Choir Ninja, With Ryan Guth

Jake Runestad stops by to tell some stories of his youth, including "Old Kmart", the origins of "Nyon Nyon" (and "Ner Ner"), and his viewpoint as a composer when it comes to sharing his art with the world. An entertaining listen, sponsored by KI Concerts. Oliver Scofield of KI drops in to announce a World Premiere commission by Jake as well! Support our sponsor for this episode: KI Concerts Listen Jake's Bio Jake Runestad is an award-winning and frequently-performed composer of “highly imaginative” (Baltimore Sun) and “stirring and uplifting” (Miami Herald) musical works. He has received commissions and performances from leading ensembles and organizations such as Washington National Opera, the Netherlands Radio Choir, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Virginia Arts Festival, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Seraphic Fire, Craig Hella Johnson and Conspirare, and many more. Jake’s visceral music and charismatic personality have fostered a b

Former interviewee, Malcolm Gilbert joins Choir Nation to define the roles of the choir members within our ensembles and the effect they have on performance. Performance = Skill x Effort/Anxiety Conductor:   a material or device that conducts or transmits heat, electricity, or sound, especially when regarded in terms of its capacity to do this. Within our ensembles: Leaders Followers Drifters Intentional Disruptors Unintentional Disruptors Team Players Frustrated Elite Leaders and Team Players drive anxiety level down and effort up. Disruptors and Frustrated Elite drive anxiety up and effort down. We need to take advantage of the high skill level of our Frustrated Elite and the bravery of our Intentional Disruptors, and make them Leaders. As conductors, we need to act as Team Players and Leaders, not as Frustrated Elite. What do we seek to teach? Empathy Cooperation Discipline  

GRAMMY-award-winning conductor and professional listener Craig Hella Johnson joins me for an interview on presence, honesty, and realizing the music with your choir. Click here for a special offer from KI Concerts and to learn about singing in Sydney Australia with Craig Hella Johnson in July 2018!

Kyle Karum shares tips on taking over a choral program from its last director.

Laura Pancoast of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale helps Choir Nation manage their choral program like the pros!

In my humble opinion, choir is the least parts technical and the most parts vulnerable. Sure, how we form our vowels is important to me, but it takes a buy-in from your choir before they care about vowels as much as you do. Here’s how you can love your choir so buy-in comes naturally, without canned compliments and insincerity.

New Mexico middle school choral director Nicholas Prior stops by for a conversation about honesty, and above all else, doing what's right for your students.

What is "schtick", and when is it appropriate for use with your choir? Stevie and I discuss the essential components of good schtick and how it can enhance a choral performance without making it awkward for your audience.

The classical pianist Artur Schnabel said, "I don't think I handle the notes much differently from other pianists. But the pauses between the notes - ah, there is where the artistry lies!!" In this episode, Jon Duncan shares his passion for rapport-building with his choirs, by taking time "between the music" to make his rehearsal room a safe place for personal expression.  JOIN CHOIR NATION ON FACEBOOK

5 things to keep in mind when student teaching with a choral director or any music educator. I want you to make the most of your student teaching opportunity, and I want your cooperating teacher to want to take on more student teachers in the future, so don’t screw this up. -Love, Ryan

Stephen Rew, of KCMO, gives one of the most positive interviews to date! This episode helps to put into perspective the great responsibility we have to our students and each other. Links to great resources mentioned in the show at www.ryanguth.com/063

In this episode, I explain how you get kids that may not want to be in choir to "buy in" and make the most of a less-than-ideal situation.

Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt, Musical America's 2004 Conductor of the Year, and director emeritus of the world-famous Westminster Choir, joins Ryan in an in-depth interview on what it takes to be present on the podium.

Kelly Truax, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, joins me today to discuss programming repertoire for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade men's choirs.

In today’s Technique Tuesday, I give a general overview of what a useful choral department website should be and give an exact outline for Choir Nation to use for their own website.

James Bass of UCLA and Seraphic Fire joins Ryan today to speak about balancing out your education and conducting career with opportunities as a seasonal professional choral singer. We will dive into schedule, pay, sight-reading requirements, and so much more. Join Choir Nation on FacebookSupport the show on Patreon

Ryan gives a quick and dirty lesson on the 11 essential parts of any middle/high school choral department handbook. Join Choir Nation on Facebook Support the show on Patreon

Seraphic Fire's Patrick Dupree Quigley speaks about the need to grow Choir Nation by making sure students of choral music are familiar with the major players in our industry, just as children know sports teams.

Patrick Dupree Quigley, founder of the one of America's leading professional choirs and GRAMMY nominated Seraphic Fire, joins Ryan for an interview on what it takes to be a choral entrepreneur. (Part 1 of 2) Join Choir Nation on Facebook

Here are the filters I pass my music through to make sure I "cut the cheese" and program high quality literature. Download our high-quality repertoire resource guide by supporting the podcast on Patreon Join Choir Nation on Facebook!