State Women’s Choir. In the summer of2010 she served as Choral Conductor forthe Texas Lone Star Ambassadors’European Tour.

Ms Brockway-Nichols serves on theTMEA State Advisory Board andcurrently holds the offices of Region 24Secretary and Region 24 Vocal DivisionChair-Elect. She is also a member of theTMEA/TMAC Curriculum and Assess-ment Committee. She has served TCDAas a reading session accompanist onnumerous occasions and participatedgleefully in “TCDA’s Got Talent” as partof the infamous “Do-Fa Sisterhood”. InJuly 2010 she accompanied the Elemen-tary Honor Chorus under the directionof Dr Rollo Dilworth. In 18 years ofteaching she has never missed a TCDAConvention.

Robin has been named in Who’s WhoAmong America’s Teachers and is amember of ACDA, TCDA, TMEA,TMAA, and Pi Kappa Lambda. She ismarried to the very patient and under-standing David Nichols, and mom toWendy, the NSHS Choir Dog. Theyreside in Carrollton and are busymembers of St Barnabas PresbyterianChurch in Richardson, with Robinserving as youth choir director andCommunications Elder while Davidserves on the Board of Trustees.

If elected . . .It would be an incredible privilege to

serve as HS Vice President. The pro-found experiences I have enjoyed as a

TCDA member have shaped my develop-ment as a music educator in immeasur-able ways. There is quite simply nosubstitute at any price for the inspiringworkshops, world-class clinicians, qualitynew music, and fellowship madeavailable to us by TCDA each summer!

I will strive to continue the highstandards set by TCDA Board by seekingout the most inspiring and innovativeclinicians and workshop facilitators. Wehave all been blessed by learning fromnational and even international conduc-tors, teachers, and composers at oursummer conventions and I will continueto seek out clinicians of that caliber andexperience. One of our greateststrengths, however, is the wealth ofknowledge and experience within ourmembership. If elected I intend tofacilitate the expansion of our informa-tion-sharing and mentoring networks —I passionately believe that we mustcontinue to work/share together for thebenefit of all student musicians.

Choosing quality music for ourreading sessions is one of the mostcrucial TCDA Board tasks. My experi-ence teaching students of all ages and allability levels will allow me to makethoughtful decisions and choose musicthat will enhance your choral programand provide meaningful learningexperiences for your students. I lookforward to assessing music with a globalperspective since I have experiencedmany diverse teaching environments.

But, most of all, I look forward tofocusing my energy and great passionfor choral music education to serve you,your students, and TCDA. I would bedeeply honored to represent theamazing choral music educators ofTexas as a member of the TCDA Boardof Directors.

Candidates for TCDA Board of DirectorsThree Board members will be elected at the TCDA Convention in San Antonio. To help you become familiar with the candidates, a short vita and personal

statement by each candidate follow.

High School Division Vice President



Dr Mark Rohwer is the Director ofChoral Activities at Flower Mound HS inFlower Mound. He has been at FMHSsince its opening in the fall of 1999.Prior to his appointment at FMHS, heserved on high school faculties inMesquite and McHenry IL. Rohwerholds degrees in music education fromNorthwestern University, the Eastman

School of Music, and The Ohio StateUniversity.

Under Dr Rohwer’s direction, FlowerMound HS choirs have received consis-tent and numerous Sweepstakes Awardsat UIL Concert and Sight ReadingContests, and have received “Outstand-ing Performance” or “Best in Class”awards in Houston, San Antonio, NewYork, and Breckenridge CO. In 2007 theFMHS Jaguar Chorale performed at theTMEA Convention; in 2008 theyperformed in Kansas City as part of theSouthwestern ACDA Convention.FMHS choirs have performed at theTexas State Capitol, the Cathedral of StJohn the Divine in New York, cathedralsin Salzburg, Vienna, Barcelona, San Juan,and Seville, as well as at the Vatican inRome.

Mark has been an active member ofboth TMEA and TCDA. He is currentlythe TMEA Region 24 Vocal DivisionChair, and the TMEA Area A VocalDivision Chair. He has served as a

volunteer for the TMEA Convention,and was a section leader for All-StateMen’s Choirs in 2004 and 2010. DrRohwer led reading sessions for theTCDA Convention in 2006 and 2009,and served as a volunteer at thatconvention, as well. He has served onthe staff of summer All-State ChoirCamps at Baylor University, the Univer-sity of North Texas, Texas ChristianUniversity, and the University of TexasSan Antonio.

Rohwer has been published in theSouthwestern Musician, the Journal ofMusic Teacher Education, The ChoralJournal, the International Journal ofCommunity Music, the Missouri Journalof Research in Music Education, thePennsylvania Journal of Research inMusic Education, Texas Music EducationResearch, and the Southwestern ACDApublication, Common Times. Mark haspresented sessions and research on anumber of topics at TMEA Conventions,

Continued on page 6

Ronnie Sanders has been a choraldirector in Texas for over 25 years. Hemade his Carnegie Hall conducting debuton June 13, 2005. He served on the Boardof Directors for TCDA several years agoand was recently appointed by TexasLieutenant Governor David Dewhurst toserve on a sub-committee of the TexasCommission on the Arts. Sanders hasdirected university and college choralprograms, high school and middle schoolchoirs, and numerous church andcommunity choirs. He currently serves asthe choir director at the Thomas JeffersonHS in San Antonio that was recentlyawarded a Grammy Signature School

award for excellence in music education. Sanders’ highly imaginative choral

rehearsal techniques are published byAlfred Music Publishing Company andSouthern Music Company. He has hadnumerous reviews of choral musicpublished in the Choral Journal, andseveral articles published in the SanAntonio Express-News.

Mr Sanders is in demand as a Regionchoir clinician and UIL adjudicator. Heis a member of the IFCM, ACDA,TMAA, TMEA and TCDA. Sandersholds degrees from Charter Oak StateUniversity and the Moores School ofMusic at the University of Houston. Heis in the final stages of completing hisDMA in music education at BostonUniversity. His dissertation research willconcentrate on the methods, materialsused, and attitudes toward sight readingby secondary choral directors in Texas.For a complete biography, please go towww.ronniesanders.net.

If elected . . .The people who tirelessly serve on the

Board of Directors of TCDA are a uniqueblend of personalities with years ofcombined wisdom and experience. Ipreviously served as the Vice-President ofthe Church and Community Choir

division of TCDA from 2004-2006. Iknow the time commitment it will takeand will be ready to serve you, the choralprofessional in Texas. With the new UILrules allowing choirs to sight-read SABmusic, there will be a greater need forTCDA to screen more SAB music frompublishers. I will incorporate more musicwritten for SAB choirs without takingaway from the much needed SATB music.

A key to TCDA’s success is theincredible guest speakers we offer for ourworkshops. I assure you, the TCDAmembers, that I will find innovativethinkers who offer the most creativeworkshops and panel discussions fromaround the United States. As a boardmember of TCDA, I promise I willmaintain high standards of choralartistry while promoting excellence inchoral music, whether it is in educationor professional choral programs.

If elected to the Board, my energywill focus on those who have served aschoir directors for many years as well asthose who may have a few years experi-ence. I will also create ways to encouragemore high school students to participatein TCDA Conventions — these are thenext generation of choral conductors andthe future of TCDA. I politely ask youfor your vote.



Christina Chapman is in her 12thyear as a choral music educator, and her4th year in Lovejoy ISD at Sloan CreekMS. Prior to teaching in Lovejoy ISDshe was the director of choirs atRobinson MS in Plano ISD where herVarsity Tenor-Bass Choir was a 2004TMEA Selected Performing Choir. Sheholds a BME from UT San Antonio andwill soon complete a MME at TexasTech University. During the three yearsthat Sloan Creek MS has been open, theSCMS Choirs under Mrs Chapman’s

direction have been awarded eightSweepstakes awards with a total of 31Sweepstakes Awards in her 11 years ofteaching. The SCMS choir programcurrently has an enrollment of 346sixth, seventh, and eighth grade stu-dents, who are split into nine differentensembles. Mrs Chapman has beenselected as a Who’s Who Among Ameri-can Teachers in 2005, 2006, 2007, and2009 and honored with the PTA HonoryLife Membership Award in 2006. Shewas awarded the 2009 TCDA Glendaand Jim Casey Scholarship for herstudies at Texas Tech. Christina iscurrently the Fine Arts Team Leader forSloan Creek MS and is serving Region25 as the Middle School Chair-Elect.She serves as an active clinician andadjudicator for Solo and Ensemble/UILContests and is a member of TCDA,TMEA, ACDA, and Sigma Alpha Iota.TCDA has been a vital part of herenrichment and growth as a musiceducator, as “I have been attending thisconvention since I was eight years old”.This is where all of us, as directors, areable to start a new year, refreshed withideas, new music, and friendships.

If elected . . .It would be an honor to serve TCDA

as the MS/JH VP and be “the Voice” forthose who choose to instill the love ofmusic in adolescent singers.

Amazing Clinicians/Conductors –TCDA has always provided the best, andit would be my goal to seek out the bestof the best in the state and beyond forour enrichment.• The best in new choral music

sessions as well as tried and True sessions• To bring all MS and JH directors

closer and more aware of what type ofteaching is happening throughout thestate – with such a diverse state it wouldhelp to connect with other directors• Create a MS/JH blog. Ever wonder

what everyone else is performing, orteaching and are afraid to ask or don’tknow the right people to ask? Well, withthe technology that we now have, howabout a blog of concert postings for thosenew and veteran teachers in order toshare and see what is being taught?• Encouraging mentorship for those

with five or fewer years’ experience inorder to build confidence and support intheir teaching.

Middle School/Junior High Division Vice President

and in other parts of the country, and asfar away as Auckland, New Zealand.

If elected . . .It is an honor to have been nominat-

ed to fill this position with TCDA; it iseven more so when I consider howhighly regarded my fellow nominees are!I would feel confident following in any ofmy peers’ footsteps. However, as I amsupposedly defining my own statement, Ineed to get to the business of describinghow I would pursue my time as HighSchool Division Vice-President.

Clearly there is no need to fixanything. I would continue to workhard to present quality literature to theTCDA Convention, find people who areexcited and passionate about their work,and give them a forum to share theirexperience and pass their enthusiasmalong. I will do all that I can to continue

to make TCDA a vibrant organizationthat serves a critical purpose to Texas’high school choral directors. And I willwork closely with the TCDA Board tohelp keep the connections that we allshare strong, regardless of grade level,age, or daily setting.

I would also like to focus on ways inwhich the convention might serve toinspire and inform those in moredifficult situations. As someone who hastaught in suburban, urban, and ruralsettings, in big schools and small ones,and who acutely remembers feeling like Idon’t belong — both as a first-yearteacher, and as a first-year Texan — Iresonate with people who are juststruggling to find budget money foraccompanists, who can’t find privatevoice teachers who will come to theirschools, and who fight to find a class 5UIL piece that will actually work wellenough to not lose sleep over contest foronce. And I certainly identify withteachers who move into Texas from out-

of-state and quickly realize that the oldtourist slogan is correct; teaching herereally is “like a whole other country”. Iwould like sessions at the convention tokeep these folks in mind, and I’d like thenewsletter to help serve them, as well. Intruth, everyone can stand to simplify alittle bit, whether it be focusing on musicfor smaller ensembles, fresh a cappellamusic for middle school choirs, orrefreshers on procedures and processesthat many of us just assume everyoneknows.

I don’t presume to have answers thatothers don’t, or to have magical leader-ship and musical skills. I do, however,have an abiding passion for the impor-tance of singing, and the teaching ofsinging in the schools of Texas, and I willwork hard on the behalf of the greatteachers and amazing students who sharethis passion. I look forward to theopportunity, if granted me, to representyou as the next TCDA High School VicePresident.

Dr Mark RohwerContinued from page 5

Kari Gilbertson has been theDirector of Choirs at Forest Meadow JHfor 13 years. Her choirs have consistentlyearned UIL Sweepstakes ratings and havealso been named “Best in Class” atfestivals and competitions. In 2002 Kariwas named “Teacher of the Year” for theRichardson ISD and nominated forDisney “Teacher of the Year” in 2006.Most recently, she was the recipient ofthe first PTA “Teacher of Excellence”Award at her school.

A product of Texas schools andchoirs, Kari graduated from AmarilloHS. She then attended ConcordiaCollege in Moorhead MN where she wasa four-year member of The ConcordiaChoir under the direction of RenéClausen. Prior to returning to Texas,Kari led both middle school and high

school programs. In 1998, Ms Gilbertsoncompleted her Master of Music degreewith Honors at Southern MethodistUniversity.

In addition to being an instructionalmentor teacher at her school, Kari is anactive community and church musician.Professionally, she was a contributingauthor for the Glencoe textbook series,Experiencing Choral Music and theMcGraw-Hill Elementary series, Spotlighton Music. Kari was recently named a“Lead Author” on Glencoe/McGrawHill’s latest choral textbook.

Ms Gilbertson is an active staffdevelopment presenter, adjudicator,clinician, and conductor throughout thecountry. She has presented her work-shop on teaching strategies for the choralclassroom at both TCDA and TMEA.Last summer she presented a workshopat TCDA entitled, “Changing Approachesfor a Changing Choral World.” Kari is amember of TMEA, TCDA, ACDA, andTMAA.

If elected . . .My rationale for the best practices in

my own rehearsals is to tell my singers,“It’s a choir thing.” It is a standard andexpectation that cannot be compromisedbecause it is universal to the best choirsin the world. By that definition TCDAis, and will always be, “a choir thing!” andI am honored to be nominated to serveas TCDA MS/JH Vice-President.

If elected I would work hard to bringrelevant and practical sessions thataddress the changing and challengingneeds of our membership. Issues like:

How do they do that? How can I usenew technology and new teachingstrategies to spice up my rehearsals?

How do I effectively manage my timeand resources and still have a life outsidethe choir room?

How do I stay relevant to my school,and all of the instructional demands, andstill build a successful choral program?

I know that these are things that newand experienced teachers want to hearabout as they begin planning for theiryear. The new music I find at readingsessions also sets the tone for my year. Ibelieve that my experience with theelementary, middle school, and highschool levels, in addition to my experi-ence as a church musician, enables me tounderstand the needs of each divisionand will help in choosing relevant musicfor those sessions.

I also believe that my organization,communication skills, and professionalcontacts would help me to ensure thatour students who participate areprofoundly influenced by their participa-tion in the MS/JH Honor Choir. (Iknow in our area, there is a directcorrelation between these singers andfuture All-State singers, and perhapsfuture choir directors!) It would be mypleasure to serve this great organization.



Greg Haugen is in his 12th year ofteaching and has taught his entire careerat Nichols JH in Arlington. Aftergraduating from Dallas Baptist Univer-

sity, Greg became the assistant choirdirector in 1999 and served as theassistant until 2001 when he became thehead director. Under his directionGreg’s choirs are consistent sweepstakeswinners and have been named “Best inClass” at area spring competitions. In2007 the Nichols JH “Men of theMustang Chorale” had the honor ofperforming at TMEA.

Greg served as MS/JH Chair forRegion V for 06-07 and 07-08, earning anew respect for the hard work complet-ed by his region chair predecessors.Active as both a clinician and adjudica-tor, he is a member of TMEA, TCDA,and TMAA, and enjoys meeting andworking with great directors around thestate. He was given the honor beingnamed a Minyard’s “First Class Teacher”

in 2005, an Honorary PTA Life Mem-bership in 2007, and received the“Servant Leader in Education Award”from the College of Education at DallasBaptist University in 2008.

In addition to his work at NicholsJH, Mr Haugen is also the youth choirdirector at FUMC in Arlington andleads worship in the contemporaryservice. He has also re-discovered theimportance of singing in a choirregularly and is a member of theArlington Master Chorale.

Even though Greg keeps a pretty fullwork/church schedule, he still finds timeto mix in a little golf and is the shortstop on the Nichols JH faculty softballteam. He and his wife, Amy, live inArlington with their three children,

Continued on page 8


Karen Gonzalez has been a musiceducator in Texas for 27 years, havingtaught in Ysleta, El Paso, and GarlandISDs. She received her BME from OralRoberts University, Elementary Classroom

certification from the UT El Paso, and Orffcertification from Konnie Saliba at TCU.She began her teaching career as a highschool choir director where her choirsconsistently earned sweepstakes at UIL and“Best in Class” at Six Flags and Winter Parkfestivals. She served as a Texas task forcemember for the previous Silver Burdettelementary music series, “The MusicConnection”. For 17 of her 27 years,Karen has taught at the elementary leveland is currently the music specialist atLiberty Grove El in Rowlett. She isinvolved in the music and worshipministry and serves as an elder at StBarnabas Presbyterian Church in Richard-son. Karen and her husband, Tony, havetwo boys, Jonathan Pilgrim, a musiceducation major at Baylor University, andDavid, a fourth grade student at WatsonMST. She and her family reside in Rowlett.

If elected . . .I would truly enjoy the opportunity

to serve TCDA as Secretary/Treasurer.If elected I would strive to continue thestrong leadership and high standardsthat have been established by past andpresent board members. Attention todetail and organizational skills arestrong qualities I possess and arenecessary for this position. I will gladlywork diligently with all board membersto create the best possible musical andprofessional experiences at our yearlyconventions.

TCDA has been an important partof my life for the past 27 years, and Iconsider it an honor to be nominatedfor this office. It would be my greatestpleasure to serve on the Board and giveback to the organization that has givenand taught me so much.

Rachel Forester has taught in bothOklahoma and Texas and is currentlythe Director of Choral Activities andDepartment Chair for the Fine Arts at

Hebron HS in Carrollton. Ms Foresterholds a BME (emphasis in voice) fromOklahoma Baptist University inShawnee OK. She is a member ofTMEA, TCDA, and TMAA, and hasheld the TMEA offices of Region VTreasurer and Region 24 Secretary,Chair-Elect, and Chair. Rachel has alsobeen on the TCDA Scholarship andHospitality Committees and is a two-time section leader for the Texas All-State Treble Choir.

The Hebron HS choirs have earnedconsistent UIL Sweepstakes awards forthe past 11 years. Ms Forester has judgedfor UIL Solo and Ensemble contests andUIL Concert and Sight Reading contestsacross the state of Texas. Rachel washonored as “Teacher of the Year” by thefaculty and staff of Peter’s Colony El in

1992, and Hebron HS in 2002. She wasjust awarded the PTSA “Lifetime Award”by Hebron HS in 2009. Ms Forester isalso a Music Assistant to Students at FirstBaptist Church of Carrollton.

In her free time, you can find MsForester (an avid sports enthusiast)rooting on the Dallas Cowboys, OUSooners, and LA Lakers with her twocats, Mozart and Chopin.

If elected . . .TCDA has offered a wealth of

information, experiences, and opportu-nities to me over the years I’ve taughtchoral music in Texas. As I enter my28th year of teaching, I would like tooffer my services to TCDA as yourtreasurer. It would be my honor to serveyou in this capacity.

Secretary/Treasurer


Karalyn (9), Erica (6), and Jack (3).

If elected . . .It would be my honor to serve the

fine MS/JH directors of our great state.I really enjoyed serving Region V as itsMS/JH chair a few years ago and realized

how rewarding it is to be a servant of mycolleagues.

As a veteran teacher of 12 years now,I know I could not have survived thislong without the expertise and mentor-ing of my more experienced colleagues.It would be my vision to aid newdirectors in finding their way as theybegin their careers. With so manydynamic choral directors around the

state, much can be learned throughvaluable clinics and presentations abouthow to build, maintain, strengthen, andset high expectations for all choralprograms.

Knowing you have such expertise inour field of teaching young teenagers, Iwould look forward to not only beingyour voice on the TCDA Board, butlearning from you as well.

Greg HaugenContinued from page 7


This year I faced a new bell scheduleat my school. In order to savetransportation costs, a staggered

schedule was implemented district-widewith the high school day beginning at9:00 and ending at 4:10. While the laterstart sounded enticing for a few extraminutes of sleep, it presented manychallenges. Many of my students optedto add a zero hour class to their schedulethat began at 8:00, giving them eightclasses. Others took a zero hour class,but did not have a seventh period, sothey finished each day at 3:20. Othersbegan first period but did not have a fullload, while others began first period andended at 4:10. Imagine trying toschedule a sectional with students whowere essentially attending high schoolon four different schedules. Gatheringstudents of a like voice part was impos-sible. My usual twice-daily offering forAll-State sectionals increased to fourtimes a day to accommodate them.Losing two hours of the day for prepara-tion and administration was a signifi-cant blow, and at the time, this seemedlike something to complain about. Now,seven months later, I find myself gratefulto have a job, to be valued by my schooland district, and to have the opportunityto continue my employment. Theeconomic picture of state funding ofeducation is bleak, and districts arereacting strongly and harshly. How doour choral programs survive whenschool boards and administrations arelooking for every possible way to savemoney? How do you survive thiseducational storm?

Visibility: Perform in public asmuch as possible, and seek the opportu-nity to do so. The other day my chamberchoir moved into the atrium of the mainentry of the school to sing “Fair Phyllis ISaw” for a vice principal whose firstname is Phyllis. What spontaneouslyensued was attention from passing

faculty members, students, and thenearby administrative office staff. Like abillboard on the roadside, it gaveeveryone that heard us a quick reminderthat we exist. Singing the nationalanthem at sporting events is a great wayto remain visible and supportive of theschool. Performing at civic events shouldbe relished as opportunities for visibility,not relinquished because of inconve-nience. Finally, volunteering for com-mittees and being a part of the academicfabric keeps us visible and viable tofaculty and administrators.

Quality: When the product of ourchoral classrooms is of a high caliber, weremain educationally sound and viablein the eyes of those who decide whetherwe exist or perish. The quality of ourchoirs depends on our own teaching andconducting acumen, as well as countlesshours of preparation and repertoireselection. Maintaining our inspiration iscritical. Helping students achieveindividual success in this environmentalso contributes to our choral scorecardin the eyes of administration. Whilethese are standards that we wouldmaintain regardless of the educationalclimate, it is more critical in this era tonot only maintain a high quality, but to

promote it to others. Accountability: We must be

accountable for all that we do in theclassroom, just as an English or mathteacher is accountable for their curricu-lum. Scope and sequence should bealigned to the TEKS and easily accessedby administration and the public on ourdistrict websites. Spend a few minutesnavigating your school district’s websiteand see how choral music and fine arts ispromoted. Are there links to curriculumand standards, or is the view of fine artslimited to pretty pictures and recordings?

Professional Development: We mustremain inspired and informed. If we aregrowing, we remain vital. If we stopgrowing, we stagnate like murky pondwater growing a thick layer of greenalgae. Would you want to swim in that?

I know that you will find inspiration,camaraderie, and outstanding materialsand music at this summer’s Convention.TCDA provides its membership anincredible and indisputable bang for thebuck. Research of other state associa-tions quickly reveals that our member-ship and convention fees in Texas aresome of the lowest in the country whileoffering significantly bigger program-ming. Our summer Convention offersmore reading sessions, workshops, andnational headliners than most regionalACDA conventions for less than onethird the convention fees. We arefortunate and spoiled to some extent,and should not lose sight of the oppor-tunity we are afforded in Texas to havean incredible state Convention inbeautiful San Antonio. Please check outthe various articles in this issue that willhighlight headliners Sandra Snow, CraigHella Johnson, Donald Neuen, JonathanReed, Schola Cantorum conducted byJerry McCoy, Bay Area Women’s Chorusconducted by Keith Dixon, and The

byTCDA PresidentAmy Allibon

Staying Inspired, Remaining Grateful

President’s Page

President Amy Allibon


Schola Cantorum of Texas is thepremier volunteer choral organiza-tion in Tarrant County, and

operates as a self-governing 501(c)(3)arts organization. In its nearly fivedecades of performances, the chorus hasconsistently delivered programs ofmusical excellence, covering all periodsof standard choral music repertoire.Schola has presented over 400 concertssince it’s beginning in 1962. Under thebaton of Beverly “Bev” Henson, then atTCU, the group drew singers fromaround the Metroplex whose motiva-tion was, he said, “a genuine love ofsinging and a desire to perform the bestin traditional choral music”.

Continuing that tradition under DrGary Ebensberger of the University ofTexas at Arlington, beginning in 1975the chorus expanded its repertoire andreach during his 25 year tenure.

Schola performs regularly through-out Tarrant County and the Metroplex.Over the years, Schola Cantorum has

performed incities across theUnited Statesand Europe. In its first 47years, Schola hashad only fourpermanentconductors.That fact aloneis the single

largest contributor to the strength andstability of the chorus and the commit-ment of its singers to master andperform the best in choral literature.

Dr Donald Bailey, of Baylor Univer-sity, joined Schola for the 2001-2002Concert Season. Dr Bailey elevated along tradition of choral performance inthe chorus. Under his influence theorganization reached new heights ofsinging and listening delight formembers and audiences alike.

In 2008 Schola selected its fourthpermanent conductor, Dr Jerry McCoy

of the University of North Texas. DrMcCoy brings with him a long traditionof choral performance excellence, and isextending and expanding the capabili-ties of the chorus.

Dr Jerry McCoy is in his third seasonas Music Director of Schola Cantorum ofTexas. He is also Director of ChoralStudies and Professor of Music at theUniversity of North Texas, the nation’slargest college of music, where heconducts the A Cappella Choir, the NorthTexas Chamber Choir, and the GrandChorus, teaches graduate choral con-ducting and advanced choral techniques,and guides the choral studies programconsisting of nine performance choirs.He is national president of the ACDA, amember of the INTERKULTUR advisoryboard, and a member of the editorialboard of the Choral Scholar. He isfounder for six years was music directorof the Texas Choral Artists, a professionalchamber choir based in Dallas.

Schola Cantorum

House Jacks. The Board has puttogether a truly inspiring and amazingconvention for you, the members. Whilefunding may be cut from your budgetsto attend, consider investing in TCDA asa family vacation. Childcare is providedfor members, and family badges can beobtained at a nominal rate. See you inSan Antonio!

Announcement of New TCDAExecutive Director

The TCDA Board announces thehiring of Sharon Lutz as our new Execu-tive Director. Sharon will be in the officebeginning June 1 assisting Dan and Jeannewith all of the final Convention prepara-tions, and will assume all duties on August1. She will assist with this year’s Conven-

tion, and we invite you to give her a bigTexas welcome at the office in Austin thissummer or in San Antonio. Sharon bringswith her extensive skills in collaboration,planning, finance, and marketing fromUniversity of Texas and the University ofHouston. A complete article and bio onSharon will be forthcoming in the falledition of Texas Sings!√

PERFORMING GROUPS

Jerry McCoy


PERFORMING GROUPSIn 2009 he served as chorus master

of the Dallas Wind Symphony. DrMcCoy is one of America’s most wellrespected choral conductors, havingconducted all-state, regional, festival,and performance clinics in 36 statesacross the nation. He has served asguest clinician/conductor in Austria,China, England, Korea, Sweden, Taiwan,and Venezuela. Guest engagements for

2009-2011 include appearances inChina (Shaoxing and Beijing), SouthKorea (Bushong and Incheon), Taiwan(Taipei, Jung-Li and Tou-Fen), Col-orado, Kansas, Georgia, Michigan,Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsyl-vania, and Texas.

Since coming to UNT, his ACappella choir has twice been honoredwith invitations to sing for TMEA (2004

and 2010). Dr McCoy’s choirs havetoured Europe three times, givingconcerts at the Salzburger Dom, StPatrick’s Cathedral (Dublin), StBartholomew’s Cathedral (London),Chester Cathedral (Chester) and StNicolas Church (Prague). His commer-cial recordings include releases byKlavier Records and GIA MusicPublications.

Bay Area Women’s Chorus

In just two concert seasons the BayArea Women’s Chorus has quicklyestablished a reputation for presenting

varied and exciting performancesfeaturing the finest repertoire for treblevoices. Formed in 2009 in answer tocontinued growth in enrollment in theBay Area Mixed Chorus, the Bay AreaWomen’s Chorus performs on all seasonprograms and special events such asmajor works concerts with orchestraand Veteran’s Day concerts. MusicalDirector Keith Dixon rehearses thewomen once a week, immediately priorto the mixed chorus rehearsal.

The Women’s Chorus shares thelegacy begun when the Bay Area Choruswas established 46 years ago. One ofHouston’s oldest non-profit performingorganizations, the all-volunteer BayArea Chorus of Greater Houston hasbrought heartfelt performances toHouston and the Texas Gulf Coast since1965. More than 100 singers bring

unique interests,ethnic back-grounds, andcultural experi-ences to the twoBAC chorusesand represent avariety ofprofessions asdiverse asHouston itself.

The Bay Area Chorus takes an activerole in promoting singing as a life-longpursuit by showcasing school, church,community, and university choirs on allregular season programs. Twentydifferent guest choirs were featuredduring the 2010-2011 concert season.The chorus has collaborated with manynoted choral conductors and musicians,including Alice Parker, Weston Noble,Nick Page, Barbara Johnson Tucker, andDr Barbara Wesley Baker. The Bay AreaChorus appears on the DVD, Weston

Noble: Perpetual Inspiration,distributed internationally bythe Hal Leonard Corpora-tion.

Now in his 16th year asMusical Director, KeithDixon holds the distinctionof having the longest tenurein the 46-year history of theBay Area Chorus. An activeclinician for workshops,festivals, and honor choirs, hehas served on the choralfaculty of the OklahomaSummer Arts Institute atQuartz Mountain since 2006.Choirs under his directionhave appeared in concert atfour TMEA Conventions and

his Kingwood HS Madrigals havepresented the honor choir concert atfour American Classic Madrigal/Cham-ber Choir Festivals. Mr Dixon has beenthe organizer for TMEA All-RegionChoirs and ACDA HS Honor Choirsand was a member of the musicselection committee for the ACDAMonograph, The Foundation ofArtistry: An Annotated Bibliography ofDistinctive Choral Literature for HighSchool Mixed Choirs. He servedmultiple terms as the ACDA Southwest-ern Division Repertoire and StandardsChair for High School Choirs. MrDixon’s own choral singing participa-tion has been with the Houston Sym-phony Chorus, Concert Chorale ofHouston, and the acclaimed RobertShaw Festival Singers, with whom herecorded the Telarc releases, AmazingGrace, Evocation of the Spirit, andAppear and Inspire. He is presently Chairof the Klein HS Choral Department.

Keith Dixon

CLINICIANS


Julie Ann Allen Vicki Baker Dennis Boyter Dianne Brumley Deborah Carney Stephen Carrell

Chris Crook Sid Davis Dan Davison Scott Deppe Tracy DePue Danny Detrick

Virginia DuPuy Paula Edwards Laura Farnell Katelyn Farris Billy Ferguson Ryan Forkner

BBQ Entertainment – The House Jacks

The House Jacks are the originalrock band without instruments.Using nothing more than their

five mouths, these pioneeringmusicians deliver everything fromscreaming rock to heartbreakingballads for their devoted fans, tens ofthousands strong and still growing.Songwriter’s Monthly says “Prepare tobe blown away!” The OaklandTribune says, The House Jacks offer “abattery of sounds that make mince-meat of the traditional limits of thehuman voice . . . .” These musicianshave performed over 2,500 shows inthe US, Germany, Austria, Switzer-land, Italy, Japan, and Singapore, andhave shared the stage with LL Cool J,James Brown, The Temptations,Crosby Stills and Nash, and Ray

Charles. Their Radio Spots for RickDees Top 40 have been heard by 50million listeners on 330 US radiostations and 50 other stations around

the world. Their jingles for radiostations in Los Angeles and SanFrancisco have been heard by morethan 1.5 million listeners.


CLINICIANS

John Gillian Beth Gove Frode Gunderson Greg Hobbs Cecile Johnson Craig Hella Johnson

Brenda Keen Rachel Keen Michael Lightfoot Cyndie Lowry Darla Meek Candy McComb

Carisa Niemeyer Donald Neuen Terry Price Jonathan Reed Julie Romeo Florence Scattergood

Sally Schott Julie Scott Lahonda Sharp John Silantien Sandra Snow Robert Stovall

Carolyn Terrell Toni Ugolini Brittany Wooten Debbie Wooten


ACCOMPANISTS

Jeanna Baibos Debby Barkey Bob Brewer Cliff Carbone Sid Davis Carla Gaylor

Peggy Graff Patricia Neighbors Marsha Robinson Kathryn Zetterstrom Jennifer Zaccagni

CONDUCTORS

Terri Berrier Taylor Davis Cynthia Douglass Craig Griffith Karen Herrera Alan Raines

Sandy Shelley Nona Schwab Debra Stevens Mica Kolb Janwin Overstreet-Goode

Leslie Tanner Mike Ware


Texas Choral Directors Association56th Annual Convention and New Music Reading Clinic

July 27 - 30, 2011, San Antonio

Tentative Schedule(This schedule is not definite; event times and or places may change before Convention.)

Wednesday, July 2710:30 am Golf Tournament TBA

Barry Talley, Organizer12 noon - 10:00 pm Child Care Available 209, 2112:00 - 6:00 pm MS/JH Honor Choir Registration/Rehearsal 2143:00 - 7:00 pm Registration Open Exhibit Hall C3:00 - 6:00 pm Exhibits Open Exhibit Hall C5:00 - 6:30 pm College Student Meeting 207B5:00 - 6:15 pm Director’s Chorus Rehearsal Marriott Riverwalk Hotel6:00 - 8:00 pm Soiree Marriott Riverwalk Hotel

Thursday, July 287:00 am - 6:00 pm Registration Open Exhibit Hall C7:00 am - 9:00 pm Child Care Available 209, 2118:00 am ColCm: Conducting Masterclasses, Dianne Brumley, John Silantien 206

MS/JH: Honor Choir Rehearsal 214MS/JH: Rehearsal Techniques I, Dr Sandra Snow 214Reading Session: Sacred U/2-Pt, Nona Schwab 217Reading Session: Pop/Jazz, Debra Stevens BR C

9:15 am EL: TCDA EL Honor Choir Audition Techniques, 206Cyndie Lowry, Katelyn Farris

Ch: “Performance” Isn’t a Bad Word, Dr Donald Neuen 207HS: Sight Reading with the Stars, Beth Gove, Sally Schott 217Reading Session: MS/JH Boys, Craig Griffith BR C

10:00 am - 6:00 pm Exhibits Open Exhibit Hall C10:30 am Ch: How To Plan and Travel With Your Choir, Lahonda Sharp 207

Reading Session: Unison/SA, Karen Herrera 217Reading Session: HS SATB, Terri Berrier BR C

12:30 - 1:30 pm Ch: Care & Feeding of Church Music Ministry, 205Terry Price, Sid Davis, Michael Lightfoot

ColCm: Wear Your Gym Clothes, Virginia Dupuy 206HS: Booster Clubs that Work, Paula Edwards 207MS/JH: Assisting the Special Ed Student in Rehearsal, 217Julie Ann Allen, Vicki Baker

12:30 - 4:00 pm Honor Choir Rehearsal 214MS/JH: Rehearsal Techniques, Dr Sandra Snow

1:45 pm Col/Cm: If I Only Knew Then . . . Part I, 206Toni Ugolini, Ryan Forkner, Carissa Neimeyer

EL: Mother/Daughter Teachers, Brenda & Rachel Keen, 207Debi & Brittany Wooten

HS: Warm-ups, Dr Jonathan Reed 217Reading Session: Advanced JH/HS Training, Sandy Shelley BR C

3:00 pm EL: From Choral Connections: Classroom to Concert, Deb Carney 207Reading Session: Adv HS/Col, Alan Raines 217

4:15 pm Performance: Schola Cantorum, Dr Jerry McCoy, director BR C


5:30 – 7:00 pm Director’s Chorus Rehearsal BR C7:00 pm Worship Service First Baptist Church

Featuring The TCDA Festival Chorus, Dr David Neuen, director

Friday, July 297:00 am - 11:00 pm Child Care Available 209, 2117:30 am - 5:30 pm Registration Open Exhibit Hall C8:00 - 11:00 am MS/JH Honor Choir Rehearsal 2148:00 am HS: Entertainment Tonight, Julie Romeo 206

EL: Movement with Masterworks, Darla Meeks 207MS/JH: Rehearsal Techniques II, Dr Sandra Snow 214Reading Session: MS/JH Treble, Mica Kolb 217Reading Session: TMEA All-State Music, Janwin Overstreet-Goode BR CCh: Tried & /Proven Literature BR C-3Chris Crook, Frode Gunderson, Greg Hobbs

9:00 am - 4:00 pm Exhibits Open (Not open on Saturday) Exhibit Hall C9:15 am EL: Children’s Literature II, Billy Ferguson 206

MS/JH: Rehearsal Techniques III, Dr Sandra Snow 214MS/JH: Creativity in Choral Rehearsal, Laura Farnell 217ColCm: Choral Aphrodisacs, Craig Hella Johnson BR C

9:30 - 11:30 am High School Student Day, Leadership Training BR C-310:30 am TMEA Region Meetings Everywhere!11:30 am – 12:45 pm Directors Chorus Rehearsal 21711:45 am – 12:45 pm EL: Choral Tone, Marguerite McCormick 20611:45 am – 12:45 pm MS/JH: Boy’s Changing Voice, Dan Davison 2141:00 pm Ch: Music Education in the Church, Stephen Carrell 207

MS/JH: PML Preview, Grades I, II, III, Leslie Tanner 217Reading Session: HS Treble/Men, College Student Conductors BR CHS Student Day — Vocal Techniques, Virginia Dupuy BR C-3

2:15 pm ColCm: If Only I Knew Then . . . , II, 206Florence Scattergood, Dennis Boyter, Vicki Baker

HS: Why Do Men Sing? Worldwide Perspective, Dr Jonathan Reed 217Reading Session: Sacred General, Taylor Davis BR CHigh School Student Day, The House Jacks BR C-3

3:00 - 4:00 pm Visit Exhibits (Last Chance; Not open Saturday) Exhibit Hall C4:00 pm TCDA Business Meeting BR C

Performance: MS/JH Honor Choir, Dr Sandra Snow, director2011 Commissioned Work by Dan Davidson

7:00 pm TCDA BBQ La Villita Assembly HallEntertainment: The House JacksSponsored by Hal Leonard, Pepper of Dallas/Fort Worth, Music Educational Resource Network (MERN)

Saturday, July 307:00 am - 1:00 pm Child Care Open 209, 2118:00 - 10:00 am Registration Open Exhibit Hall C8:00 am Ch: The Youth Choir: Ideas that Work!, Tracey DePue 207

MS/JH: Rehearsal Strategies, Dr Sandra Snow 214Reading Session: Holiday/Seasonal, Cynthia Douglas BR CEL: Singing in the Schulwerke, Julie Scott BR C-3

9:15 am MS/JH: Management Strategies for the Choral Classroom, 207Candy McComb

Reading Session: Sacred Advanced, Mike Ware BR CHS: The House Jacks BR C-3EL: Tried and Proven Literature 217Terrell Johnson

10:30 am Performance: Bay Area Women’s Chorus, Keith Dixon, director BR CTCDA Director’s Chorus, Dr Jonathan Reed, director


There are phrases that are often tossedaround or bandied about by choirdirectors toward their singers. These

may include, “I need a rounder sound,”or “I need cleaner/clearer articulation.”

These phrases may seem innocuousand even helpful. If such commands aregiven with the tools to carry out thecommand, the director has the potentialto receive his/her desired result. Howeverif a command is given without the toolsto carry out the command, then thestudent will have to create a solution.There is an inherent problem with this.The student’s solution may or may notgive the director the desired result. Evenif the creative solution gives the director asatisfactory result, the singer may or maynot be using an efficient anatomicalsolution. Unfortunately some techniquechoices have the potential to last a verylong time. The brain/body commandscreate patterns of behavior.

Let’s examine the common phraseslisted above. The first command, “I needa rounder sound”, is frequently used bydirectors with younger students. It isimportant to be sure that directors allowstudents to physiologically sing with ageappropriate sound. This is not to say thatthere won’t be times when directors getan unnaturally shrill, harsh, or overlybright sound from the singers that isundesirable. Such results beg the biggerquestion, “Why?” Singers often try tocontrol sound by clenching the jaw. Iurge you to remember that, anatomically,

everything is interconnected, and as suchthere is a cause and effect action whensinging. If the student is clenchinghis/her jaw, most likely the verticalposition of the larynx is elevated.Remember that there are muscles that

connect the jaw to the hyoid bone (thehyoid bone is at the top of the laryngealskeleton. See Figure 1, 2, and 3.) Themanipulated vertical laryngeal positioncuts off warm overtones. The singer’sinstinct is to fix it by scooping or cuppingthe tongue in the center to press thelarynx down thereby lengthening theresonance tract and adding more lowovertones. It is unnecessary to manipu-

late this position. If the jaw is relaxed(space between the back molars or thinkduh), the vertical position of the larynxwill release downward simply by relaxingthe jaw. Often the base of the tongueoverworks and will relax when the jawdoes. This will in turn create a natural“rounder” tone from the singer. Try anexperiment. Gently place the tips of yourfingers vertically on the front of thelarynx. Next clench the jaw and noticethe larynx vertically rise. Following theclenched jaw position (while keepingyour fingers on the larynx) think ‘duhjaw’ and notice that the larynx relaxesand vertically lowers. This will achievean efficient, healthy, anatomically‘rounder’ tone from your singers.

The next command, “I needcleaner/clearer articulation”, is also usedoften by choral directors and voiceteachers. Be careful, because what youask for you just might get! A singer ofteninterprets this command as “more”.More is not necessarily better but issimply more of what is already beingdone. For instance, ‘n’ and ‘l’ are conso-nant sounds that are routinely producedinefficiently. For both sounds, thetongue is activated and touches the hardpalate. The jaw, while it is part of thearticulatory system, is not in charge ofarticulation. It needs to be free to flap inthe breeze as needed but not be incharge.1 The way to achieve cleaner/clearer articulation is by efficiency andaccuracy, not necessarily just more.

How Do We Teach the ‘How To:’?by Sharon L Radionoff, PhD

Sharon L Radionoff, PhD,is Singing Voice Specialistand Director of the SoundSinging Institute. She is alsoa Singing Voice Specialistand Voice Technologist voicecare team member at theTexas Voice Center in

Houston. Dr Radionoff is an active clinician,lecturer, researcher, and author. The VocalInstrument is a textbook resource and is

available through Plural Publishing. Faith andVoice is a coffee table devotional published byInkwater books. Further articles by DrRadionoff can be found in Texas Sings!, TheJournal of the Association of AnglicanMusicians as well as chapters in several books.Watch for a new project entitled “Where DoesMy Voice Come From?” to be released soonin DVD format from a live filmed presenta-tion. She serves on the editorial board of theJournal of Voice and is a member of TVF,

CMS, MENC, TMEA, and NATS. Dr Radionoff earned a BME from EMU,

an MM from SMU, and a PhD from MSU.She also completed a Professional Fellowshipat AIVER in Philadelphia, PA, under DrRobert T Sataloff. Contact the Sound SingingInstitute by P: (713) 960-1648, F: (713) 521-1674, or E: [email protected]. Log on to www.SoundSinging.com,http://www.soundsinging.com for furtherinformation.

“The next command, “I need cleaner/clearer

articulation”, is also usedoften by choral directorsand voice teachers. Be

careful, because what youask for you just might get!

”


The primary shaper for vowel soundsis the tongue (with the lips beingactivated for the vowels /u/ and /o/(please note the IPA is being used for thevowel sounds). Think about twoconcepts, if you will. There is a forwardor horizontal position necessary for allvowels with the tongue tip being forwardand behind the bottom teeth where theteeth and gum line meet. Secondarily,there is a shaping of the tongue thatoccurs for different vowel sounds to beable to occur. Try an experiment. Chanta /u/ vowel on a comfortable tone.Notice that the center of the tongue feelsnarrow and that the tongue is relativelyflat. While chanting the /u/ vowel changeto an /i/ vowel. Notice that the centerand back of the tongue move higher andthat you even feel the sides of the tonguetouch the upper teeth. The center of thetongue feels wider then on the /u/ vowel.

Now let’s examine consonants.Consonants are organized bytype/classification and anatomic

area as well as the manner of shaping ofthe speech sounds.2 Class and anatomi-cal area include:

Lips = labial/bilabialTeeth = DentalLips and teeth = Labio/dentalGums/bony ridge = Alveolar ridgeHard palate = PalatalPalato-alveolar boundary and tongueblade = Palato-alveolar

Soft palate = VelarGlottis = Glottal (space between thevocal folds)

The manner (shaping) of speech

sounds includes:Stops (plosives): Complete closure atsome point along the vocal tract(i.e. /b/)

Fricatives: Friction of air through arestricted opening (i.e. /f/)

Glides: Can be used as either vowelsor consonants and are sometimescalled semivowels — involves thelips (w), the tongue (y)

Liquids: Can be used as either vowelsor consonants and are sometimescalled semivowels — involves thetongue (l, r)Consult pages 32 and 33 of The Vocal

Instrument1 for examination of the fourtables of consonants organized bymanner of production, class of sound,

and anatomical area. The examples arefurther grouped into either one categoryor two: voiceless and voiced. Voicelessmeans the absence of vocal fold vibra-tion, and voiced means the presence ofvocal fold vibration. Voiced/Voicelesspairs are called Cognates which act moreor less like cousins, same anatomy butone has only air through the formedspace (voiceless) and one includes vocalfold vibration for pitch (voiced). Thesetables are a combination of those byBunch3 and Zemlin2 respectively.1

In conclusion, the bottom line is thatexcellence and accuracy will occur ifproper ‘how to’ is given clearly andconcisely. More is just more and notnecessarily better or more efficient. Theinformation exists to teach anatomicaland physiological efficiency. Don’t delayor hesitate to seek the necessary knowl-edge. You will have happier and healthiersingers not to mention a lower frustra-tion level!

References1. Radionoff, SR. The Vocal Instru-

ment. San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing;2008.

2. Zemlin WR. Speech and HearingScience: Anatomy and Physiology. 3rd ed.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall;1988.

3. Bunch M. Dynamics of the SingingVoice. New York, NY: Springer-VerlagWien; 1993.

4. The author wishes to thank RobertO’Brien (Blue Tree Publishing) forpermission to use Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 3Supraglottic Vocal Tract

(Resonator)

“In conclusion, the bottom line is that

excellence and accuracywill occur if proper ‘howto’ is given clearly andconcisely. More is just

more and not necessarilybetter or more efficient.

”

Hyoid bone

Figures 1 and 2 Laryngeal skeleton, front and side view, with intrinsic muscles

Hyoid Bone is the white structure


Officer Comments

Let Music Live! This phrase from “TheAwakening” by Joseph Martin is apowerful proclamation we should be

shouting from podiums across the state.In 1993 this TCDA Commissioned Workwas premiered at the summer conventionby the TCDA Men’s Directors Chorus. Asa relatively new teacher that year, I wasencouraged by a veteran director toregister and participate in the experience.I hate to think what I would have missedhad I not heeded that word of encour-agement! Thank you to whomever thatwas who took the time to make sure I didnot miss out! Conducted by Martin, thatwas a formative experience for me as Iwas seeking to define the kind of teacherand conductor I wanted to become.

Since that 1993 performance, we haveshared many meaningful musicalexperiences at TCDA as we have joinedvoices in a Directors Chorus on multipleoccasions. Numerous pieces of musichave been premiered and countlessdirectors have been encouraged andinspired to be better teachers andconductors for their students. Thissummer the men of TCDA have theopportunity once again to experiencegreat repertoire, inspiring rehearsals, andthe hearty fellowship that the TCDADirector’s Chorus affords.

TCDA Men, please accept myenthusiastic invitation to join the 2011TCDA Men’s Directors Chorus under thedirection of Dr Jonathan Reed, MichiganState University, at our Annual Conven-tion on July 27-30. Dr Reed is nostranger to Texas having conducted theTexas All-State Mixed and Men’s Choirs.Singing under Dr Reed, a spiritedconductor, consummate musician, andmaster teacher, provides a great opportu-nity to experience the camaraderie andartistry of our profession. The TCDADirectors Chorus will perform six piecesincluding the premiere of the 2011TCDA Commissioned Work for high

school men composed by Craig HellaJohnson.

Act now to secure your place in thechorus by completing the onlineregistration at www.tinyurl.com/tcda-choir and mailing your $25 fee to me(Jeff Rice, 817 Arlington Dr, Waco TX76712). Please do not hesitate to contactme at [email protected] if youhave questions.

Now, back to the “Let Music Live!”statement. Is music alive in your choirprogram? How do you know? We haveall heard the phrase, “Life is not mea-sured by the number of breaths we takebut by the moments that take our breathaway”. If music is alive and well in yourrehearsals and performances, you willexperience those magical moments thattake your breath away. What causes thosemoments to happen? In my opinionthese moments are a convergence ofseveral fundamental elements. Theseelements, when developed and practicedregularly, will result in music coming tolife in your classroom.• Quality curriculum/choral

literature chosen carefully for eachensemble. This is, arguably, the mostdifficult task for the choral director.Throughout the years I have found thebest resource for quality choral literatureis to ask respected directors for theirrepertoire lists. Less experienced teachersshould also study the UIL PrescribedMusic List for quality, time-testedselections chosen by experienced choraldirectors who have served on the UILPML Committee. Attend TMEA/ACDAconcerts and UIL contests taking noteson pieces you think would work for yourchoirs. Peruse the websites of top choralmusic publishers for ideas. Of course,attend the TCDA Convention and NewMusic Reading Clinic each summer.• Positive, warm relationship

between students and teacher. This issomething that looks different for eachone of us. Some people are moregregarious and outgoing than others.However, we must reach out to ourstudents to let them know we care. Theold saying, “They will not care how muchyou know until they know how muchyour care”, is true! Do not try to be theirbuddy. Be a consistent, mature adult andyou will have respect and love returnedfrom your students. Once this relation-ship is established, students will be more

likely to “buy in” to what we are “selling”.You will experience a higher level ofdedication to your program and to themusic you teach and you will enjoywarm, affectionate, respectful relation-ships with your students. • High quality instruction from

professional directors/teachers. This isa sensitive subject because we each havevaried methods and practices that haveevolved based on our personalities andexperiences. In other words, what worksfor me may not work for you. However,we must be able to speak intelligently onthe subject of choral music. We mustuse appropriate vocabulary to explain,demonstrate, and elaborate on thefundamental and advanced concepts ofour art. For example, a music teacherwho is a poor rhythm reader is like anEnglish teacher who cannot spellcorrectly. Students are turned off byteachers who are not masters of theirsubject. If you struggle in this area, seekprofessional help! By that I mean to askfor assistance from master teachers youtrust. Strive to hone your teaching skills.Attend TCDA/TMEA/ACDA workshopswhere experienced teachers are sharingtheir knowledge and experience.Without being arrogant and stuffy, wemust take this to heart if we hope to betaken seriously by students, colleagues,parents, and administrators. If we areto perpetuate our profession, we musttreat it with respect by being the bestwe can be.• Atmosphere of excellence in class

every day! As Vince Lombardi said,“Perfection is not attainable, but if wechase perfection we can catch excellence.”We cannot achieve or even demandperfection, but we can enjoy the chase. Inchoral music education there is always askill or element to be honed or refined. Itis our job to discern what that is and howto go about teaching that skill. There ismuch repetition in refining choral music.Make each repetition meaningful andworthwhile by giving your students a goalto achieve. More precise pitch/rhythm,more consistent and unified tonequality/vowel production, better phraseshaping, word/syllable stress, breathmanagement, etc. There is alwayssomething that quality teachers can findto extend their instruction to a deeperlevel. Encourage your students along theway to critique themselves and improve

PresidentElectJeff Rice


One of our 20th Century choralgiants began many letters to his

Collegiate Chorale with these words. No,I am not comparing myself to RobertShaw. We only share a first name.However, as I had the opportunity toread the book, Dear People, I was struckby the beauty and simplicity of thosewords. They encapsulate much of whatwe do and who we are in choral music.People. I knew a man who was the mostgifted manual conductor I ever saw.However, he could not find the music inthe people. He conducted the music heheard in his head. Unfortunately thiswas not how his choir sang. Why couldhe not get the music into and out of thepeople? I have always theorized that youcan be a very mean person and a veryfine musician, and you can still havesuccess in the world of music. Converse-ly, you can be an extremely nice personand not a very good musician, and getalong in the world of music. However, Ido not know any person who has hadlongevity and is neither a great musiciannor a nice person. Have you?

Why? We are in the people business.Hugh Sanders, former Baylor Choirdirector and an ACDA President, oftensaid (paraphrased) that we can usepeople to make great music, or music tomake great people. As ashamed as I amto admit it, I have tried it both ways.

Hugh was right. What a privilege wehave to help people become betterbecause of choral music. We occasional-ly speak of how we must work as a team,and how we are dependent upon oneanother. How does that look in yourchoir?

I have been blessed with seven yearsof TCDA Board service. I was humbledto be asked to run for MS/JH VicePresident in 2000. I was humbled, again,to be asked to run for President. Theopportunity to serve TCDA has been atrue joy and privilege in my life.Absolutely the best part has been theBoard members with whom I haveserved. I have had the opportunity toserve with great people who care aboutTCDA, and about other people. DonaldBailey, John Hemmenway, Betsy Weber,Wannetta Hill, Suzanne Medlen, MichaelO’Hern, Judy Dobbins, Dianne Brumley,Danny Detrick, John Dickson, Jeff Rice,Joel Price, Debra Moses, Don Shelley,Mary Jane Phillips, Billy Talley, KathyLollar, Janwin Overstreet-Goode, AmyAllibon, John Silantien, Karen Gonzalez,Thomas Coker, Sharon Paul, DiannaJarvis, Kay Owens, Pam Elrod, PhyllisKing, and Greg Shapley. Many thanksto Dan Wood, our Executive Director.His management skills have given TCDAfinancial stability, and been a solidfoundation upon which our future rests.We will always be grateful to Dan for hisyears of service to TCDA. Jeanne Kuhn-Lowenhaupt, our Executive Assistant, hasbeen an invaluable resource in our officeand at our Convention. She is the cheeryvoice who greets our membership andvendors.

One of the new initiatives to helppeople become more vested in music,and in TCDA is our High School StudentDay. Last year the Board voted unani-mously to begin this annual event. Our

first student day was a wonderful success,with 241 registered attendees. We hopeto continue that trend this summer.

Based on feedback from directorsand students, we are again offering amorning student leadership workshop.This year’s workshop will have a slightlydifferent approach to the topic of studentleadership. We have all been to a greatsession at a convention and thought,“How do I do that when I get home?”This summer, Scott Deppe will present“The Application of Student leadershipSkills”. This practical workshop will giveyour student leaders thoughts on how torun meetings, how to conduct yourself asa student officer, and what leadershipbehaviors look like at home in yourprogram. Scott, who is the BandDirector at Lamar University has taughtpublic school at the middle school andhigh school level, and has years ofpractical experience helping studentsdevelop their leadership potential.

After the lunch break, during whichstudents can visit our exhibits and grab aquick bite to eat, Virginia Dupuy willfacilitate a vocal master class for studentattendees. As all of our students aresingers first, better singers make betterchoirs. Virginia is currently professor ofVoice at SMU. She has many years ofsuccessful teaching and performingexperience, and your students willbenefit greatly from her experience.

The final experience of the day willbe brief concert demonstration by thevocal a cappella group, The House Jacks.Their energetic style and amazing vocalskills will be a high-energy way to finishthe day for our high school studentattendees. Feel free to check out theirwebsite, http://www.housejacks.com.

They will also be our entertainmentfor the BBQ that night. The BBQ isalways fun and full of surprises.

Officer Comments

PastPresident

Bob Horton

no matter how small the improvementmay seem. Do not be an intimidatingtaskmaster, but an encouraging, support-ive, guide to success.

As music grows and thrives in thelives of our students each day, itspowerful ripple effects will reach into ourschool, community, city/town, andbeyond. What we do in our classroomevery day determines whether or notmusic will continue to live in our small

corner of the world. Are you doing yourpart to represent the best in music toyour students and community?

Not only should music live in ourrehearsal halls across the state, but itshould also live in each and every one ofus. Take every opportunity to supportand participate in music of all kinds.Honestly, I am not the best example ofthis, but I am trying to get better. We allneed to spend more time seeing the

podium from the perspective of the choirmember and the audience member. Singin your church/community choir. Attendthe local college/university musicperformances. Sing in the TCDA Men’sDirectors Chorus this summer. Hope-fully, it will be inspirational for you likethe 1993 experience was for me. I hopeyou will join us in San Antonio thissummer and encourage your colleaguesto come, too! Let Music Live!√

Dear People,


Officer Comments

Looking Into the Crystal Ball . . .

. . . I see a busy and stimulating TCDAConvention in your future! So I’mexcited to be able to share Convention2011 news with you in this issue. TheBoard has been shaping this Conventionsince last September – and during ourrecent February meeting, our enthusiasmgrew steadily as we put the final toucheson the schedule. There are incrediblesessions going on in all the divisions, andthe College/Community Division is noexception.

Student ConductorsEighteen separate colleges have

nominated their best and brightest toserve as student conductors in theTreble/Bass Reading Session this year.These future podium stars will becoached by Dr John Silantien, Directorof Choral Activities at UTSA, andDianne Brumley, Director of ChoralActivities at UT Brownsville. Yourattendance at this session is stronglyencouraged — it’s a rich learningexperience for the students and awonderful way for the rest of us tosupport our future colleagues.

In addition to working with theirterrific conducting coaches, our studentconductors, along with the other studentmembers in the College/Communitydivision, will be invited to attend an

opening-day reception (Wednesday, July27) where they will “meet and greet” theTCDA Board members and also betreated to what promises to be aninvaluable presentation by DannyDetrick (Director of Fine Arts, BirdvilleISD) and Robert Stovall (Director of FineArts, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD). Thesession will feature some indispensibletips on building resumes, interviewing forjobs, and much more. In the currentclimate where jobs are few and farbetween, this will be a discussion that allcollege students (and perhaps theirteachers) will want to attend.

Conducting MasterclassThe Conducting Masterclass has

become an integral part of the AnnualConvention. This session offers atten-dees an opportunity to examine theirown conducting techniques, whether asparticipants or observers. The featuredclinicians this year will be DianneBrumley and John Silantien. They willwork with four conductors on repertoirethat represents four separate stylisticperiods. These conductors will bechosen early in the summer and willprepare their assigned pieces in advance.If you are interested in being consideredas one of the conductors for thismasterclass, please email me [email protected] by June 1.

Interest and Reading Sessions“Singing is an athletic event.” So

says Virginia Dupuy, Professor of Voiceat SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts.Virginia will explain her statement fullyin Wear Your Gym Clothes, a sessiondevoted to exploring that all-importantbut sometimes slippery concept – breathsupport. She will demonstrate howsingers can use their muscles to sing,while still avoiding the tension associat-ed with muscular singing. The result is

stamina, comfort, and ease of vocalproduction. Virginia will also present avocal techniques session for the highschool students who attend High SchoolStudent Day on Friday, July 29.

At the close of last summer’sConvention, one of you submitted thefollowing suggestion: “Offer a newteacher luncheon to enable Q & A on thepart of new teachers and to enable newteachers to rub shoulders a bit withcolleagues and experienced teachers.”While we can’t offer lunch (I’ll bringpeppermints, though!), we have takenthe gist of this wonderful idea andexpanded it into a two-part sessionentitled “If I Only Knew Then What IKnow Now . . . .” Part I will feature apanel of young teachers who will sharesome of their freshly-learned hardlessons. Toni Ugolini (Schrade MS,Garland), Carisa Niemeyer (ForestMeadow JH, Richardson), and RyanForkner (North Mesquite HS, Mesquite)will be the panel – those of you whoknow these three can attest to the highquality of story-telling and humor thatis promised. For Part II, we have invitedveteran teachers Florence Scattergood(Reicher Catholic HS, Waco), VickiBaker (Texas Woman’s University,Denton), and Dennis Boyter (retiredpublic school choral director; currentlyUniversity Supervisor for StudentTeachers, Sam Houston State Universi-ty) to offer their own perceptions fromthe vantage point of long and distin-guished careers in choral conductingand music education. Both sessions willfeature Q & A opportunities – so plan tocome rub these shoulders. They carrylots of wisdom.

And there will be another fantasticQ & A opportunity during this Conven-tion. You know the name, Craig HellaJohnson (Artistic Director of Conspir-are: A Company of Voices). We attend

College/Community

Pam Elrod

Finally, I must say a huge word ofthanks to my family and colleagues. Myco-workers have handled my service toTCDA with a wonderful, gracious spirit.They have always been understandingand supportive of my service andencouraging throughout my seven yearson the Board. Their support has been ablessing. My family is my treasure.Connie, Andrea, and Ben have all

experienced TCDA with me. Connieserved as a Board member, too, when Iwas not serving. Andrea and Ben haveboth been selected for TCDA HonorChoirs, and Andrea attended High SchoolStudent Day last summer. I will always begrateful to them for their love, encourage-ment, and support. I am looking forwardto their continued involvement in ourwonderful organization.

Finally, to you, my colleagues, Iextend my thanks and appreciation.Your confidence in me as a servant ishumbling. Your willingness to serve ourorganization makes us strong andunique. Your wisdom, expertise, andlove makes us all better. We are madebetter as musicians and people.

Dear People, Thank you.√


Officer Comments

2011 High School DivisionConvention Highlights!

It’s almost summer! The clocks havebeen turned forward and we areheading into the final days of the 2010-

11 school year. Recently at lunch, agroup of my students were talking aboutthe variety of genres available in acappella music and the influx of new acappella groups. I was energized by theirexcitement as they discussed all of thepossibilities for the upcoming 2011-12school year and what they wanted toaccomplish in the coming year. So,where can we as teachers go to find thelatest and greatest ideas, and meet withcolleagues? Why, TCDA, of course!

As we rejuvenate and recharge ourminds in the summer, what better placeto find ideas, inspiration, and repertoirethan the 2011 TCDA Convention on July27-30! We have incredible clinicians,innovative workshops, spectacularperformances, and reading sessions withnew music that will invigorate andstimulate your heart, mind, and soul.This will be one convention you will notwant to miss!

We have six motivational, effective,and practical workshops in the HighSchool Division.

Why Do Men Sing? A WorldwidePerspectiveThis is the first of two informative andamazing sessions for the High SchoolDivision featuring our TCDA Men’sChorus Conductor, Jonathan Reed. Themotivation of why men sing the worldover will be presented and discussed. Itwill feature a compendium of researchfrom nations worldwide regarding thecommon thread of men’s voices lifted insong and expression. This is a sessionfull of inspiration and insight!

Warm-ups! Developing a SuitableArsenal for Fabulous VocalismJonathan Reed will share his imaginativeand creative ideas for warm-ups thatwill lead to a healthy and productiverehearsal. This engaging session willbenefit you and your choir as Jonathanguides you through his incrediblehandout that will transform your timein the classroom this upcoming year.Look for the additional informational“perk” in the session.

Sight Reading With the StarsPrepare to be spellbound and

entertained as you place yourself in thejudge’s chair to view distinctiveapproaches to sight reading competition.A stellar cast of TCDA members assem-bled by clinicians Sally Schott, TMEAPast President, and Beth Gove, CedarPark HS, will portray “conductors” and“choirs” presenting scenes from the sightreading room – the good, the bad, andthe ugly!

As you watch you can determine howeffectively each “conductor” organizesthe study period, establishes andmaintains rapport with the singers, offersverbal instructions to the choir, facilitatesthe involvement of student leaders,knows and follows the rules, allows foroptimum application of previouslylearned skills, addresses the particularchallenges of the piece being read, andprepares the singers for success.

Accompanying the presentation willbe a PowerPoint and handout. The focuswill be on how to select and establishappropriate procedures that will maxi-mize the success of your choir in sightreading competition and the relationshipof the sight reading room process to theyear-long delivery of instruction in theclassroom.

Entertainment Tonight with JulieRomeo

Experience the wonders of incorpo-rating technology and recording tech-niques into your rehearsal. Come see thelatest, greatest technological blingdemonstrated and integrated into actualrehearsals. Julie Romeo, Romeo Music,will help you maximize every minute youhave with your students. A PowerPointfeaturing high school choral directorswho are currently integrating technologyinto their rehearsals will be presented.Julie will also demonstrate a variety oftools for use in rehearsal. A handoutwith informational tools will also beavailable. This is truly a session for the21st Century high school rehearsal.

The View: Booster Clubs that Work!Do you want to motivate and utilize your

HighSchoolSharon Paul

the Conspirare concerts and listen to theCDs. But wouldn’t it be nice to sit downand pick his brain a bit? Spend sometime with him, just to listen to him shareprogramming ideas, musical experi-ences, life experiences, thoughts oncomposing, and plans for communityoutreach projects? You’ll have theopportunity to do that this summerwhen he hosts his own session called,Choral Aphrodisiacs. He picked thistantalizing title, so I know he’s planningto include some tantalizing topics. Youwon’t want to miss this one . . . . By theway, Craig is also the composer for thisyear’s commissioned work – theDirector’s Chorus (as you already know,

it’s a men’s chorus this year) willperform the premier of that work onSaturday morning, July 30.

And finally, make plans to attend theAdvanced High School/College ReadingSession on Thursday, July 28. It will beconducted by Dr Alan Raines, Directorof Choral Activities at Baylor University.

Featured ChoirsWe are incredibly fortunate to have

two superb community choirs perform-ing this year – Schola Cantorum ofTexas, conducted by Dr Jerry McCoy,and the Bay Area Women’s Chorus,under the direction of Keith Dixon.

Based in Tarrant County, Schola

Cantorum of Texas is one of the state’smost well-regarded community chorus-es. Jerry McCoy has served as the musicdirector of this fine ensemble for fouryears. We look forward to their concertat 4:15 pm on Thursday, July 28.

Then on Saturday, July 30, at 10:30am, the Bay Area Women’s Chorus willshare the program with the 2011Directors Chorus. Formed only twoyears ago, this women’s choir hasbecome a highly popular partnerensemble to Houston’s Bay Area Chorus,which is also directed by Keith Dixon.

For more information about thesegroups, see the full-length biographiesalso included in this issue.√


Officer Comments

It seems that every spring is a mad dashto the end of the school year. Choirtrips, pop concerts, award banquets,

final exams, collecting uniforms — achoir director’s “to do list” seems to growwith every passing day. Before we knowit, we will be putting away the last pile ofmusic, storing our pianos, checking offfinal grades, and saying our goodbyes tostudents and colleagues.

For a few weeks in the summer wehave an opportunity to abandon ourschool routines and replace them withother activities. It’s as though we aregiven a chance to explore an entirely newside of life. This gift of time allows us tofind true meaning in things that arebeyond the boundaries thrust upon us

throughout the school year. Summer is atime to step out of the mundane and intoa new world of possibilities. With this inmind, I would like to encourage you toconsider all that summer can possibly be.After contemplating this idea for manyseconds, I have developed a summercreed that I plan to live by during themonths of June and July. I invite you toconsider embracing a few of these ideas asyou approach the beginning of summer.

A Middle School Choir Directors Summer Creed

• I will once again become a member ofsociety and begin doing so by reintroduc-ing myself to the strangers who dwell in myhouse and address me as “Mom.”

• I will sleep past 5:30 am withoutwaking up in a panic.

• I will spend my days driving to andfro while the sun is still up in the sky.

• I will relearn how to nourish myselfin a civilized way by taking longer than 10minutes to eat a meal.

• I shall walk among my fellow manwithout yelling, “Stop running, you’regoing to hurt somebody!”

• I will take a much-deserved break

from my daily “Whack a Mole” game(aka, boys’ choir).

• I will avoid, at all costs, any childish,immature girl drama unless it occurs onmy favorite reality show.

• I will take time to grow back a fewnerves since my students found greatdelight in simultaneously jumping on mylast one during the entire month of May.

• I will soak in the warmth of thesummer through means other than a copymachine.

• Most important, I will celebrate thesmall things in life such as no longerstrategically planning my bathroom breaksaround school bells.

I hope your time off this summerwill be filled with fun and laughter soyou can approach the 2011-2012 schoolyear refreshed, rejuvenated, and excitedabout teaching!

2011 TCDA Convention PreviewI am very excited about the 2011

TCDA Convention we are planning forour membership. There are severalsessions offered each day that will providepractical application in your music

MiddleSchool/Junior HighDianna L Jarvis

choir parents, but are not quite sure whatto do? Find out how to create a boosterclub that supports the choral programand choral directors. Join experiencedand successful booster club sponsor andclinician, Paula Edwards, Robert E LeeHS, as she shares her expertise in forginga partnership with parents, establishingguidelines for success, and maintainingmomentum from year to year. Ahandout will be available.

Demonstration Session with TheHouse Jacks: Featuring Deke Sharon’sArrangements!

Wow! You will not want to miss thissession! Hear The House Jacks perform,demonstrate their performance tech-niques, and give insights into theirwriting and arranging process. Listen totheir audio clips from The Sing Off andStraight No Chaser, and then sight readthe actual octavos arranged by DekeSharon! There will even be a short beatboxing tutorial. Find out what’s going onin the contemporary scene and createyour own a cappella sensation in yourschool. Octavos will be provided. Thissession is sponsored by MERN.

Our talented high school readingsession conductors will be CynthiaDouglas, Cypress Ranch HS; TerryBerrier, Lake Highlands HS; DebraStevens, Saginaw HS; and JanwinOverstreet-Goode, Friendswood HS.Our fabulous accompanists will beMarsha Robinson, Cypress Woods HS;Kathryn Zetterstrom, Coronado HS;and Bob Brewer, Episcopal Church ofthe Epiphany.

You will not want to miss participat-ing in the Directors Chorus this year,featuring the men of TCDA, under thedirection of Jonathan Reed. Please gothe TCDA website to register for thechorus. It will be an amazing experiencefor the performers and the listeners. Themen will be preparing the high schoolTTBB commissioned work by CraigHella Johnson, who has graciouslyshared his talents for the TCDA premiereat this year’s Convention.

And there’s more! This year’s TCDABBQ entertainment will be The HouseJacks. The House Jacks are a five-mana cappella band that creates vocal andinstrumental textures using only their

voices. They are energetic and charismat-ic performers of their own original andselect covers in many genres. They alsoimprovise arrangements at the audience’srequests. In addition, The House Jacksfeature amazing instrumental imitations(drums, harmonica, and muted trumpet).Add it all up and you have a laughter-filledevening of engaging and amazing musicthat audiences will want to experienceagain and again. Check out their website,albums, and utube clip:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHKAJM_L9uU. You may purchase BBQtickets on the TCDA website when youregister, or on site. The House Jacks aresponsored by JW Pepper and HalLeonard.

Also we are honored to recognize andfeature Melva Sebesta as our Lest WeForget honoree this year. Please take thetime to see the TCDA exhibit featuringMelva and her contribution to choralmusic in Texas.

So, mark your calendars and plannow to attend the 2011 TCDA Conven-tion! This is a year you will not want tomiss! See you in San Antonio!√


Officer Commentsclassroom regardless of your experiencelevel. I encourage you to find a colleaguewho has not attended the TCDA Conven-tion before and invite him/her to join usJuly 27 through the 30th, in beautifuldowntown San Antonio. You and yourcolleague will be glad you did.

TCDA MS/JH Honor ChoirThis year’s TCDA Honor Choir will

be directed by Dr Sandra Snow. DrSnow currently holds appointments inconducting and music education at theMichigan State University College ofMusic. She conducts the Michigan StateUniversity Women’s Chamber Ensembleand has held a principal residency withthe Pacific International Children’sChoir Festival and made guest appear-

ances with the 2009 Texas All-StateMixed Choir, the 2010 SouthernDivision Honor Children’s Choir, andthe New Jersey All State Women’s Choir.Dr Snow will be joined by nearly 200MS/JH singers from across Texas whoauditioned to be selected as members ofthe TCDA Honor Choir. Mostrehearsals are open to TCDA membersand will offer a unique view into DrSnow’s work with adolescent voices.This year’s Honor Choir will premier anew work for boys entitled Showdownby Dan Davison at their concert onFriday, July 29, immediately followingthe TCDA Business meeting.

WorkshopsSuccess for All— Many educators

feel inadequately trained to successfullyassist special education students in theirchoir programs. Dr Vicki Baker andJulie Ann Allen will present a sessionthat will decipher the truths and mythsabout disabilities that are commonplacein today’s classrooms. They will providebasic information on several commondisabilities, explain the students’potential limitations and offer sugges-tions concerning how to assist studentswith disabilities.

Putting the Fun in Fundamentals— Ifyou or your students ever become wearyof the same old “drill and kill” when itcomes to teaching choral basics, we havejust the session for you! Texas’ owncomposer and master teacher, LauraFarnell, will present a session entitled,Creativity in the Choral Rehearsal. Hersession will provide great ideas abouthow to put the fun back into teaching thefundamentals. Laura will present playfulgames and activities that will not onlyeducate your students, but will also keepthem engaged and excited about comingto your class.

PML Preview— Leslie Tanner fromMcAllen will present at this very informa-tive workshop. With the new UILPrescribed Music List due out thissummer, many directors are curious aboutthe new changes. Leslie will introduceseveral of the new selections added to theGrade I, II, and III lists for treble,tenor/bass, and mixed choirs. PatriciaNeighborswill serve as accompanist.Attend this session and be among the firstto know what made the list!

Love and Logic: ManagementStrategies for the Choral Classroom—One of the most common issues thatteachers encounter throughout theircareer is classroom management. CandyMcComb, who is a trained Love andLogic facilitator, will present a sessionthat provides ideas you can implement inyour classroom the first day of school.This session will focus on the Love andLogic system for teachers. Topics willinclude managing disruptive students,how to get and keep students’ attention,building positive student-teacherrelationships, teaching students thatdecisions have consequences, andlearning how to help students own andsolve their own problems. This is asession you can’t afford to miss.

The Boys Changing Voice: Tips and


Officer Comments

More or Less?

Imagine yourself on a deadline. You arelooking at a completely blank page.You must write something: a lesson

plan, a letter to a parent, a note to a co-worker, a “to-do” list, an email, an article,a section of the PDAS. What happensinside your head when the time comes toput your thoughts in writing? Iabsolutely cringe — even when I amjotting down the things I might need atthe store! When I put something inwriting, it makes me accountable andthen, internally, it forces me to commit toactually doing the things that I havewritten down. Now, the truth is, I alsoreally like it when I get to scratch thingsoff my “to-do” list or am able to checkback with an email to verify a date. I liketo have my lesson plans and lettersarchived so I can refer to them and have astart for the next time. Technology hascompletely transformed the art ofkeeping information organized andavailable. However, there is a balance tohow much or how little information is

needed. Here is a look, more or less,from a teacher/director standpoint.

When writing lesson plans, writemore. Whether sharing plans with a co-teacher or turning them in to a campusappraiser on a weekly basis, it would bebetter to have more details when writinglesson plans. Only writing the name ofthe song or the piece of music would notbe enough for an administrator or anemergency substitute to figure out whatthe students will need to do. Providingthe routine steps to a plan could helpmove the work along and then manysongs could follow this same routine.An example of a short excerpt of a lessonmight look like this:

Familiar song: “Let us chase thesquirrel”

1. Teacher “loo”; students identifysong and check

2. all sing: beat/rhythm/rhythmsyllables

3. sing again with melodiccontour/handsigns/solfa

4. canon: 4 beat canon/2 beat canon.Don’t forget to switch

5. add ostinato “ up the hick’ry tree”and perform again, switch

6. Play game 7. end with 2 beat canon and ostinato

Providing these few additional detailswould be a help to decipher what shouldbe happening in class even when aperson looks back at their own plans.For after-school choir, I always like to put

the lesson plan outline on the board sothe students know exactly what is next. Itis a wonderful time saver and keeps meon track as well as providing the studentswith a time frame for their attention. Weall work more efficiently when we havespecific, short goals and can see ourprogress on a list!

When writing an email, be brief.When writing an email, I suggest writingless information and offer a telephonecall to give more details. So many timesthe email format is very impersonal. Iknow that the administrators I haveworked for have preferred to talk aboutany concern in person. Once it appearsthrough email, it becomes public record.Parents appreciate the same for privacyreasons. A quick email to let the personknow you would like to visit alerts themto look for a call. Short is better.

When writing a list, add this. Onething to add to your “to-do” list is toattend the TCDA Convention thissummer, July 27-30! You will want to bethere for the fantastic sessions featuredfor the Elementary Division! A wonder-ful balance of classroom sessions withchoral connections will give a specialboost to professional learning in a relaxedsummertime setting. Our main readingsession for the Unison/SA materials willbe conducted by Karen Herrera. DarlaMeek and Billy Ferguson will return toadd even more ideas to their standing-room-only sessions from last summer.Cecile Johnson, Carolyn Terrell, and JohnGillianwill share elementary choral

Elementary

Phyllis King

Techniques —With 32 years of teachingboys to sing at the junior high level, DanDavison offers tips on how to work withmiddle-level male singers who areexperiencing choir for the first time. Danwill discuss techniques for voice place-ment, pitch matching, development ofhead voice and falsetto, appropriate vocalexercises, improving tone, and tips onhow to tune chords. This workshop willoffer techniques that female directors canuse when working with young malevoices, and also techniques that maledirectors can use when working withyoung female voices.

Rehearsal Strategies—Dr SandraSnow will present a session Saturdaymorning about various techniques usedwhile preparing students for the MS/JH

Honor Choir concert. She will offervaluable insight into the most effectiveways to structure a rehearsal and providenumerous ideas that directors canimplement in their daily rehearsals.Come prepared to ask questions andlearn from this master teacher.

New Music Reading SessionsGet a head start on choosing music

for the upcoming school year by attend-ing the reading sessions. We offer threeMS/JH reading sessions that will offernew repertoire printed during the last 12months. The JH/HS Training Choirreading session will be directed by SandyShelley and accompanied by JeannaBaibos. Craig Griffith will introduce usto new tenor/bass repertoire and will be

accompanied by Cliff Carbone. MicaKolb will lead the MS/JH treble readingsession with Jeanna Baibos serving as theaccompanist.

Additional Areas of InterestThere are numerous clinics and

events planned by the other TCDAdivisions. Additionally, be sure to leaveroom in your schedule to attend concertsby the Bay Area Women’s Chorus, theDirectors Chorus led by Jonathan Reed,and, of course the MS/JH Honor Choirled by Sandra Snow. Lastly, don’t forgetto purchase your tickets to the TCDABBQ held on Friday, July 29, at 7:00 pm.

Enjoy the rest of your school year,and I look forward to seeing you in SanAntonio!√


Officer Comments

Ihope you’ve had a wonderful Easterseason! Hopefully you’ve had a chanceto rest just a little before tackling the next

project. As you begin to make yoursummer plans, I invite you to attend the2011 TCDA Convention at the Henry BGonzalez Convention Center in SanAntonio, July 27-30. This year’s Conven-tion features many exciting opportunitiesfor your personal and professional growth,and you will leave feeling energized andexcited about what you do each week tothe glory of God through music.

Church Division Festival Chorus Dr Donald Neuen, Conductor

TCDA welcomes Dr Donald Neuen,Director of Choral Activities at UCLA.

Dr Neuen also directs the AngelesChorale, and served as conductor of theCrystal Cathedral Choir. Dr Neuen was aprotégé of the late Robert Shaw andserved as assistant conductor of theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. DrNeuen will direct the inaugural ChurchDivision Festival Chorus comprised ofchurch choir singers from all around thestate. Additionally he will present asession entitled, Performance Isn’t a BadWord: The Case for Artistic Excellence.

Church Division WorkshopsCome and glean terrific ideas from

Tracy DePue as she leads The YouthChoir—From Small to Large, Ideas ThatWork. Lahonda Sharp will inspire youto hit the road with your choir in hersession, The Tour: How to Plan andTravel with Your Choir. She has traveledwith choirs all over the world andknows how to make things happen.Have you even needed some practicalanswers to your questions? VeteransTerry Price, Michael Lightfoot, and SidDavis will lead a session entitled, Nuts &Bolts—The Care & Feeding of the MusicMinistry. Together they bring a wealth

of knowledge to share. Finally, we allwrestle with change. So how do wefaithfully navigate those sometimesturbulent waters? Stephen Carrell leadsa discussion entitled, How do TraditionalChurch Music Choral Programs Fit the21st Century Church Model?

Reading SessionsNew music reading sessions include

Sacred Advanced be led by Mike Ware,accompanied by Patricia Neighbors,Sacred General led by Taylor Davis andaccompanied by Peggy Graff, and SacredUnison/SA led byNona Schwab. ChrisCrook, Frode Gunderson, and GregHobbswill lead a reading session of Tried& Proven Repertoire for church choirs.

The Church Division of TCDAoffers five workshops and four musicreading sessions in addition to theWorship Service on Thursday evening.Unlike many other music conventions,the music packets are free for you.Additionally all division workshops andevents are open, so you can attendwhatever you like, including the 300-booth exhibit hall. Be sure to buy aticket to the Texas BBQ featuringentertainment by The House Jacks.

Some Practical Tips for the Choral Rehearsal

One thing is probably true for all ofus in the church, we sing a lot of musicevery year. Here’s a tip I learned alongthe way: allow the choir to read througha piece in its entirety, perhaps even acouple of times before attackingproblem spots. Yes, we should point outtrouble spots before the reading – keychanges, difficult rhythms, unusualchords – but in the end, trust yoursingers. If you’ve been teaching andmodeling good choral technique andlistening skills, then your singers willlearn to self-correct, therefore freeing theconductor to work on the larger musicalpicture. So many conductors fall into thetrap of teaching a few measures at atime, and this method doesn’t allow the

Church

Greg Shapley

favorites with a Tried and Proven readingpacket; special thanks to JW Pepper. JulieScott is providing a session with aperspective on singing in Orff Schule-werk, and Marguerite McCormickwilllead a discussion of children’s choral tone.Cyndie Lowry and Katelyn Farris will

offer suggestions for submitting quality-recorded auditions, in preparation fornext year TCDA Elementary HonorChoir. Mother-Daughter music teacherpairs, Brenda and Rachel Keen plus Debiand Brittany Wootenwill bring activitiesand singing games that they share.

Deborah Carneywill show how selectedclassroom songs can be converted easilyto concert material as well.

So whether writing a lesson, anemail, or a list, remember to add TCDAto your summer plans! Put that inwriting on the calendar from me!√

ADTTexas Choral Directors Association

Texas Choral Directors Association

56th Annual Convention and New Music Reading ClinicJuly 27-30, 2011 – San Antonio Convention Center

The 2011 Convention will featureheadliners Donald Neuen,Jonathan Reed and Sandra Snow,

plus 13 New Music Reading Sessionsand more than 250 titles. Choose from35-plus workshops at all levels,including workshops specifically forStudent Members. High schoolstudents preparing for careers inmusic will benefit from High SchoolStudent Day, a full-day conference

designed specifically for them. Enjoyperformances of TCDA CommissionedWorks by Craig Hella Johnson and DanDavidson, the MS/JH Honor Choirdirected by Sandra Snow, and theinaugural Church Division FestivalChorus, directed by Donald Neuen.Explore the Trade Show featuring morethan 300 exhibit booths, and don’tmiss the BBQ, with entertainment byThe House Jacks!

For registration information:TCDA n 7900 Centre Park Drive, Suite A n Austin, TX 78754

512/474-2801 n TexasSings.org

Officer Comments

M&Ms

M&Ms are one of my many choco-late comfort snacks. When onehas had a bad day, a nice handful

of M&Ms can help one’s feelings. Ratherthan thinking of the chocolate pieces,let’s think of this comfort in the job wedo each day.

M – Music – As a choral director,think of the many musical experiencesthat you give your students over thecourse of four years. You give them theexperience of learning literature at a veryhigh level by participating in UIL contesteach year. You give them the experienceof sight reading at an advanced level.You give them the experience of singingwith an orchestra or singing in a venuethat far exceeds the high school auditori-um. But most of all you give them theexperience of creating musical momentseach year of high school.

& – And – You teach them how tobecome leaders in a group setting.Also, you teach them “life-lessons”. Forexample: if you are not going to be at arehearsal or concert, you must commu-nicate that information with your choraldirector; you must be on time forwarm-up and rehearsals. Many of ustravel with our students and take themon trips that give them life-learningexperiences. My choir always has onemeal for which we “dress nice each tripthat in itself can be a learning experi-ence in a nice restaurant.

M – Memories – Each year,memories are made by students.Students have memories of whatdirectors do in rehearsals (some is good,

some is not so good); Students havememories of performances that will last alife time. Students have memories ofhow they feel while performing in yourchoir; Students also remember what yousay during rehearsals . . . you know allthose speeches we choral directors feelcompelled to give to our captive audi-ence, our students.

So enjoy the M&Ms of your daily jobwith your students. Now to get morecreative with these experiences you needto attend the TCDA Convention in July.

Pre-Registration is a must for thisyear’s Convention. Pre-Registrationdeadline is July 1. You will save $25 ifyou register early, not to mention thetime you will save standing in a shorter

line at registration. Remember you canregister on-line by going to www.TexasS-ings.org. Our categories are Active –teacher, director, consultant, supervisor;Associate – interested in TCDA objec-tives, do not meet Active requirements;Student – currently full-time student at aTexas Jr College, College, or University;Retired – retired from all areas of music,paid or voluntary, and interested inTCDA objectives. You will also want topurchase your BBQ tickets for great foodand entertainment by The House Jacks;the Golf Tournament; T-Shirts, Polos,and a Coffee Mug. You may also want todonate money to our scholarship funds.So, mark this date on your calendar July27-30, 2011 – TCDA Convention; July1st – Deadline for Pre-Registration.Grab a handful of M&Ms just for fun!√

Secretary/Treasurer

Kay Owens

group to have a big picture from thebeginning. Musical ensembles need asense of the big picture, so work fromthe outside inward. Certainly, if theensemble falls apart in the initialreading, then stop, find a good starting

point, and begin again, remainingpositive and never critical. Resist thecompulsion to stop and fix every detailfrom the beginning. It’s amazing howmany problems, especially wrong notes,will begin to correct themselves when

the singers have a chance to listen andlearn for themselves. Remember, we asconductors only facilitate the musicmaking, and I can still hear the words ofthe late Margaret Hillis ring in my ear,“Stay out of the way!”√


Make plans now for the

2011 SUMMER CONVENTIONThursday, July 7 through Saturday, July 9

RAMADA HOTEL, TOPEKA, KS

Featuring Doreen Rao (University of Toronto)Joe Miller (Westminster College)Shane Troll (Associate Artistic Director –

Cantible Youth Singers & Pinewood Elementary School)

Evening Activities:July 7 – Community Music and Worship Service

July 8 – KCDA State Women’s Chorus & Voices of Prometheus

Multiple reading sessions for all levels of choirs

Log on to www.kansaschoral.com for more information!

K A N S A S C H O R A L D I R E C T O R S A S S O C I A T I O N

texas sings! spring 2011

Documents

texas school

north texas

tcda board of directors

choral program

tcda bbq

taughtsecondary choral

annual tcda convention

music teachers