Choir Ninja, With Ryan Guth

Blind from birth, Ken Medema has always lived in a world of sound. Known and admired internationally for his improvisation skills, Ken outlines the steps to teaching your choir students how to improvise, unlocking both their voice and their courage. As a bonus, Ken also writes an impromptu country song about Ryan’s new bride, Amanda! [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “My program to win friends through rock&roll wasn’t that successful. I started with 1 friend and graduated with 2.” -Ken Medema   “Daring in one area usually leads to daring in another.” -Ken Medema Show Notes: Ken Medema has been blind from birth. High school choir was a revelation for him; a class based on sound instead of sight. He pursued his love of music through college and into a music therapy career before turning to composition and performance. Three goals for choir experiences: build community; explore new things (improvisation); introduce new music Every time you speak, you are improvising. You s

It’s easy to fall into a rut. It can happen with the music we select, our teaching methods, and even the festivals we attend. But there are lots of opportunities for a festival experience that can reward and motivate your singers, while also giving them a valuable performance experience. Jess McDowell, from Winter Park Ski - Music festival, talks about what to look for in a festival, and what you can do to make sure you have a great experience no matter where you go.   [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “Read. Your. Information. Packet. Don’t scan it; read it.” - Jess McDowell Show Notes: Three things to look for in a great festival: Great performance space Fun recreational activity Fantastic closing/Awards ceremony Come early and stay late Take the opportunity to watch other groups perform Learn good concert watching etiquette (you can be the audience instead of the performers!) Arriving early for recreation keeps the festival on schedule It also lets you interact wit

Performance anxiety is just the tip of the iceberg. Lynn Lyons breaks down the process of dealing with anxiety, and explains the difference between regular worry and something more disruptive. Her tips can easily be adapted to help the students in your class approach events like performances, solos, or auditions with more courage and confidence.   [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “When you are comparing yourself to someone else, you are comparing your inside to their outside.” -Lynn Lyons   “Anxiety is a quest for certainty, and there is no way to appease it.” - Lynn Lyons   “It’s a very courageous thing, to be a performer.” -Lynn Lyons Show Notes: What's going on with anxiety? Is it as bad as it seems? Worry and anxiety are both normal parts of our lives. When worry takes over, and starts to cause us to avoid certain things, it becomes a problem. Anxiety says, “No thanks, I’m out.” It leads to avoiding normal daily activities. Anxiety and worry are particular problems

Success has a formula. Since this fall we have been talking to guests about achieving mastery, and now Melissa Lozano echoes those same lessons from a completely different discipline: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This world champion competitor brings her lessons from the ring so that you can apply them to your choir. [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “Martial arts...defines who I am, the journey I’ve made through life, where I’m going, and the impact I want to have on people along the way.” -Melissa Lozano   “Most of us define ourselves by the few losses we’ve had throughout the day. But few of us define ourselves by the 100’s of little wins we’ve had.” -Melissa Lozano   “Don’t let yourself be a cheerleader at the expense of your honesty.” -Melissa Lozano   “Medals are fleeting, but experience isn’t.” -Melissa Lozano Show Notes: The young teenage girl is a largely ignored demographic. They are considered “flaky” and unreachable. But they are a demographic that needs to be reached.

You have permission to be weird. You have permission to be creative, take risks, and make mistakes. Still unsure? Brian Hehn tells you exactly how easy, cheap, and fun it can be to introduce percussion to your choir, and the reasons why you should. Listen for some creative ways to incorporate percussion into the elements of your worship service in ways that are engaging and organic.  [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “Hit a trash can with a stick. Does it sound kind of bassy? You’ve got your bass.” -Brian Hehn Show Notes: When learning a new percussion instrument, the 8 year old and the 80 year old are on equal ground. Any age can have fun with percussion. No money for instruments? Take some inspiration from “Stomp.” Check out your recyclables and trash cans for different percussive sounds! Go to Goodwill and start smacking things with a stick. Percussion can be: Body percussion Speech percussion Percussion instruments Anything that makes a fun sound when you strike it

The best way to grow your current high school choral program is to fertilize the soil. Start a great middle school feeder program, so that in high school you can spend less time on basic choir fundamentals and more time in depth with the music. Don’t worry if that seems like an impossible task; Adam Serpa breaks down all the steps for you. So whether you are faced with revitalizing a withered existing program, or planting something brand new, we’ve got the information you need to get started now.   [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “Keep loving the kids. Be real...build those relationships, and build good music.” -Adam Serpa Show Notes: The need for Middle School Choir Feeder Programs Maybe your current feeder program for your high school is weak Maybe it doesn’t exist Either way, your next steps are the same. Making the case to Administrators in the Community Could you imagine a district that didn’t start math until high school? Choir is like any other subject. Start

In December especially, choral directors spend their days focused on serving others so much that they often neglect their own needs. Here are some ways to stay charged in the coming weeks until Christmas! You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. You have so many in your choirs who depend on your gifts to get them through this often very difficult season. You have the potential to help heal the pain of loss or loneliness that some people feel at this time. It make take extra energy, compassion, and patience in order to serve the members of your choir in a time when energy, compassion, and patience are in short supply. [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “Pee clear, pee often.” - Amanda Simon Show Notes: This is a long, but incredibly rewarding season. Remember to keep these items in mind to maximize the rewards of your work and stay present with those who need you! Keep in mind: You’re a servant and a leader year-round and especially in December! W

Dan V brings the energy in this episode! Having been a student of the Choir Ninja podcast since the beginning, Dan V uses the things he’s learned combined with his experience as a high-production-quality church musician to transport his choir’s audiences to other world. Listen as he breaks down his formula piece by piece.   [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “If you get caught up in the minutia of learning the notes, the creative process get postponed until the last minute.” - Dan Vukmirovich   Show Notes:   The Problem: Most Choir Concerts are BORING. When programming the peppy Spiritual or Gospel song at the end is seen as "innovative", we have a problem. Creative Content Boxes: Planning thematically for your concerts can help you begin to create "crockpots" of song ideas/elements- as you find ideas, you can categorize. Helps to reduce the plethora of song possibilities Builds a structure that helps "regular people" make sense of that they are hearing AND often improves

Four Functions of the Church Choir: Check Your Priorities, with Brian Hehn   Brian Hehn will fundamentally change the way you approach directing a church choir. In this episode we explore the four functions of a church choir and how most of us have gotten it backwards for years. It’s time to get excited about enhancing the congregation’s relationship with your choir through sometimes doing less. This one’s a game-changer!     [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “If I had heard this 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have been fired from those three churches.” - @RyanMGuth   Show Notes: Church Choirs serve some very specific functions.  In order of priority:.1. The church choir leads and enlivens the congregation’s song2. The church choir sings music that the congregation cannot3. The church choir serves as a small-group within the church for faith formation4. The church choir sings beautiful and challenging music to praise God and edify the congregation When adopting these functions in

Some of our episodes are inspirational in nature, and some are instructive. This one is both. You can’t help but be amazed by what the National Children’s Chorus is doing with their 800 students in 18 ensembles based in 3 major cities. Artistic Director Luke McEndarfer discusses what is ahead for this world-class chorus. But also, you get to hear the logistics behind commissioning an original work. Emmy nominated composer Sharon Farber describes her collaboration with the NCC, and discusses the upcoming premiere of “Children of Light.” And listen all the way to the end, because Luke and Sharon unlock the key elements of a successful chorus!     Listen   [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android]   Highlight to Tweet: “Children of peace and grace, their song...unlocks the aching heart of the world.” - Sharon Farber    “Joy and desire are where we start for everything.” - Luke McEndarfer   Show Notes: Part of the mission of the National Children’s Chorus is to commission new works for children’s chorus. Mo

The Cost of Early Adoption, with Ryan Guth   The best choir directors are innovators, which is great for their choirs. But there are costs and risks involved in blazing a new trail, and those risks don’t just land on your shoulders, Director; they are shared by your choir. So before you implement that new vision or schedule or teaching method, make sure you are aware of your responsibilities. Ryan shares the lessons he has learned as a lifelong innovator/entrepreneur, focusing on his most recent venture, the Choirs Are Horrible card game.   Tweet this: “If you are going to trailblaze a new path, there is going to be some fallout.” - @RyanMGuth          Show Notes: “Early adopters” are those who buy into the product from the first. Whether it’s Tesla, solar panels, or Choir Ninja, early adopters pay a premium for being first in line. The cost is higher, and the product is not as good as it will be in a few years. Sometimes you go to a conference or summer class and get a new vision for your choir program. It’

TEACHERS: Share this episode with your choir! In our “winning is everything” culture, the goals of competition seem crystal clear: the medal, the role, the spot in the honor choir. Sometimes when the competition is fierce, those rewards don’t seem worth the effort. But there are rewards inherent in the audition process, and they are enduring. Competition is one of the most effective ways to become better at your art, and it deserves a place in your curriculum. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “Winning is important. But I want to put it into perspective.” - Ryan Guth “No one has ever regretted the effort to become a better musician.” - Ryan Guth “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” - Wayne Gretzky Show Notes: Competition should have a place in your curriculum. Performance is important, but it’s not everything a musician needs to know. Some lessons are taught better by competition. But there are lots of ways to compete Region/Area/State Auditions Solo and

Just because you graduated high school, graduated college, and got a job doesn’t mean that you won’t sometimes still feel like the new kid. Ryan checks back in with podcast favorite and Ukulele Ninja Christopher Kurt about his first quarter teaching in a new school. Sometimes you just need to change your life. Whether that means a new methodology or a new zip code depends on you, but Ryan and Christopher cover some of the questions you should ask to help you decide. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “I can be pretty chill and pretty awesome, but if you’re a butt, that’s gonna change.” - Topher Kurt Show Notes: You know when it’s time for a change. Especially while you are young, try something new. Maybe a new city, with new opportunities is worth a look. Don’t just prepare for your first day; over-prepare. Have different lesson plans ready to go based on the students’ level of respect and class participation. First impression are crucial. Try to meet with others

Stevie Berryman’s original podcast about writing an awesome biographical summary was a big hit with anyone who could overlook such a tedious topic long enough to listen. And that’s the point. Your bio shouldn’t be boring. And even if you have no professional need to submit a bio for an event, every director can benefit from the self-reflection required for figuring out your personal brand identity. You are amazing at something. Let’s tell people about that.

Nightmare fuel. I don’t have any other words to describe this choral horror experience, shared by Shane Thomas, Jr. Like all the best Halloween stories, it’s equal parts trauma and comedy. So if you are feeling brave, dear Director, go ahead and listen to the scariest story shared in Choir Nation. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “I have over 500 people sitting in my auditorium. I can’t turn around and say, ‘See you later.’” - Shane Thomas, Jr. Bio: Shane Thomas is in his fourth year as director of choral activities at Martin County High School in Stuart, FL. Choirs under his direction have consistently earned the highest ratings at District, State, and National music performance assessments. Over the last three years, his ensembles have been named “Choir of Distinction” by the Florida Vocal Association State Music Performance Assessment. In the fall of 2016, the OPUS Chorale was invited to perform for the Florida ACDA state conference. He is active as the FVA Di

Conrad Weber is a white, middle class man who has spent his entire music education career in a black, high-poverty school. Conrad talks to Ryan about how to build bridges across the cultural chasm, in a situation where none of the usual standards apply. This interview is raw and heartfelt, and is one everyone should hear, but will especially resonate with those who have ever felt out of step with the choral majority. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “We have to understand the culture of our students. We have to become a student of their culture” - Conrad Weber Show Notes: Begin where your students are...and where they are isn’t good or bad--it just is. Become a student of your student’s culture. This is their normal. They don’t care about what you think they should become until you connect with who they are right now. Create your own definition of success. Success in your program may be defined as progress, rather than a contest win or festival invitation. If th

You probably never studied graphic design, but your audience still deserves a concert program that doesn’t look like a church bulletin from 1998. If the economic and ecologic costs of paper programs have you concerned, Ryan is here to teach you how to go digital. He will lay out the advantages of digital programs, address some of the disadvantages, and walk you through the process of creating them step by step. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “Before you get up in arms about devices at your concert, let’s weigh the options.” - Ryan Guth Show Notes: Physical paper programs (traditional) It is the piece of your concert your audience takes home with them Use canva.com for design assistance to make your programs beautiful and professional looking Physical programs (non-traditional) Incorporate something that represents your theme Creates a distinctive keepsake Think creatively - printing on items like balloons or fans may be cheaper than a glossy traditional pa

Anne Tomlinson has served as Los Angeles Children’s Chorus Artistic Director since 1996, overseeing the educational and artistic development of the 400-member chorus and conducting LACC’s renowned Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. She has positively impacted the lives of thousands upon thousands of children and helped shape LA’s cultural landscape in myriad ways over the past two decades. Today she talks to Ryan about the all the right keys: the best keys for children to sing in, and the keys for singing for a lifetime. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “Children can learn the basics of singing best in a choir.” - Anne Tomlinson Show Notes: About Anne: Anne Tomlinson is the Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC). Her background is in piano, not teaching, but she learned from outstanding mentors while accompanying the LACC LACC is famous for bel canto teaching technique, producing a uniquely pure and resonant sound. On repertoire: Lat

Whether you’ve been fundraising for years or are just getting started, you should always be asking “How can I make more money with less time and effort?” It’s not really about selling a product; it’s about thinking like an entrepreneur. In this episode, Elisa lays out the steps for raising money without taking unnecessary time away from your choir. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “The last resort should be having your students sell stuff. Why would you do that? ” - Elisa Jones Show Notes: 1. Know what you need, why you need it, and what it will cost. Start by having a strong proposal that anyone will want to buy into. 2. Hit up your school peeps. Go first to your administration- get approval for everything. Let them know what you’re thinking. Tell them what you need, why you need it, and what it will cost. Then go to your PTA, boosters, parent organizations, etc. 3. Use your concert platform to ask for donations from parents and stakeholders.Collect ‘suggested d

Choirs are Horrible the card game comes out today! Coach Steve Cook is the head football coach at the same Higginsville, MO high school where his wife Sarah Cook is a choir director. He has some recommendations for choir directors who want to build a cooperative relationship with their school’s athletic department (other than marrying the head football coach.) Working together brings unique benefits to both departments. After all, you really are already on the same team. Listen [Subscribe on iTunes] [Subscribe on Android] Highlight to Tweet:         “What better way to recruit them, than through their friends?” - Steve Cook Show Notes: Coaches motivate kids to do things they wouldn’t normally want to do. They teach them to work. Qualities of a great football player: ability, personality, someone willing to learn and try to get better. Pre-game: In the locker room before the game, they don’t review plays. If the players don’t have it down 15 minutes before the game, they aren’t going to. That time is purely f