Choir Ninja, With Ryan Guth

Some of our episodes talk about a conductor’s journey as a musician, or their philosophical understanding of the nature of choral music. Some episodes are pure toolkits: here’s what you need to solve your problems. This episode has the rare distinction of being both. Dr. Kronauer and Ryan cover the “hows” of directing teenage male voices, as well as the “whys” behind them. You’re going to want to listen to this one twice. Listen: Highlight to Tweet: “Living rigidly is not the game. The game is finding elasticity.” - Steven Kronauer Show Notes: Try thinking less in terms of “blend,” and more in terms of “agreement.” For the teenage male singer, it’s important to reassure them that change is a part of life. Whatever they are working with (or through) will be fine. When dealing with limited range, you need to offer patience and guidance. Provide a model. Avoiding “compensation,” or reaching for a pitch. (“that giraffe thing” - Ryan Guth) Posture and alignment are always important, but especially so for teenage