Texas Sings! Vol 25 No 1 Fall 2009

2009 Fall v.7: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 9/29/09 3:02 PM Page 1

TEXAS SINGS!!

VOLUME 26 NUMBER 1

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF TEXAS CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION

FALL 2009

2009-2010 TCDA OFFICERS

Amy Allibon

Bob Horton

John Silantien

President

Past President

College/Community

Sharon Paul

Dianna Jarvis

Karen Gonzalez

High School

Middle School/Junior High

Elementary

Thomas Coker

Kay Owens

Dan Wood

Secretary/Treasurer

Executive Director

Church

NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 789

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TEXAS SINGS! Volume 26 Number 1 Fall 2009

OFFICERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRESIDENT

Amy Allibon, Fort Worth PAST PRESIDENT

Bob Horton, The Woodlands COLLEGE/COMMUNITY VICE PRESIDENT

Dr John Silantien, San Antonio

President’s Page

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54th Convention – Wow!

by Amy Allibon

Suggestions and Reflections

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by Dan Wood

HIGH SCHOOL VICE PRESIDENT

Sharon Paul, Houston MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH VICE PRESIDENT

Discipline in the Classroom

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by Glen T Miller

Dianna Jarvis, San Antonio ELEMENTARY VICE PRESIDENT

Karen Gonzalez, Garland

Officer Comments

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CHURCH VICE PRESIDENT

Thomas Coker, Houston SECRETARY/TREASURER

Kay Owens, Arlington EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dan L Wood, Austin EDITOR

On the Cover:

Dan L Wood

The 2009–2010 TCDA Board of Directors The TCDA Board includes newly elected members Sharon Paul, High School Division VP; Dianna Jarvis, Middle School/Junior High Division VP; and Kay Owens, Secretary/Treasurer.

ART DIRECTOR

James A Black, Coppell PUBLISHER

Good/Wood Associates PO Box 6472 Austin, Texas 78762

TEXAS

SINGS!

Official Publication of the Texas Choral Directors Association 7900 Centre Park Drive, Suite A Austin, TX 78754 512/474-2801 Copyright 2009 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

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Continuing in office are Amy Allibon taking the reins as President, Bob Horton assuming the office of Past President, Dr John Silantien continuing as College/Community VP, Karen Gonzalez as Elementary Division VP, Thomas Coker as Church Division VP, and Dan Wood as Executive Director.

TCDA Members On-Line — TexasSings.org The TCDA Member Database is password protected. We hope this is not inconvenient, but rather, serves to protect member privacy. Entry is very simple for members. When you click on “Member Database”, you will be asked for a username and password. Enter tcda and 2008 and you’re in!

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President’s Page

54th Convention – Wow! by TCDA President Amy Allibon

W

e say goodbye to Board members who have finished their terms and begin training the newly elected who fill those positions at the Board meeting that immediately follows the Convention. The comparisons of the tears of the outgoing members and the stark glaze of the freshmen members is a noticeable contrast. Serving on the TCDA Board is a unique experience of service, fellowship, and typically, a little weight gain. It’s an experience that I would encourage you to consider if you have a servant’s heart and a secret glee at previewing new music publications before your colleagues. To the outgoing Board members, a mere thank you seems inadequate for your years of service and dedication to TCDA. Janwin Overstreet-Goode, your quick thinking, calm spirit, and perennial focus helped our Board run smoothly, and focused the efforts of the Convention registration in an efficient manner.

Kathy Lollar, congratulations to you on a great Convention and, in particular, a successful Middle School Honor Choir.

The combined efforts of conductor Judy Bowers, your selfless section leaders, gifted accompanist, and you, inspired 200 middle school students to have a wonderful musical experience. Billy Talley, I am not sure if I am going to adjust to your absence in Board meetings. While you are a man of few words, the ones you speak wrapped in that Hank Hillesque drawl made everything funny, even if it was not supposed to be.

Who else but you could have taken TCDA’s Got Talent and made it such a hit? Without strong Vice Presidents, TCDA would flounder. Their hours of dedication, from reading 2,000-plus pieces of music for the new music reading sessions to planning informative and inspiring workshops, is why the TCDA Convention has the national reputation it does.

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President Amy Allibon

I give my thanks to Past President Bob Horton for leading the past two years and making some difficult decisions that have kept TCDA thriving.

Thanks in advance, Bob, for answering all my questions over the next two years, and for continuing to help guide TCDA in the roll of Past President. I know I will turn to you endlessly for guidance.

And to my big brother, Danny Detrick, who leaves the Board after serving five years on the presidential track added to two years as a Vice President in 19992001, I say that you have inspired me to be the best I can be as the new TCDA President. Your attention to detail, focused and friendly manner in meetings, and ability to see all sides of a situation have inspired me and so many others tremendously. It has been a complete joy to serve with you on the Board.

My efforts on the TCDA Board were blessed by an incredible team of Vice Presidents who are returning for another year of service. Karen Gonzalez, Elementary Vice President, provided a tremendous variety of workshops and received terrific feedback from her colleagues for her efforts. She is such an overachiever that she has many of the TEXAS√SINGS!

plans for next summer’s Elementary Honor Choir and Commissioned Work practically finished. Watching Thomas Coker, Church Vice President, put the Hallelujah! Amen! Worship Service together was joyful. An inspired and dedicated servant, Thomas also brought much needed handbell workshops back to the Church Division. John Silantien, College and Community Vice President, also succeeded in providing thoughtprovoking sessions for his division in addition to corralling 18 college students from all over the state for their debut conducting experience. Perhaps his greatest coup was working with Alliance Music Publications in getting Weston Noble to TCDA to chat with us and work with the Arlington Master Chorale.

Weston gave us inspiration to take into our own choir rooms and rehearsals.

So many moments of the 54th Convention propelled me into a fresh start at school. In only three short hours of rehearsal, Z Randall Stroope took 130 choral directors and shaped them into a cohesive ensemble singing challenging music. Just in case you didn’t write down some of his better rehearsal quips . . . “I’m getting used to the way you’re singing that – I don’t like it, but I’m getting used to it.” “Sopranos, don’t be so in love with your own voices that you’re useless to society.” Stroope is no stranger to us in Texas, yet we learn something new every time he is here. I was moved by the Arlington Master Chorale’s performance because they are a testament to volunteers dedicating time to choral music and excellence.

Their closing number rings in my ears . . . “it takes a whole village to raise one child . . . ” I envision Greg Haugen wailing away on the solo, and the choir tapping the heartbeat of the music. I am reminded, as I step into the role of President of TCDA, that it takes a whole village to make TCDA what it is and Fall 2009

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what it will become in the future. The Convention would not be possible without the hard work of Executive Director Dan Wood and his assistant, Jeanne Kuhn Lowenhaupt. It is mindboggling what they accomplish between Conventions, and I have come to appreciate their role so much more during this past year on the Board. I really appreciate and thank Barry Talley for hosting our annual golf tournament, and Stan McGill for getting the corpo-

Fall 2009

rate sponsorship for the tournament that enriches the TCDA scholarship fund. I know many of our members enjoy this event, and how many benefit from our scholarship awards. My final thanks is to all of the volunteers who serve on various committees throughout the year. You are definitely part of the village that raises the TCDA child.

The fall semester is well underway – routines are established and the honeymoon is over. By now your choristers

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have shown their true colors – attentive or talkative, faithful or habitually absent, positive or negative. We take all of this and somehow join the forces in one common goal, music. Remember that it takes a whole village to make your choral program the best it can be. Call upon willing parents, supportive faculty or congregants, administration, and the community to give you the help you need. Great things can happen when the village is involved. √

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Suggestions and Reflections

by Dan L Wood

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t’s that time again for examining suggestions from the Convention Suggestion Boxes and recommendations from the Ways & Means Committee. After writing this column for more than 25 years, it’s pretty difficult to be original. Some suggestions appear every year; basically there is little we can do about these. Happily, we are able to

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address many of your suggestions and they don’t show up in the boxes the next year, so much. Your thoughts and ideas truly are an important part of the Board’s planning of future TCDA Conventions. If you experience a problem, or a less-than-optimal situation, do let us know. We want TCDA Conventions to be perfect. Right, they TEXAS√SINGS!

won’t be, but we really, really try.

These questions and suggestions are in no particular order; I’m just picking some of my favorites and some of the most frequently asked or suggested.

Okay, and a few just interesting ones . . .

Comment: Thank you for a great Convention — again!

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Comment: Wonderful sessions!

Wonderful exhibits!

Comment: Awesome Convention! I loved every minute of it!

Comment: Kudos to the division VPs for their hard work selecting music for the reading sessions. Honor Choir was great — loved Judy Bowers.

Response: Of course I use these comments first! Who wouldn’t? There were many, many more very complimentary comments. Both compliments and helpful criticisms are a very important tool as your Board plans future Conventions. All are welcome!

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Comment: Thanks for another great Convention. TCDA’s Got Talent was a big hit. I laughed so hard I nearly fell out of my chair!

Comment: Pleasantly surprised by TCDA’s Got Talent. I enjoyed the acts more than the “professional” acts we’ve had recently. Did miss the food. Talley and crew did a great job!

Comment: Back to BBQ! Comment: Keep the talent show even if we go back to the BBQ! Comment: TCDA’s Got Talent! was great fun, but too long! Especially without food.

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Response: Thanks! And thanks, HS VP Billy Talley, for great planning and the great job as emcee. By way of explanation, we were unable to reserve La Villita Assembly Hall for the BBQ this year. We are dealing with this in every way we can for the future, but the Hall is a very popular (read, “inexpensive”) San Antonio venue, and we just got caught in a pinch. This facility also allows us to use the caterer of our choice while other nearby venues do not. This is a huge savings, making it possible to sell tickets for $15 rather than the $3550 it would take to cover the event 7

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anywhere else. And, yes, this is why you got bar nuts rather that BBQ at TCDA’s Got Talent! Just as an example, guess how much two baskets of bar mix for each table cost TCDA. $500? $750? No, it cost about $2,150.

So at Mr Talley’s suggestion we mounted the talent show. Thanks to all the acts who volunteered to prepare and enter the show. We had no idea how many of you to expect, so things like the shortage of chairs had to be dealt with quickly. Is there room for improvement?

Sure. If there is repeat, we’ll know better how to handle the show. Still, it was great fun and we’re pleased you enjoyed the show. And thanks, Pepper of 8

Dallas/Fort Worth, our “BBQ” Sponsor.

Comment: Great Convention; the Honor Choir was fantastic!

Comment: Judy Bowers is fabulous!

Bravo Kathy. Loved the literature.

Response: Thanks, MS/JH VP Kathy Lollar! The time it takes to produce this choir each year just floors me. I know you guys do this kind of thing every school year, but so does Kathy (and the many others over the years) and on top of that, plans and mounts the Honor Choir. Easy for me to say it’s worth the effort, but I think the experience we provide for 160 – 200 kids each year is just phenomenal.

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Comment: I was disappointed to discover that Judy Bower’s “Choral Rehearsal Techniques” workshop was just an observation.

Comment: Appreciated that Judy Bowers was not talking to the “teachers” but to the students and we were the fly on the wall observing her techniques.

Response: ??? “You can please all the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” Thanks, PT Barnum, for allowing my slightly revised quotation!

Comment: Great music in every session I attended.

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Comment: Advanced MS/JH Training Session was good, but the music is very advanced. None of the groups would be able to sing it. Not enough variety, all slow and sappy.

Response: Always diverse comments about music and music selection.

One note about the music that is chosen for reading, if I may. We must always remember that as our Board members make their choices, they are totally limited by the newly published (less that one year old) pieces that are provided by our participating music publishers. Also, publishers sometimes work in cycles – an emphasis on one kind of music one year, another the next.

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And then there are the muses. Composers are not always inspired to provide great pieces across the entire spectrum.

Every Board member reads through over 2,000 pieces to find the 300 or so we read in sessions.

TCDA is very lucky to have so many fine publishers who provide music each year. They recognize the buying power of our Convention and participate accordingly. So please, please prove these publishers are right by shopping and buying from exhibiting publishers and music retailers! Got a favorite publisher not participating in our exhibits? Ask them to join us! You could set a personal policy of buying TEXAS√SINGS!

only from TCDA exhibiting companies — radical thought! Your personal choice to do so could be a huge help to your professional organization!

Comment: Great room for the Soiree. Need more drink stations/bartenders.

Comment: Hated the long wait at the Soiree for drinks! Lines were too long. I know it’s free, but . . .

Response: Keep an eye out next year!

We’ll use the same room if it is available.

And we’ll try to add a bar or two. Bars and bartenders are a big expense, and so are all those “free” drinks. Remember how crowded it was? Multiply that 9

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number of people by $10-12 (TCDA’s cost of 2 drink tickets) and the big numbers will scare you! They do me!

Comment: Need a better way for packet distribution [in reading sessions].

There is a need for people who can’t attend the session to get a packet, but there need to be enough packets for those who are attending the session.

Response: Oops! There is not a need for those not attending the session to get a packet. Music packets are only for those members attending the reading session. The point is to have the audience watching their scores and singing along with the reading choir so 10

they can determine whether each piece is suitable for their group. If “hit and runners” (also sometimes referred to as “grab and goers”, or drive-bys”) take packets, there may, indeed, not be enough packets for those attending.

Your registration fee does not “guarantee” a packet from each session. Publishers this year provided over 220,000 pieces of music. To provide every attendee music from all sessions would amount to almost 500,000 pieces of music. Please be responsible members and leave the reading packets for the readers. Thanks.

Comment: I really dislike not having TEXAS√SINGS!

the exhibits open on Saturday morning.

[Now] I have to place my order for music on Friday afternoon, missing sessions and before the Saturday am reading sessions.

Comment: Kudos: We like the exhibits being open Wednesday afternoon as we register. Your mind and energy are fresh. There is time to really look without the distraction of needing to get to the next session or workshop.

We didn’t have the feeling that we missed something in the exhibit hall, nor did we feel rushed. Thanks!

Comment: Our exhibitors are weary after being here for TBA and TCDA. Comment: Like the exhibitors to stay a bit longer on Friday since they are not Fall 2009

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here Saturday. I do like Wednesday afternoon in the exhibits (is nice for exhibitors here for TBA and for TCDA).

Response: Well, change is seldom easy. Ending exhibits on Friday allows most exhibitors to get out of town a day early and put their heads on their own pillows, saving $$$ at a hotel. The Saturday exhibits closure was done to allow our exhibiting companies to “get out of Dodge” one day earlier. This is especially important for those exhibitors staying for TBA and TCDA. Staying open later Friday would help not accomplish this goal. A few, driving to nearby cities, could drive home, but those with great distances to travel, or those flying would Fall 2009

still have to spend another night in SA. As the years go by and this schedule becomes the norm, I believe members will find it every bit as satisfactory as the old model. I’m sure you will learn to make great use of the Wednesday hours.

We realize that we were all in the habit of ordering music on Saturday after the last reading session. That was a good plan, but surely there are alternatives.

Most music could already be ordered during the day Friday. By the way, we are going to open exhibits an hour earlier on Friday next year. Also, orders can be placed online Saturday, Sunday, or any day the next week, on your laptop on the ride home or in the comfort of your TEXAS√SINGS!

bedroom or office when you get home.

Comment: One exhibitor was approaching people in the exhibit aisles, escalators, etc, following and badgering, truly, until you took her flier. Aren’t they supposed to stay in their areas?

Response: Sorry for this unpleasant experience. Yes, by contract, exhibitors are supposed to conduct their business within the confines of their rented booth(s). If you see this again, please let me or any Board member know. I am sure this exhibitor did not know or understand the rules in this case, and if shown or reminded, will happily abide by them.

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Comment: Bravo, Arlington Master Chorale – wonderful performance. Nice sound/acoustics in Ballroom C. Response: Many more complimentary notes about this performance.

Thanks, Randy Jordan and singers, for helping to make this Convention a great one!

Comment: Directors Chorus was awesome! What a great way to end the Convention.

Response: President Elect (now President) Amy Allibon gets most of the credit for this one. She tackled this project with her usual flair. We had 12

several more comments about the chorus and Dr Z Randall Stroope’s participation in the Convention. Great move, Amy. Comment: This year’s TCDA Convention has been my favorite conference to date as a college student . . .

The diversity of the sessions and the amount of knowledge I gained exceeded that of anything I have experienced. The performances were fantastic and the exhibits were excellent. Thank you, TCDA, for providing a conference that met the needs of college students and did not separate or exclude them.

Response: Wow! Thank you. TCDA TEXAS√SINGS!

Boards over the last several years have made a concerted effort to offer students a viable and exciting experience at our Convention. It’s refreshing to hear that we may be on the right track. Please continue to join us every summer, and encourage your friends to come along, too!

Comment: How about more Tried and True reading sessions in every division?

Comment: Reading sessions are great, but we need more Tried & Proven sessions. Especially good for new teachers.

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Response: The Board has a “formula” for reading sessions, workshops, commissioned works, etc. We trade off reading sessions, workshops, and tried & true sessions between divisions in alternating years – MS/JH gets, say, three reading sessions and five workshops this year, only three and three, the next. Tried and proven sessions are a bit tricky.

Publishers are quite willing to provide reading copies of new music as part of their marketing plans. But the old Fall 2009

standard (Tried & Proven candidate) is another critter altogether. For the most part, publishers don’t need to promote Handel’s Messiah, for example. That they do provide music for the tried & proven sessions is amazing and very much appreciated. Please thank them every chance you get!

Comment: Perhaps the exhibits could open at 9:00 rather than 10:00 when they are not open on Saturday.

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Response: Yes, but our plan is to pack as many sessions and workshops as possible from 8 to 10, then leave the 10 o’clock hour for exhibits only. This gives a nice rush into the hall at its opening.

Still, we’re going to try it on Friday this next year, opening from 9 am till 4 pm.

Comment: Room for Tim Sharp was too small. Can I get his notes or outline online?

Response: http://www.ensemble.org/ 13

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tcda/index.php?p=2009conv. We try to get all the handouts from workshops online within a very few days of the Convention’s end.

Comment: Session Rooms were standing room only. This needs to be fixed. It makes no sense to have so many larger rooms that are empty while cramming people into rooms that won’t fit.

Response: Boy, I’m not sure we attended the same Convention. Yes, rooms were crowded, but there are no empty larger rooms. We use Ballroom C, Room 217, and 214. These are the only large rooms available to us, and I think you’ll find that they were in use constant14

ly, or empty for a reason, like resetting for another session or workshop with different room requirements, in use for a rehearsal, or etc. I would challenge you to plan this Convention any fuller or tighter. Aha! However, even as I say this, in 2010 we are planning to repeat some workshops in some smaller rooms that are available. This should allow more of our attendees to catch more of these great workshops.

Comment: Two and three excellent clinicians at the same time — how frustrating!

Response: We do have many great clinicians, thanks. We’ve already talked TEXAS√SINGS!

about doubling some clinics to gain greater access to these guys.

Comment: We expected bags! Oh no :(!

Comment: Please consider giving tote bags at registration.

Response: Boy, I wish we could do this every year. Bags have been a luxury provided by Pepper and other exhibitors.

Times are tough right now. All businesses are having to tighten up. The only way we could always do this is to raise the registration fees. I hate to brag (well sorta hate to brag) about the bang TCDA gives you for your registration buck! Our membership fee is almost embarrassingly Fall 2009

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low at $30, and ditto for the Convention registration fee at $75 or $100 — really unbelievably low prices. As an example, dues for the professional association I belong to as your association manager are $250 - $450 depending on association budget. The annual conference fee is $325 - $475. ACDA dues are $85, and on and on. Think about the value of your TCDA membership, and maybe bring a backpack next year. As our economy climbs back up on the horse, I’m sure exhibiting companies will step up with some of these great freebies again.

Comment: Computers for members to use the Internet.

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Response: Expensive. Go to Pepper’s booth, though, for Internet access.

Comment: Pay phones, please.

Response: Not our job! We have very little input about building accessories. And you can get pay-as-you-go cell phone service for almost the price of a few pay phone calls.

Comment: Reserve parking in advance. Long, hot walk from some lots.

Response: ??? I’m at a loss.

Comment: The rising cost of college and texts needs to be addressed.

Response: President Obama may be TEXAS√SINGS!

able to address this, but TCDA? Comment: Always schedule TCDA during Cowboys Training Camp!

Response: I’m checking Jerry Jones’ iCal now . . .

Comment: Come on, guys, it’s summer. 8 am sessions?

Comment: Please, not pops music first thing.

Response: Somebody has to be first.

And I guess we could start clinics and sessions at 9, knock off from 11-1 for lunch, then close up at 4 for taco time.

Then we’d also be saving money by not having to pay all those clinicians and 15

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those high-priced headliners. Convention would still be a bargain, but we like packing it full of great and exciting clinics and reading sessions. And, as we said earlier, we’re planning to repeat some sessions. Think this can help a lot.

Let us know what you think after Convention 2010.

Comment: Offering the Honor Choir experience to our students is, in 16

my opinion, one of the best aspects of TCDA. I spoke with one father who said his son was in tears after the concert because he had enjoyed it so much and was sad to see in end. Wow! Perhaps a future TCDA President has been inspired by this Honor Choir experience.

Comment: Just when I think I really need more summer, TCDA always gets me excited to teach again. You can’t put a TEXAS√SINGS!

price on that!

Response: What’s to say? I’m proud to be a small part of TCDA! Comment: I bet Glenda has been watching the Convention from high above and I’m fairly sure she would say, Awesome Convention!

Response: Bummer. Someone oneupped me on my Glenda closer, but I agree! √ Fall 2009

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Discipline in the Classroom

by Glen T Miller

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fter teaching choir at the junior high and high school level for 20 years, I found myself back in the elementary music room . . . with no clue as to the best way to handle the discipline.

Kindergarteners through fifth graders filled my room throughout the day, and I felt most ill-at-ease with the littlest ones – tiny bundles of energy with ceaseless activity in their little bodies.

My background as a choir director, regarding discipline, was “my way or the highway”. I carried a big stick and you didn’t want to mess with me. I found that I needed to find a creative way to handle the elementary kids.

Then a miracle happened: I was introduced to Time To Teach. This method of handling children was refreshing. I found it to be a nice, neat package of how to handle kids. It is all research-based, time-tested, and proven.

I’d heard some of the ideas before, but I found in Time To Teach an effective way to handle discipline – with very little teacher stress!

Beliefs

Time To Teach is based on this premise: “Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Madeline Hunter. When you think about it, this is just common sense.

When students are recognized, liked, and respected they are psychologically more ready and open to receive your teaching.

A strong, positive approach to discipline that allows for mutual respect is greatly preferred. When students make mistakes they should certainly be held accountable, but in a way that promotes taking personal responsibility for their actions, rather than the use of punishments that Glen T Miller is a part-time trainer/consultant for The Center for Teacher Effectiveness, based in Hayden Lake, Idaho. With 27 years of experience in education, he has taught all grade levels, K-12, including core subjects, as well as general music, choir, and band. Glen has worked for the Lufkin ISD Music Staff for the past 24 years, both at secondary and elementary levels.

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are ineffective for bringing about any long-term change in behavior.

Conflict is inevitable, and an essential part of growing up. Children seem to be designed to pinpoint weaknesses, and they’re good at it. They look for areas of uncertainty, so that they can determine their operating limits. Teachers need to design a predictable environment with clear limits and expectations, consistent and effective discipline, and adequate supervision, while turning inevitable conflicts and challenges into opportunities for learning and behavioral reform.

Behavior can be changed. We can’t change the way kids have been parented, but we can have an impact on their future behavior. Regardless of the origin of a problem, teachers can do a great deal to help a student be successful. We can teach the disrespectful to be respectful, the unmotivated to be motivated, and the irresponsible to be responsible. We can seek to change willful misbehavior.

Teachers have amazing power for good in the lives of children. We must believe that we can make a difference to every child and that behavior can be changed for the better. Teachers using Time To Teach are doing just that.

Good behavior must be taught.

Students do not necessarily know how to behave. One of the most unchallenged assumptions in schools today is that students know how they are supposed to behave when they enter a classroom.

Some children come to school unsocialized and unaware of what’s expected of them. This may negatively affect the classroom. It’s not our job to judge them, but to welcome these students and then teach them our expectations.

Classroom rules and routines need to be systematically taught. Even the most eager-to-please, well-behaved children don’t know how to act until they have been systematically taught the rules and routines of the classroom. We need to provide specific methods and strategies for “teaching-to” expected behaviors. We have repeatedly observed the value of time spent at the beginning of the year in TEXAS√SINGS!

truly teaching, not just explaining, expected behaviors, and we woodshed these rules and routines periodically throughout the year as needed. After more than four decades of field-testing Time To Teach, I have become convinced that teaching behavioral expectations is as important as teaching academics. The results are impressive, and at the end of the year our children have learned more, teachers have taught more, and both are happier.

Good discipline is well timed. It’s the little stuff that wears us down, not the big stuff. More focus is traditionally placed on serious, violent behavior. While this is important, strategies for dealing with the 99 percent of minor infractions that wear us down daily are notably absent from many school discipline programs.

Consequently, a “gray area” develops when it becomes necessary for a student to be removed from class, but the only, and typical, course of action available to accomplish this (write a referral) is either too extreme or difficult to justify in the eyes of administrators. “Ongoing, disruptive talking in class” just doesn’t carry the same weight on a referral as “physical assault”, but the cumulative impact of these persistent minor disruptions on learning, and on your stress level, can be devastating. An effective plan and alternate course of action must exist in such cases to allow teachers to contingently withdraw attention from the problem behavior while continuing learning. The Time To Teach “REFOCUS” strategy was expressly designed for the purpose of empowering teachers with the additional discipline options they so desperately need. By dealing with behavior issues before they become full-blown disruptions, we eliminate the need for excessive discipline. We must use well-timed actions to intervene early in the “chain of behavior”, stopping the cycle of events and major problems before they happen.

Management Styles

There are three basic types of classroom management: (1) Authoritari17

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an, (2) Permissive/Indifferent, and (3) Authoritative.

The authoritarian teacher places firm limits and controls on the students. Verbal exchange and discussion are discouraged, and the students usually don’t have the opportunity to learn or practice communication skills much. This teacher prefers vigorous discipline and expects swift obedience.

Because the teacher makes all the decisions, this style does little to increase achievement motivation or encourage the setting of personal goals.

Research says that children who are reared in this type of environment will eventually resist and rebel.

The permissive/indifferent teacher places few demands or controls on the students and can appear generally uninterested. He is more concerned with the students’ emotional well-being than he is with classroom control. He wants to be the students’ friend. However, this overindulgent style is associated with students’ lack of social competence and self-control. With few demands placed upon them, these students frequently have lower motivation to achieve.

Research says that children who are reared in this type of environment will eventually turn to disrespect and chaos.

The authoritative teacher places limits and controls on the students but simultaneously encourages independence. This teacher often explains the reasons behind the rules and decisions.

If a student is disruptive, the teacher offers a polite, but firm, reprimand. This teacher sometimes metes out discipline, but only after careful consideration of the circumstances. He exhibits a warm and nurturing attitude toward the students and expresses genuine interest and affection. He encourages self-reliant and socially competent behavior and fosters higher achievement motivation.

Research says that children who are reared in this type of environment have higher grades, better relationships with their peers and adults, longer lasting and higher paying jobs, and longer lasting and more fulfilling marriages.

At times it’s okay to be authoritarian in the classroom, and it’s also acceptable to sometimes “look the other way”. But generally, the authoritative management style is the way to go in the classroom.

And this is what Time To Teach is all about.

Challenging Behavior

What do we do when a student 18

openly challenges us in front of the rest of the class? “Why do we have to do this?

This is boring!” Essential to successfully managing challenging behavior is the ability to first maintain self-control in the heat of the battle. Losing self-control causes you to lose credibility and your power and authority are compromised.

The first step in maintaining self-control is to remain calm: “Calm is contagious” and “Silence is powerful”. Take a deep breath and remain silent, at least initially.

We’re going to respond correctly in action and timing. But in order to do this, we must first be calm and think with a clear mind.

The second step is simply to wait calmly and silently while you assume a supportive stance (stand sideways to the challenging student) and “model cognition” (act like you are thinking).

Experts in crisis abatement suggest these body positions. Often, taking these steps alone will solve the problem. If so, teachers can then address the student’s response on their own terms at a later time (eg, recess – when it is inconvenient for the student) and set effective limits.

If the student does not back down, you will need to set a limit or consequence for the action. Think before you speak, and ask yourself this question: “Is what I’m about to say going to be clear (easy to understand), concise (short and to the point), and enforceable (a consequence you can carry out)”.

It’s important, in challenging exchanges, to avoid getting caught up in power struggles. Remember that conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional. In many cases you can diffuse the situation with a simple one- or two-word response: “I’m sorry”, “I understand”, “probably so”, “nevertheless”. These diffusers provide a powerful way to deter or derail student challenges. There is no need to engage the student further at the time of the incident. Then later, when it is convenient for the teacher, the student can be pulled aside, spoken to, and given a consequence, if appropriate.

Choose Your Battles Wisely

On any given day, teachers are faced with a multitude of distractions that can lead to off-task behavior. However, students don’t have to behave perfectly in order to accomplish the ultimate goal of learning. The key consideration is whether or not the off-task behavior is a hindrance to learning. If it is not, then it can be ignored. Skilled teachers sometimes deliberately overlook attentionTEXAS√SINGS!

seeking behaviors. This decision is not arrived at lightly, however. First, teachers mentally ask themselves three Classroom Integrity Questions: 1. Am I able to teach?

2. Are the other students able to learn?

3. Is the student in question able to learn?

If a teacher can answer, “yes”, to all three questions, then teaching continues.

For example, the teacher “does not hear” the pencil tapping as long as learning can continue.

Intervene Early

If a teacher cannot answer, “yes”, then the teacher is obligated to respond to the behavior. Responses can be verbal or nonverbal and can vary widely in their degree of directness. But what is most important in all cases is for the teacher to intervene early in the chain of events so that the problem is not allowed to escalate into something worse.

REFOCUS

REFOCUS is an early intervention strategy that relies on the withdrawal of attention from a student exhibiting misbehavior. It is the consequence used in Time To Teach and a powerful refinement of the century old antiseptic bouncing strategy, which affects powerful, dramatic, and positive impact on the contemporary classroom. REFOCUS is unique in that in addition to allowing for the withdrawal of attention, as in antiseptic bouncing, the basic principles of academic remediation are incorporated in the process. The teacher stops the student, re-teaches, checks for understanding, and sends the student back to work independently. Students are given a prompt, allowed to self-correct, and then asked to identify the interfering behavior – all while never leaving an academic environment.

I have found that the 99 percent of pesky misbehaviors were much easier to deal with using these guidelines. The atmosphere in my classroom has improved, the students have been happier and more productive, and I truly have had more Time To Teach! √ For a detailed description and explanation of the REFOCUS process, please refer to the book, Time To Teach: Encouragement, Empowerment, and Excellence in Every Classroom, by Rick Dahlgren and Judy Hyatt, or contact glentmiller@gmail.com.

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Officer Comments Past President Bob Horton

G

reetings! I hope your fall semester is off to a great start. By the time you read this, it will certainly be almost halfway finished. So, it’s always interesting to stop and look back. It was very strange this year to think about the extra time before school started. I hope you did something fun! We did with our kids and friends and family! July — Can you even remember it? Let’s take a stroll down memory lane . . . .

The 54th Annual Convention and New Music Reading Clinic of the Texas Choral Directors Association was held July 29-August 1 in San Antonio. Thanks to our Board of Directors for their outstanding work in planning and executing an excellent Convention. We certainly appreciate the efforts and leadership of our Executive Director, Dan Wood, and his assistant, Jeanne Kuhn Lowenhaupt. Our music vendor, JW Pepper, did an exemplary job of organizing and distributing over 220, 000 copies of music for the Convention. It is truly amazing to see the work done by our vendor. Thank you Lu Marler, Kakkie Cunningham and the entire JW Pepper Crew! It’s equally amazing to see the faith the music industry puts in the Texas choral market, that they would provide all that complimentary music for our perusal. TCDA extends sincere thanks to the publishers for support of this worthwhile endeavor.

We had a tremendous turnout for our reading sessions and workshops.

More than 30 teachers and conductors led workshops for our membership ranging from Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, and Church Divisions. Topics included technology, recruitment, musical style, church youth choir tips, tried and proven church and elementary literature, sightreading workshops, and conducting masterclasses. The heart of TCDA has

Fall 2009

always been reading new music. We read more than 200 titles published within the last year. These titles were covered in 13 separate reading sessions.

Each summer TCDA incorporates a state-wide Honor Choir into the Convention. This year over 1,000 middle school students from all over Texas submitted audition CD’s to participate.

Approximately 200 students were selected to the SATB Choir. For two days these students enjoyed their wonderful clinician, Judy Bowers from Florida State University, and then presented a spectacular concert at the TCDA Business Meeting. During the concert the Middle School Honor Choir premiered a TCDA Commissioned Work, The Elm Tree by Dr Earlene Rentz. It was a special moment as we recognized the family of the poet. The TCDA Board, the parents, and students give thanks to our MS/JH Vice President Kathy Lollar for her work as the organizer of this choir, and to the numerous volunteers who assisted the students.

More than 130 TCDA members participated in a Directors Chorus led by Dr Z Randall Stroope of Oklahoma State University. Dr Stroope was inspirational in his workshops, “Music and the Mind”, and we were able to apply so much of what we learned in the Directors Chorus rehearsals. The Chorus gave a stirring concert on the final morning of the Convention to a capacity crowd. The ladies of the Directors Chorus premiered the work, In Time of Silver Rain, by René Clausen. TCDA has commissioned pieces for most of our 54 years.

We also enjoyed two wonderful musical events during the Convention.

Under the baton of Randy Jordan, the Arlington Master Chorale presented a terrific concert. What a joy it was to hear their fine performance, and to see a huge and thriving community chorus!

The Church Division sponsored a worship event, which was hosted by First Baptist Church of San Antonio. Three choirs participated in the Hallelujah!

Amen! Service. The Chancel Choir from First Presbyterian in Houston, the Treble Choir from Palmer Episcopal in Houston, and the Youth Choirs from First Baptist in San Antonio each contributed lovely singing to the service. What fantastic congregational singing we had with a room full of choir directors!

TEXAS√SINGS!

Thanks to Thomas Coker, our Church Division VP, for his work in providing this worship experience.

Of course, we took time to honor our colleagues as well. We presented the Texas Choral Excellence award to Barbara Perkins in recognition of her many years of excellence in Texas choral music. The other recipient of the Texas Choral Excellence Award was TCDA Past President Loyd Hawthorne. The TCDA Board also presented the Distinguished Young Director Award to Antoinette Murphy-Harris of San Antonio ISD and to Kimberly Eder Ahrens of Plano ISD. In addition to these awards, TCDA was proud to present six scholarships to college students who are pursuing studies in music education as well as two professional growth scholarships.

Many thanks go to our Nominating Committee and their chairman, Past President John Hemmenway. Their hard work resulted in a fine group of candidates for the 2010 Convention. Of course, nominations will again be open at TMEA, for any additions or changes.

Our Ballot Committee, chaired by Aaron Hufty, did a fine job of providing accurate and efficient election results during the meeting. The Ways and Means Committee, led by Pat Antinone, provided great observations and suggestions for improvement.

Does it sound like a full Convention?

It was, and I haven’t yet mentioned TCDA’s Got Talent! With celebrity judges Weston Noble, Z Randall Stroope, and Judy Bowers serving as comic relief, all of the acts were outstanding and very wellreceived. Kudos to Billy Talley for his great work as he assembled a fun and entertaining evening for our membership. I haven’t talked yet about the College Division and the terrific workshops for our Student Division! I’ll run out of time (and space) trying to describe the workshops and reading sessions for our Elementary, Middle School, and High School Divisions. How can I possibly describe the over 300 exhibit booths we had?

It has truly been my honor to serve with wonderful colleagues and board members as your president during the past two years. I want to personally thank my wife, Connie Horton, for her incredible and unfailing support. I also want to thank my colleagues, Erin 19

2009 Fall v.7: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 9/29/09 3:02 PM Page 20

Officer Comments Norvelle, Lynn Bull, and Barbara Caraway for their wonderful friendship, excellent teaching, and “whatever it takes” attitude each day we work together. Over the past two years, I have been fortunate to represent Texas choral directors at the state and national level.

One thing has become very clear to me: we are fortunate in Texas to have the resources and support we enjoy in choral music. I am personally grateful for TCDA and what it provides for me each year in renewal and growth opportunities. Consider asking a colleague who is

not a member to join you in July of 2010 at our Annual Convention. Take a minute to visit our website at www.TexasSings.org. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. If I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me. Best wishes for your fall! √

session with Sally Schott revealed his philosophical beliefs, and the session he conducted with the Arlington Master Chorale put his musical ideas into action. But for many of us, the treat was to converse, reminisce, and enjoy the John Silantien generous spirit that marks Weston’s greatness both on and off the podium.

Speaking of the Arlington Master Chorale, Randy Jordan and his singers left no doubt in the minds of a roomful of choir directors that their performance 2009 Convention Remembered was vocally, musically, and interpretively excellent. The standing ovation they or many Convention-goers, one of received represented a universal “amen.” this year’s Convention treats was Our college student conductors this year Weston Noble’s presence. His were talented, poised, and excellently prepared by their home-school conducting teachers and by Ken Fulton and Jing Ling Tam. The students were also aided by two very responsive accompanists, Peggy Graff and Jennifer Zaccagni. Ken and Jing gave insightful and entertaining conducting Support Music Education!! masterclasses.

PROCEEDS from our festival BENEFIT Both sessions were well the MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND sponsored attended by by the SHS choir boosters. conductors anxious to learn A reputable, affordable, from these two and positive elementary and master conducmiddle school choral festival tors/teachers. For student members, For information go to the Convention began on www.springchoir.com Wednesday evening with

another treat. They were hosted at a meeting/ reception by ACDA Executive Director, Tim Sharp. Members of the TCDA Board were on hand to field questions from the students in a lively interchange. The next morning Tim presented a fascinating session on teaching choirs to watch the conductor, and why conductors often unwittingly teach the opposite.

John Nix presented a session on the use of software in the rehearsal that gives the choir immediate visual feedback when they’re out of tune or committing other technical errors.

Dennis Boyter led us through one of the most challenging packets of music at the (very) Advanced High School/College reading session, with Jennifer Zaccagni accompanying. It was a Convention to remember.

College/ Community

F

16th Annual

Spring High School

SPLASHTOWN

Choral Festival May 6 & 7, 2010 Spring, TX

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TEXAS√SINGS!

“Chicken Soup” for Your Musical Soul

With the permission of Denise Eaton, Spring High School’s choir director, I quote an e-mail I received from her shortly after the Convention: “I so enjoyed singing in the Directors Chorus — I have more empathy for my own students because I was scared . . . there were lotz of notes :-)” I admire Denise for challenging her own musicality and sitting on the other side of the musical fence. I think that we oftentimes get so busy with teaching students about music that we lose touch with what drew us to this art in the first place.

Growing up musically we practiced, we sang, we performed. Now we make lesson plans, run rehearsals, conduct concerts, and organize fundraisers. It’s easy to forget the personal thrill of our own music making while we’re trying to teach sight reading, vocal production, diction, etc all day. I really admire the teachers who make time to sing in a symphony chorus, play for their church choir, start a barbershop quartet, or run through some of their undergraduate Fall 2009

2009 Fall v.7: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 9/29/09 3:02 PM Page 21

Officer Comments piano music on a Saturday morning.

Providing “chicken soup” for your own musical soul will allow you to share your

High School Sharon Paul

L

et me begin by thanking the esteemed membership of TCDA for the opportunity to serve our exciting organization. I consider it a privilege to fulfill the challenges of this office, and hope I can perform its duties as well as Billy Talley has done for the past two years. I am deeply honored and humbled to be a part of such a dedicated group of colleagues whose focus is to provide a meaningful convention experience and perpetuate the success of choral music in our Texas schools. Save the date and plan to attend the 2010 TCDA Convention. You will not want to miss it!

Many thanks to Billy Tally for organizing TCDA’s Got Talent! A big thank you to our friends at Pepper of Dallas/Fort Worth for providing cash prizes for our contest winners! Our judges, Weston Noble, Z Randall Stroope, and Judy Bowers provided encouraging and heartfelt remarks for our wonderful contestants. Our contestants were amazing! Winning contestants were: David and Kimberly Corman, 1st Place, Mark Cruz, 2nd Place, and Laurie Ebarb, 3rd Place.

Outstanding performances were delivered by Chris Ahrens, Charlene Wright, The Denton group-Vicki Baker, Mark Baker, Nathan Dame, Patti Freeman, Mike Pricer, Judy Harvel, David Rives, and Barber-Q-Joey Lowrance, VJ Lowrance, Jimmy Kritikos, and Sam Lowrance. Special recognition goes to Angela Rivera for her indelible comedic wit and solo dedication to our Immediate Past President, Bob Horton. We also enjoyed special appearances by Danny Detrick, the Talley Brothers, the Divine Divas, and our own Dan Wood’s song of

Fall 2009

musicality in class with an added vitality.

The bonus ? I bet your students notice the difference! I’m going to get my

accordion out right now (my musical roots) and play through “Lady of Spain” . . . very slowly. √

dedication to our TCDA President, Amy Allibon! Thanks to all of you for your talent, creativity, and hard work!

We owe a debt of gratitude to so many of you for your service at this past Convention. Thanks to Michael Dean, Brett Farr, Joe Weir, and Mark Rohwer, our reading session conductors, for leading us through our reading packets.

Also, many thanks to our exquisite accompanists, Patti Freeman, Peggy Graff, Janet Plummill, and Jennifer Zaccagni. Your preparation and talent is highly valued.

Our clinicians delivered a wealth of knowledge and practical applications useful in our everyday teaching. Thanks to Kay Vanlandingham, Rod Zeman, and Barry Talley for sharing your expertise. Our featured clinician, Dr Z Randall Stroope presented two engaging workshops, “Music and the Mind: Teaching Style through Imagery”, and “Music and the Mind: Teaching Musicality”. Both demonstrated innovative techniques using creativity and expressiveness in performance.

Special thanks to René Clausen, our Commissioned Work composer, for sharing his talent with us. Under the direction of Z Randall Stroope, the premiere of In Time of Silver Rain was beautifully executed by the women of the Director’s Chorus. I want to thank the women of TCDA for conveying the text so exquisitely.

Thanks to the many directors who contributed your time and talent to the TCDA Director’s Chorus. The premiere of Dr Stroope’s new work was even more exciting with the composer conducting the intent of his own music. Throughout the concert, Dr Stroope gave life to the music by infusing the ideas of musicality and expressiveness presented in his workshops. Thank you, TCDA choral directors, for singing from your heart!

The passionate performance delivered a meaningful experience for all audience members.

and congratulations, we will all be in the midst of fall performances, fundraisers, and all of the various tasks that encompass being a choral director.

We wear many hats in the realm of education and choral music. As we go through our day-to-day tasks of teaching, I would like to encourage you to remember that although rigor and relevance are well woven throughout the fabric of performance and are an absolute must for student success, it is the idea of relationship that may really matter to many of our students. I was reminded of this very element this week when one of our football players came by just to say “hi” on a Friday afternoon. My wonderful assistant and I were working away and he came by to discuss the football game. So, while

As you read this article of thanks TEXAS√SINGS!

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Officer Comments students do enjoy being successful, they also surprisingly notice the long hours, care, and concern we invest in their lives. Sometimes that small gift of verbal encouragement, belief in their abilities, or just knowing we are there really can make an impression on a

Middle School/ Junior High Dianna Jarvis

W

elcome to a new school year! By now we are all getting used to our new choirs, new colleagues, new students, new responsibilities, and new opportunities. Before we look forward to this year, it serves us well to reflect on the recent past. I feel that the 2009 TCDA Convention was one of the best to date. Thank you to Kathy Lollar for her leadership and expertise in accruing such wonderful clinicians and reading session conductors, and for organizing the MS/JH Honor Choir.

Thank you also to Connie Viverette who served as organizational assistant to Mrs Lollar in this endeavor. I think for many of us, watching Dr Judy Bowers work with the Honor Choir was a definite highlight of the Convention. Her Choral Pedagogy: Utilizing Contemporary Methods workshop Saturday morning reiterated the importance of teaching aural patterns to our students. The premiere of The Elm Tree, Commissioned Work by Earlene Rentz, makes the MS/JH concert a “must have” recording for our professional libraries. I would also like to thank the Honor Choir section leaders, Brent McCartney, Candy McComb, Joel Price, and Angela Williamson, whose leadership and expertise ensured a positive experience for the Honor Choir participants. Thank you to Karla Cruz, Debbie Butler, Laura Taylor, and Mary Jane Thornton for serving as the Honor Choir accompanists. The wonderful instrumentalists for the rehearsals and concert were

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young mind. We have the unusual opportunity to develop relationships over a four-year period, a thread not many teachers will experience. So I encourage you, as things become more hectic before the holidays, take a second look around your choir room,

and perhaps a moment to offer a word of encouragement or a handshake as tomorrow’s young leaders enter or exit your room. It is an investment in our future and the best result is that it will lighten your heart as well!

Happy Fall! √

Sheronna McMahon and Aaron Michaelson.

I would like to thank Tim Winebrenner, director, and Laura Taylor, accompanist, for assisting with the MS/JH Tenor-Bass Reading Session.

Thank you also to Jenny Crawford, director, and Peggy Graff, accompanist, for their work with the Treble Choir Reading Session. The Advanced JH/HS Training Choir Reading Session was skillfully lead by Michael Matlock and accompanied by Laura Taylor.

The four MS/JH workshops that were offered were outstanding. Thank you, Mary Jane Phillips for the wonderful ideas you provided during the session entitled Sight Reading Games. Sharon Radionoff’s presentation of The Male Changing Voice was intriguing and practical. Thank you also to Heather Sharp for her presentation entitled, Tactical to Practical: Tips for the New Teacher. If you missed her workshop, be sure to secure a copy of her handout from the TCDA website. Finally, I would like to thank the vendors who support the TCDA Convention with their presence. Be sure to return the favor by supporting them throughout the coming year. I am confident that you will agree it was a wonderful Convention. What made the Convention complete was the nearly 2,000 people who attended and participated. A big thank you to those who were able to take time out of their summer schedule to join us. If you were not able to attend, please consider putting the 2010 TCDA Convention on your “to do” list for next summer.

resources. Falling short of our goals provides opportunity to reflect. Was our goal realistic? Did we stick to our plan? How will we plan differently for our next goal? Reaching our goals provides feelings of accomplishment and motivation to set even higher goals for the future. There is a direct correlation between attaining goals and a wellexecuted plan or process.

I have to be honest here and admit that I love TV commercials. I have been known to watch certain sporting events that occur in late January just to see every 30-second clip of advertising the network can fit into a three-hour event.

Several years ago I gravitated to a car commercial with the catch phrase, “Enjoy the Ride”. The commercial depicted a car going over rough terrain, winding roads, smooth highways, and steep hills. In spite of the changing topography, the driver enjoyed the changing scenery along the way. I don’t remember the destination depicted at the end of the commercial, but I do remember many details of the journey.

After seeing this commercial, I decided to make the phrase, “Enjoy the Ride”, our choir’s mantra. Instead of focusing solely on a goal that seemed far away, we would make a conscious effort to be aware of the process we would go through on our journey to reach our goal. “Enjoy the Ride” served as a reminder that, although achieving a goal has built-in rewards, the most valuable life lessons are learned during the process of moving toward a goal.

It’s during this quest that we sharpen and refine our skill set and increase our effectiveness. If allowed, working toward a goal can aid in learning a great deal about ourselves that ultimately assists us in becoming better human beings. Few people give up once their goal is within their grasp. It is during the process that we make the choice to continue moving forward or to give up.

It’s the “are we there yet?” mentality that

As we settle into a new year, we begin to set goals for ourselves and for our students. These goals help us stay focused and moving forward. They force us to come up with a course of action, an itinerary, a plan. A welldefined goal keeps us from wandering aimlessly and wasting valuable time and TEXAS√SINGS!

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2009 Fall v.7: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 9/29/09 3:02 PM Page 23

Officer Comments we have to work through and the doubts in our abilities we must overcome that ultimately make us stronger. The moments, days, weeks, and months between the start and finish lines define who we really are. As we begin planning our journey for this school year, consider the following; Have a clear plan of action that is well defined and sequential.

Challenge yourself to have deliberate, well-thought-out lessons that are directly related to the process of reaching the goals. Every rehearsal should have a sense of urgency.

Don’t skip steps or race through the “basics”. Lay a solid foundation by teaching the fundamentals (listening, ear training, pulsing the beat, sight reading, and vowel production).

Be aware of opportunities for growth and yet make a conscious decision to celebrate the small victories

• • • •

Elementary Karen Gonzalez

A

s we are in the midst of preparing for fall PTA programs and beginning preparations for major winter holiday programs, the thoughts of this past summer’s TCDA Convention seem far in the past. I hope you have all taken some ideas from Convention and incorporated them into your teaching this fall – I know I have!

Looking back, I must say that it was energizing to be around fellow teachers and to be a part of inspiring and exciting workshops presented by knowledgeable and dynamic presenters.

I would like to thank the wonderful clinicians who presented us with wonderful ideas to take home and use this year: Cynthia Nott for providing awesome tips and tools for instrumental majors who find themselves having to sing in classroom instruction; James Green for giving practical and useful

Fall 2009

along the way (such as the rehearsal when your Bass section realizes there’s a difference between do to so and do to fa!).

Realize that most of your students really want to please and do what you are asking of them. The distance between what they want to do and what they can successfully demonstrate is often bridged by the right directions from you, their leader. Enjoy the creative process and challenge of finding a second or even third way to explain a concept that your students didn’t understand the first time.

Be creative and “think outside the box”.

Take the time to appreciate the relationships that develop when the students and teacher share a common, agreed-upon goal.

Foster a sense of mutual trust and respect within/among your team.

I have no doubt that we will all experience some interesting terrain to maneuver through during the next two

semesters. We will encounter great rehearsals, not-so-great rehearsals, successful performances, hours of frustration, and moments of exhilarating joy. We will encounter situations that force us to choose between getting upset and losing our sanity or seeing the humorous side and laughing. While we make our way through the days ahead, let’s keep in mind that it is ultimately the process that truly counts. If we work hard during the process and intentionally take the time to enjoy the process, the destination will ultimately be better than we could ever anticipate. We should avoid measuring the school year strictly in terms of successes and failures, but, instead, remember to celebrate the personal and collective growth that happens along the way. It’s important to periodically take time to roll down the windows, put the rag top down, and “Enjoy the Ride!” √

information on using your computer as a teaching tool along with some great websites to use; Terrie Preskitt-Brown who graciously led us through the Unison/SA session; Kathy Chiles who shared favorite tried and proven octavos, and to Will Varner for accompanying both of those sessions; Ann Burbridge, Trudy Armas, and Lisa Witwer who gave us lots of ideas on how to start a choir, pieces to use, and maintaining order and discipline while doing so; Connie Horton and Cyndie Lowry for their dynamite presentation on differentiated instruction and assessment; Patty Moreno and Lisa Roebuck for their Kodály expertise and sharing; Susan Elliott and Will Varner for their fun and lively folk dance workshop; and to Gwen Farris for her wonderful “bag” of M&M’s. My college student helper, Judy Hudson, helped me with many details, was an extra pair of hands and legs, and always had a smile on her face! Thanks so much to all of you for your leadership and dedication to our wonderful organization. Handouts for the sessions are available on the website at TexasSings.org.

general music teacher and the choral director, and provide “ready for the classroom” ideas. Most elementary teachers fill both of these roles. Your comments and input have been overwhelmingly positive about this and we will continue this trend. I welcome any and all suggestions for the 2010 TCDA Convention!

As I sat in workshops and reading sessions last summer, I was reminded that no matter how long we have been teaching, we should always be learning.

Some of the information presented was brand new to me and I am excited to share it with my students. But some of the information was a reminder – and I thought to myself several times, “I’d forgotten about that”. I wonder how many of you thought the same thing? I have already found myself using some of those forgotten ideas in my classroom and have been pleasantly surprised to see that they are still enjoyable to my students and to me. I have been digging through handouts from workshops that I keep in a file to find new ways to present lessons.

This year I have set three goals for myself each day at school. The first one is to greet my students with a smile and a positive attitude. Many times it is hard to smile and be positive, but our students deserve our best! Having a flat

•

• •

For the past couple of years, the Elementary Division has been offering workshops that were geared to the TEXAS√SINGS!

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Officer Comments tire on the first day of school didn’t help me with being positive and smiling, but I did it anyway and everything worked out just fine! The second goal is to sing with my students every time I see them.

Singing is a most personal form of

Church Thomas Coker

Keep the Goal(s) Before You

A

s a church musician, I always keep in mind the three elements that make for healthy Christians and healthy churches: worship, fellowship, and ministry.

To that recipe I try to add the five musical elements from my music education classes many years ago: singing, harmony, rhythm, creative activity, and movement.

Working from the belief that we should offer to God the first fruits and the best we have to offer, I have pondered the following thoughts regarding what elements make up quality literature: Texts based on Psalms Texts based on hymns (hymns of “human composure”) Texts based on personal experience

• • •

So what of the music?

What makes quality? What are the criteria? Let me say here that one size does not fit all. One has to seek the guidance of the Spirit in planning for a specific congregation. Paul said, “I have become all things to all people…” (1 Corinthians 9:22). He did not try to minister the same way in each place on his missionary journeys!

With these thoughts in mind, I have worked from the belief that a church musician should choose: Songs specific to a given situation New songs using quality musical construction (Allen Brown, former Music Secretary for Virginia Baptists, used to

• •

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expression, and I want my students to learn the love of singing. Singing is a skill they can enjoy their entire lives. My third goal is to let them have some “move and wiggle” time. I have found that I can teach so many concepts while

letting them move. They enjoy the break from sitting, and they remember the game and the concept the next time they see you! Have you set goals for yourself this year? It’s not too late, if you haven’t! √

talk about “disposable hymnody” – that is, hymnody which was appropriate for one generation but not necessarily for another, but that could be an entirely new topic) Classics Material based on folk elements Material from those whose worship practices differ from yours Material that is comfortable to your congregation Material that makes your congregation think Material that evokes wonder Material that moves the congregation

answers. Respect your differences. Enjoy the diversity and do your best to get your arms around the task at hand. You have chosen to work with, or in, a given situation. In the church setting I am in, we work as a team in planning worship services. Each member brings a different expertise to the process. Each is respected by the others and each is held accountable by the others.

• • • • • • •

And what of presentation?

What ways can be used within the talent base of a congregation to make the worship meaningful? I have worked from the assumption that it should be varied within the comfort level (and sometimes slightly outside the comfort level) of the congregation. Thus, one might use organ, piano, guitar, certainly choirs, a cappella singing, varied accompaniments, no accompaniments; varied introductions from vocal soloists to ensembles to solo instruments to . . . well, one gets the idea.

And here’s the thing: the goal is not just to see how “creative” or how many different styles or people one can use, but rather what really works effectively to meet the worship goal we have in mind for a given point in a service.

Consider the short term vs long term trends. If a given service is designed to be “high church” or “low church,” consider having a future service swing the other direction. Evaluate with your team to determine whether you are drifting from the direction you are trying to take. Are your people getting what you hope they will be getting?

What of process?

Work with your team.

No individual has a monopoly on truth and no one has all of the “right” TEXAS√SINGS!

This brings us to a review of our past Convention.

The 54th Convention was tremendous from my perspective. In the Church Division we were delighted to be able to build a worship service for TCDA members to help us “center” ourselves and reflect on how we are building on the foundation that makes up the core of who we are as Christians, or to look into the world that makes the Christian life meaningful. We had three goals: 1. That it be a genuine worship experience and not simply a choral montage 2. That it be an hour in length 3. That transitions be smooth and contribute to the whole worship experience.

In a worship gathering such as that provided by TCDA, one of the shared joys is that of great congregational singing. It is one of the first things to be considered in meeting the goal of planning a genuine worship experience.

Those who attended the service undoubtedly experienced the great singing of the congregation – from the grand and glorious processional hymn through the meditative a cappella closing hymn.

I am so grateful for the collaborators who made the Hallelujah! Amen! Service effective. Stephen Carrell, John Yarrington, Daryl Robinson, and Courtney Daniell Knapp made an invaluable team.

The choirs of each and Daryl’s organ expertise were examples of what happens when we choose to give back to God the Fall 2009

best that we have. I want to thank the three fabulous choirs who gave their time and talents to making the Hallelujah!

Amen! Service achieve the goals we had planned. The Palmer Episcopal Treble Choir from Houston conducted by Courtney Daniell Knapp sang with charm and beauty of tone. The children (and selected youth/adults) brought a sense of wonder and joy to the service. It was a special treat to hear the Chapel Singers and the One Voice ensemble under the direction of Minister of Music Stephen Carrell of First Baptist in San Antonio. These youth, fresh from an outstanding youth choir tour through the southeast to Florida, sang with conviction and vibrancy. They brought a sense of hope and freshness to the service. The Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church in Houston led by Dr John Yarrington provided maturity and a solid choral foundation to the service. The service was begun and concluded with

Secretary/ Treasurer

Officer Comments

the powerful organ playing of Daryl Robinson who crafted many other beautiful moments in the service.

Special thanks also go to Stephen Carrell for his workshops sharing with the membership some of the ideas, philosophies, and mechanics that go into the making of outstanding youth choirs.

For some time the Board has been AmyinAllibon asked to provide a course handbells.

We were delighted that Bayou City Handbell Founder and Director, Bill Nave, was able to meet this need. The two sessions were both inspirational and informative.

TCDA is always about reading new wenty years ago, I walked into the music; however, this was the year that the Watauga MS choir room – ironicalChurch Division had the opportunity to ly, where I am currently working present a Tried and Proven Session, part-time is where I began my career. I breaking from this new music pattern to followed a tremendously popular and present music which has been found to fabulous teacher, Stuart Younse, and work especially well by those leading the knew I had to make quite an impression sessions. For a Tried and Proven Session with the students, faculty, and administo materialize, we are especially indebted tration. The month before school began, I attended TCDA for the first time. I remember feeling excited about planning for the new group of choir my future and eager to connect with people to stumble over the threshold of people who could help me survive the our choir room, and start making music.

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to the publishers for contributing gratis copies of music – music that has already proven its value. We are also greatly indebted to JW Pepper and Lu Marler trials and tribulations of a first year. and Kakkie Cunningham for their During the Convention, I remember diligent work in helping make these feeling somewhat clueless. I didn’t have packets a reality. Former TCDA Presicolorful stories of sight reading room dent John Hemmenway was thrilled to mishaps to share, nor could I recomlead this session, and we were thrilled mend my favorite TB piece to anyone that he agreed to do so. His idea was to because, well, I did not have one yet. I ask two others to choose literature and did have grueling tales of the TCDA team-teach the session. It was my honor Tennis Tournament, which at that time, to join with John Scarcella in this was held at outdoor courts in the 100venture. Thanks, John. degree heat; but alas, no one really We were delighted to have Pam Elam, wanted to talk about heat stroke at the Kyle Damron, and Dr Allen Hightower Soiree. leading the church music reading More than surviving the tennis sessions. Kyle and Allen were ably tournament, I will never forget my first accompanied by Daryl Robinson. Janet TCDA because of a workshop I attended Scarcella returned to action to accompafor first year teachers. Mike Mitchell ny Pam Elam as well as John Hemmenhad just completed his first year of way in the Tried and Proven Session. teaching at Judson HS and talked about Well done! what he did that was successful.

Thanks to all. √ Specifically, Mike talked about what to do the first day of school, a huge black hole with a looming neon question And as daunting as that task may seem, mark in my mind. Mike told us what especially with all the things we have he did the first day of school, and I thought about the night before begin-

Kay Owens

Here We Go Again!

5:30 am – why does it have to be so early? I just got to bed two hours ago.

Well, I actually went to bed at 11:00, but did not get to sleep until after 3:00. Too much to think about – new students, new choir dresses, show choir auditions, new assistant, new parents, choir handbook, (just where are we going on spring trip?), balancing the activity account (I thought we had money!), forms, fees, rules, new music . . . you all know the routine. Now the alarm is ringing, I have to shower, get the bags out from under my eyes, get dressed, drive to school, and get ready for . . . oh, the students are already at my door!

Here we go again – where did the summer go? How come I didn’t get anything done from the two-page legal pad list I had ready to take care of during my long summer “vacation”?

When TCDA Convention rolls around each summer, each of us knows that the summer is over, and we begin Fall 2009

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absorbed (a on the first Mitchell, my sionally pro Sprach Zara announcer s new dimens THE WATA It was a hug accepting of year was off of teachers, know it was learned at T music to sta sessions, ide one Mike le of mentors. with Mike a helping me 20 years ago TCDA Conv music, and i This sum much to off student thro look at TCD tri-focals) n mission whi sure TCDA mega-name every summ stocked with and we need influential a in our profe summer’s C Directors’ C lead by Dr Z Dr Stroo to Texas. I h appreciation peat” Texas molded our Men’s Choir perhaps his each of the Dr Stroope’ ability to eli the choirs cu performanc us in the au gramming, challenge th while provid educational selections th of his own, Chorus will

2009 Fall v.7: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 9/29/09 3:02 PM Page 26

Officer Comments ning anew, it can be a refreshing start as we begin the year. It is a refreshing feeling to see all these new faces appearing at our doorstep. It is refreshing to anticipate seeing the first light bulb pop on in their eyes when they have achieved that tone, or that phrase, or even figured out that blasted dotted quarter/eighth note rhythm pattern. It is refreshing to watch these young people grow into young adults, and understand that somehow what we do has an effect on them (and we all hope and pray that effect is positive). This is what we do, and we would not have it any other way.

So, here we go again (give me guidance, Lord) and let’s get started!

The TCDA Convention went by like a blur, and I hardly have had time to let all of it really sink in. I am very excited about serving as the Secretary/Treasurer for TCDA. It was completely unexpected, but I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be in a leadership role in this outstanding organization. I have such big shoes to fill. Thank you, Janwin Overstreet-Goode for handing me the reins with everything so well organized. Many TCDA members served

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selflessly to ensure a smooth Convention.

David Landgrebe annually gives of his time and skills with the computers for registration. The 2009 officer candidates gave up several hours of their Convention to work registration – thank you Mark Baker, Tammy Benton, Robin Brockway-Nichols, Marian Cates, Craig Griffith, Greg Haugen, Beverly Hirsch, Gene Holkup, Dianna Jarvis, and Sharon Paul. Susan Bartos also helps annually with exhibitor registration – thank you for your time. I would also like to thank Heather Orr, Jed Ragsdale, and their outstanding Hospitality Committee for their wonderful job with the Soiree and TCDA’s Got Talent. The Hospitality Booth was always manned by friendly and competent committee members: Megan Arnold, Jeanna Baibos, Nicki Bouley, Christine Bridges, Beth Casey, Katy Cuddihee, Allison Davis, Ron Donlevy, Kammi Estelle, Chris Fiorini, Beth Gove, Mica Kolb, Jessica Koppe, Anita Ladd, Cheri Lafferty, Grace Littlefield, Lelah Loftin, Michael Madrid, Katie McGee Johnson, Anna McGraw, Dinah Menger, Sherry Miller, Jonathan Mollenkopf, Noah Reese, Tracie Smith, Stefanie Stephens, John Tucker, Donna White, Cathy

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Wafford, Jenae Ware, Cherith Wells, and Jason Womack. Thanks for all your hard work and for your willingness to serve the TCDA membership at the 2009 Convention.

The stabilizing force behind the success of our Conventions is Executive Director Dan Wood and Executive Assistant Jeanne Kuhn Lowenhaupt.

Dan and Jeanne always come to San Antonio prepared with everything we need for a successful Convention experience. We could not function without their work behind the scenes throughout the year. Lu Marler and Kakkie Cunningham from JW Pepper are amazing women; they and their team do much year after year to help make our Convention a success. Thanks, Lu and Kakkie.

Well it is 2:45 pm – I made it through the first day! Now, let’s see, First Event is tonight for a fundraiser, Thursday is JV Showchoir auditions, the National Anthem has to be ready by Friday night’s football game, booster club meeting, all-state rehearsals begin this week — what can I say — HERE WE GO AGAIN! Have a great year! √

Fall 2009

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