[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   My main skill is as a teacher of songs to those who don’t read music.   Photo by elfsternberg   Other choir leaders have different s...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Have you noticed how the living dead always have husky laboured breathing?   Photo by theogeo   I’m beginning to worry that zombies ...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   A friend of mine asked the other day: “How do you find songs? And how do you do vocal arrangements of them?”   Photo by Jorge Fr...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Trying to increase your vocal range? Want to develop a richer tone to your voice? Puzzling over voice placement and timbre?   photo by The-Serene-...

2012十週年音樂會 高雄市文化中心至德堂 2012-11-16 指揮: 朱如鳳 伴奏: 許溎芳 詩：James Agee艾吉 曲：Samuel Barber巴伯 二十世紀美國作曲家巴伯（Samuel Barber, 1910-81）生長於賓夕法尼亞州，畢業於費城寇蒂斯音樂學院，除鋼琴和作曲外，還學習歌唱和指揮。他是傑出的美國新浪漫主義作曲家之一，樂曲中充滿詩情，往往在緊緻與複雜的音樂結構中，展現出乎意外的優美樂句。 〈在這閃亮的夜晚〉原為男中音與鋼琴的獨唱作品，後來改編為混聲...  more2012十週年音樂會 高雄市文化中心至德堂 2012-11-16 指揮: 朱如鳳 伴奏: 許溎芳 詩：James Agee艾吉 曲：Samuel Barber巴伯 二十世紀美國作曲家巴伯（Samuel Barber, 1910-81）生長於賓夕法尼亞州，畢業於費城寇蒂斯音樂學院，除鋼琴和作曲外，還學習歌唱和指揮。他是傑出的美國新浪漫主義作曲家之一，樂曲中充滿詩情，往往在緊緻與複雜的音樂結構中，展現出乎意外的優美樂句。 〈在這閃亮的夜晚〉原為男中音與鋼琴的獨唱作品，後來改編為混聲四部合唱曲，歌詞取自美國詩人艾吉（James Agee, 1909-55）的詩集《允許我行旅》（Permit Me Voyage, 1934）中的〈描述天堂〉（Description of Elysium）一詩，旋律主題在女高音、男高音及女低音聲部間交織，情感綿延不絕，而男低音則以長音為全曲和聲支柱，樂曲充滿表現力。 Sure on this shining night Of starmade shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground. The late year lies down the north. All is healed, all is health. High summer holds the earth. Hearts all whole. Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder Wandering far alone Of shadows on the stars. 在這星影環繞 閃亮的夜晚， 仁慈必看顧我 在地球的這一端。 北國的歲暮， 萬物皆復甦。 盛夏臨據大地， 我重拾完整的心。 在這閃亮夜晚， 我為奇蹟落淚 獨自漫步 在星影下。  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I teach a song in the morning and it’s sounding pretty good.   photo by kalavinka   Then after lunch I get the group to stand f...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Learning and polishing a song can be a long process. Some people find it a chore and can’t wait to get to the end result: a public performance....

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]As we saw last week, many singers struggle with finding (and keeping) their starting notes. photo by Albin Olsson What can make it even harder is if a man ...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Some people lead their choir or singing workshop with another person. I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t really work for me.     cont...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] You get what you ask for, so be careful how you seek feedback!   photo by Howard Lake   When designing feedback forms, less is more. Here&r...