The Top Ten Posts of the 22-23 School Year
As we wrap up our semesters, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the Top Ten Posts of the 22-23 School Year. It is so cool for me to look at the analytics to see how many people have read each of these posts this year – thank you for your support! Make sure to comment below and let me know which posts were your favorite or what you are looking forward to next year!
Read on to learn what the Inspired Choir Top Ten Posts of the 22-23 School Year are!
Top Ten Posts of the 22-23 School Year
10. The Simple Joys of Malay Music: Yu Hang Tan’s Ikan Kekek
Number ten of the Top Ten Posts of the 22-23 School Year is Ikan Kekek by Yu Hang Tan. This Malay folk song appears to be talking about fish and cooking the dish pindang, but actually delivers a message of beauty in the simplicity of every day life. “Wait a second, my dear younger brother/sister, mak iloi iloi; Let’s go home together, mak ilai ilai.” In this post, I introduce to Ikan Kekek’s composer Yu Hang Tan, provide an overview of the Malay musical influences, discuss improvisation in choir, and share a rundown of Pantun-style poetry.
9. An Intro to Japanese Folk Music with Ruth Morris Gray’s Natsu No Yo Wa
With a sweet, pentatonic melody, accessible harmonies, and Japanese folk roots, Ruth Morris Gray’s Natsu No Yo Wa is an excellent choice for beginner choirs of all ages. Because the Young Voices singers learned the melodies, harmonies, and text so quickly, we were able to spend a nice amount of rehearsal focusing on musicianship and story-telling. With the knowledge of the history and context of the piece, these young singers painted a beautiful aural image of the moon setting behind the mountains of Kyōto. Learn more about the story and poetry and current Japanese music in this post.
8. Appreciating Indian Classical Frameworks with Reena Esmail’s TāReKiTa
Last year, one of my choral music education students introduced me to Reena Esmail’s work for choirs and I immediately added TāReKiTa to my to-program list. I could not pass up the driving rhythms, improvisatory sound, and gateway to a musical tradition that choral groups do not often study. It is so important to know and understand the musical context of this piece to produce an informed performance. In this post, I share a bit about the composer, Indian classical melodic frameworks, and origins of the piece in an effort to do just that.
7. Connect your Choir with Fly Away Home by Pinkzebra
With sweet melodies, charming text, and approachable harmonies, Fly Away Home by Pinkzebra is available and accessible for choirs of all voicing types. As singers consider the meaning of home and the feelings they associate with concept, choirs have the opportunity to share and connect – and perhaps find the freedom of home with each other. In this seventh-most read post of the 22-23 School Year I detail a bit about the composer and their work, discuss the lyrics of the piece, dig into the emotions behind “home,” and share some considerations for working with pop tonalities in choir.
6. Five Tips for Practicing Your Choir Music
You’ve decided it’s time to practice your choir music. You’ve marked your choir music and claimed your practice room or locked yourself in your bedroom or situated yourself in front of the family piano with your choral music opened and ready to go. Now what? In this post which is number six in the Top Ten Posts of the 22-23 School Year, I’ll walk you through how to establish a practice plan, practice your music in small sections, give yourself productive breaks, ask for help when necessary, and be kind to yourself throughout the process.
5. Celebrate South Africa with Modimo arranged by Michael Barrett
Number five in the Top Ten Posts of the 22-23 School Year is Modimo arranged by Michael Barrett. With pleasing melodies, strong harmonies, two South African languages, and djembe accompaniment, Modimo delivers what we have come to think of as a traditional African choral sound. In this post, I discuss how this piece opens up the opportunity to discuss traditional musical influences on South African choral music as well as the history and cultural context that shaped the country, and in effect, its music.
4. A Deep Dive into Hart Rouge’s Vichten for Choirs
Vichten as arranged by Hart Rouge in Hal Leonard’s Carrie Tennant Choral Series is a great challenge for treble choirs of all ages. With its energetic rhythms, tongue-twister text, and rich historical context, this piece has the potential to inspire great conversation and music-making. This was one of my very first posts for the blog, in which I discuss the historical, geographical, and cultural backgrounds associated with Vichten.
3. Inspire Feeling and Freedom with Ysaye M. Barnwell’s Wanting Memories
With a simple ostinato, thought-provoking text, and comforting harmonies, Ysaye M. Barnwell’s Wanting Memories is a beautiful addition to any choral program. Learning this piece cannot be complete, however, without an understanding of its roots, creation, and intent. In this third-most read post of the 22-23 school year, I describe these ideas and share my plan for re-arranging the piece with my treble ensemble.
2. Five Lessons for After the Choir Concert
During my first years of teaching choir, I would use the weeks after the final choir concert of the semester to work ahead on music for next semester. This was great until we returned from break and students had forgotten all of the work we did or were bored with the music by week two of the new semester. In this post, I share some fun and educational activities that I have tried and/or wish that I had tried with my middle school and high school singers after the choir concert!
And now – Number One in the Top Ten Posts of the 22-23 School Year…
1. Empower with What Happens When A Woman by Alexandra Olsavsky
Alexandra Olsavsky’s What Happens When A Woman is “a song for the strong women of our world who seek to empower themselves by asking important questions.” With its impactful message, driving body percussion, and excellent voice leading, this piece is a pleasure to learn and perform. In the most-read post of the 22-23 school year, I share a bit about the composer, Artemisia Trio, and Women in Music, and introduce important discussions that we might have with our ensembles as we prepare this piece.
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