Choir Ninja, With Ryan Guth

You’ve given the final cut off, you’ve taken the last bow, but the show’s not really over until Elvis has most definitely left the building. In today’s episode you’ll find tips for talking to members of the audience, releasing your choir after a job well done, and celebrating afterwards. End your concert in a way that’s satisfying for your singers, your audience, and yourself.   Listen: Click and Highlight to Tweet: Kids tend to think self-deprecation is a form of humility. It’s not. Show Notes: After the show Remain “ON” until you get in the car. Leave “briskly” to enhance “mystery” draw the curtain dismount the risers exit the hall Get back to the green room Address your choir Dismiss them to greet their people Greet your people ASAP Shake hands Take photos with the choir members if asked Kiss a baby If you feel awkward because no one is walking up to you, then walk up to them and say “Thank you for coming!’ This is not a time for parent/teacher conferences. Dismiss everything irrelevant by saying “

It’s possibly the most important podcast Ryan has ever recorded! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll learn all about the awesome new changes at Choir Ninja! Listen: Click to download episode! Show Notes: There are so many awesome things discussed in this podcast, but we’d prefer you listen to it than read about them. Otherwise, it ruins the surprise! Quote to Tweet: I deal with ninjas all the time. 3 Key Takeaways: Choir Ninja is awesome, and getting awesomer You are awesome. Yes, you, Little Ninja! Become a Patron of the show, because, damn. It’s just that awesome. Resources/links Mentioned: Support Choir Ninja on Patreon Houston Chamber Ringers on Facebook Episode #94, “Uke, I Am Your Father,” with Christopher Kurt Additional Things That Are Awesome: Exploding guitars This kid Mortal Kombat on Sega Genesis Game of Thrones This movie This swimming pool: This song Unicorn cookies that poop rainbow sprinkles This piano: This Choir Ninja This trailer Ryan Gosling memes: Avocados Breaking Ba

Your concert can be more than a curriculum review. Capture and maintain your audience’s attention throughout the duration of your concert by minding your flow, mimicking an art museum, and telling them everything.   Tweet This: Give your concert “French portions”: small servings, intense flavors. Click to download episode! Show Notes: Do everything “briskly” all movement must be rehearsed so it goes quickly Rehearse ALL logistics No dead air Connect everything together with music feature soloists with speaking Make sure your flow is intentional Do you start with the youngest group just because they’re the youngest? Beware of arbitrary programming account for choir members in multiple groups uniform changes who needs to be where and when sometimes you’ll have to rework the physical layout of the concert and rehearse the logistics more Make every piece important to your audience Think of walking an art museum YOU are the curator of your own musical museum Every piece has a reason for be

Christopher Kurt explains how you can become a Ukulele Ninja like him. Besides being quirky, fun, and astonishingly on trend at the moment, ukuleles have a lot of value to add to your choral or general music classroom.   Listen: Show Notes: He’s from Iowa. Not from Colorado. And that’s important. Christopher teaches 6th-8th grade general music classes and directs 3 choirs. When he began his job at Aldo Leopold Middle School he found he had inherited ukulele lab, including 35 instruments that had been there for 20-30 years. Having access to the instruments inspired Christopher to teach himself to play. Ukulele makes a great classroom instrument because the 4 basic chords are easy to learn, the instruments are cheap, accessible, and provide an immediate win for students. Multitasking is hard for middle school students (and for Christopher, who falls up stairs). Singing and playing at same time lets them multitask successfully. A little less than half of his time with 8th grade students is spent on the ukulele u

The first installment of a fun four-part episode series for any choral director, So Awkward addresses all the ways we can prevent awkward concerts for us, for our choirs, and most importantly for our audiences. In this installment I talk about some little ways to start each concert off so that you are the epitome of awesome and achieve the “Wow” factor before your choir even sings a note. Many of these lesson I learned from watching The Dog Whisperer on Animal Planet.   Listen: Click to download episode! Show Notes: Diagram your entire flow for the evening Who does what? Who goes where, and when? Duty assignments Focus on presence Cell phones in a locked room Call time for your choir Have your choir come earlier than you think “You do what I say. No questions asked.” Give a focused pep talk Hard: Your parents will love you even if you suck Soft: Vulnerability “Calm and Assertive” like Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer Choir member duties Greeters Programs Ushers Floaters What to do when the au

Some of us barely get to see our students individually for any real length of time, so today I’m going over my short process for classifying voices as soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone/bass using examples from my own high school choir. We will dig into what to listen for, ideal characteristics of each voice part, actual exercises to use during classification, and more.   Listen: Click to download episode! Show Notes: Disclaimer: These are my opinions. Take what you want and leave what you don’t. :) When to classify upon entering the program Trust no one! Do it yourself. beginning of the school year mid-year as needed on a student-by-student basis. Student comes to you and asks You feel the need Pyramid of sound Bottom heavy ⅔ approach 6 Basses, 4 Tenors, 9 Altos, 6 Sopranos What does a quick and dirty high school voice classification sound like? 2-3 exercises Descending: S, F, M, R, D - on [di] Legato: D, R, M, R, D - on [ja] Range extension/flexibility: S, D1, S, M, D - on [i a - - -] M

Today, I deep dive into the practices of Daniel Gutierrez of Reed Academy Singers to find out what it takes to put together the type of performance that receives not one, but two standing ovations at the National ACDA conference.   Click to download episode! Show Notes: Stay the course (Don’t go crazy) Be open to advice and criticism Perform a lot Raising the standard Record everything Hold students accountable Demonstrate vulnerability Trust each other 3 Key Takeaways: Do more of what you do best. Don’t change what you do in your program just because you were accepted to a conference. Your language matters. “That was good” after everything doesn’t raise the bar. Vulnerability is key. Resources/links Mentioned: Danny’s first episode, Find Your Forte episode 057: Boop After Me: How to 25x your choral program, with Daniel Gutierrez Link to purchase ACDA performance by Reed Academy Middle School Sponsored by: Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) B

It’s time for a little boost of self-confidence and reassurance from the Choir Ninja! If you’re feeling a little down about how the year has gone for you, here are some things to do to give you the boost you need to finish the year on a high note!   Listen: Click to download episode! Show Notes: Reject the notion that you’re not good enough! Success always comes with a little imposter syndrome. Recognize that your choir is a reflection of your spirit. If you don’t like what you’ve seen or heard at any point this year, it’s time to look in the mirror and take responsibility. Chances are it was your own insecurity at play. Remember that you’ll never make everyone happy, so don’t sweat it! Your choir, run by you, isn’t necessarily for everyone, and that’s okay! REsistance is natural in the lifecycle of making a difference. Read the War of Art, by Stephen Pressfield. Renounce students that don’t want to be there and focus on those who share your values. You’ll attract choir members who love your style a

Music, men, and money...What more can a high school program need? Join Donny and Antonio of the Barbershop Harmony Society as we explore the potential success you can have with Barbershop as part of your school choral offerings. Listen: Click to download episode! Show Notes: Why start a chapter Confidence Emotional growth and vulnerability Better singing and easier singing Growth of your choral program Enthusiasm for singing Things you need to start a chapter Enthusiasm Positivity Communication skills Accessible music Young people who love to sing Administrative support Want to learn more? Harmony University Barbershop.org Your local chapter 3 Key Takeaways: Barbershop can attract additional music, men, and money to your already great choral program. Barbershop Harmony Society offers tons of free resources for anyone interested in trying a song or two, or even starting a chapter. There are free scholarships to Harmony University available specifically for music educators, so it’s likely y

...and here's why. Matt Curtis of Choral Tracks drops in to talk with me about the importance of attending conferences. 

Having a healthy choir starts with you, the director. Be sure that you’re proactive in creating a culture of love and openness in your choir each and every day. Here’s what you need to think about today!   Click to download episode! Show Notes: Do things together Do things as a group!  Anything from a basic outing (no singing), lunch/dinner, retreats, camps, festivals, competitions.  Change your Language Change how you say things to your class.  Instead of “I” say “we”. Also by nature we are quite negative, change it up.  Don’t just focus on what needs improvement, let them know what they did well.  Don’t flower it, just be HONEST! Have discussions Foster communication in your group through discussions.  Discuss what was good, bad, needs improvements, etc.  Many directors do this with little response from the class but be open to trying it.  Also ask the class for suggestion on activities, and how a piece should be performed. Take care of yourself Let the choir know you’re human.  As much as

Learn some hacks that will result in increased mental clarity and better musical work with Spencer Jones, choral director and founder of of Jonesin’ to Get Fit. Click to download episode! Show Notes: Schedule it  Lay it out in front of you on tools like a day planner or Google Calendar. Year-at-a-glance calendars are perfect for zooming out and seeing what’s coming up. Make a daily to-do list as a way to get everything out of your head. Feels great to cross it off! Prep - Did you adequately prepare yourself and your group for the event? Sometimes we just can’t be as prepared as we’d like, but you get as close as you can through… Looking over your calendar to see what’s coming up and making sure everything is in place. Just like a good sight-reader looks a measure or two ahead, so do you. Adequate score study Prepping non-musical things (Give away the menial tasks through delegation.) Delegate-  GIve away things that don’t need you, such as... programs taking attendance uniform organization soci

In today’s episode I invite Denise Eaton back for a look at her layering method of sequential teaching. In other words, this is a breakdown of her step-by-step process for teaching a new choral piece to her choirs.   Listen: Click to download episode! Highlight to Tweet: “Repetition is your friend and the key to successful learning.” -Denise Eaton #choirninja Show Notes: Eaton's Order of Events for Layering Skills in Sequential Teaching Teach rhythms before looking at song (including all like patterns throughout) Extract and breakdown rhythms for better understanding and skill development Learning rhythm doesn't only include chanting· singing is also encouraged Include emphasis on strong beats -always keep the text in mind Add solfege -always with appropriate, desired tone Introduce the key of the song through previous sight-reading (See resources and sponsor below) Extract only the melodic contour in solfege (before looking at song) for greater mastery later Chant solfege in rhythm -add emphasis o

In today’s episode (Part 1) you will find out what Texas music educator and superstar, Denise Eaton, looks at when choosing repertoire for her choirs so they can be successful at learning through her innovative sequential layering method of teaching (coming up on part 2 - Friday). This episode is sponsored by Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!) Listen: Click to download episode! Highlight to Tweet: “You need to make a noise before you can refine the noise” -Denise Eaton #choirninja Show Notes: Get ‘em in the room and get ‘em singing immediately “You need to make a noise before you can refine the noise” No harm singing and sight-singing in unison It elevates the weaker singing Can be VERY artistic When choosing music, be conscious of… Tonality Rhythmic development Harmonic rhythm Vocal development Range Tessitura Depth of sound Language Use sequential layering (next episode) to teach the music. Sequence matters because of muscle memory

In this episode you will learn the RESOURCES, RATIONALE, and ROUTINE of two amazing members of Choir Nation who have choirs that love to sight-sing and do it well! Join Chris Munce and Jon Duncan as they explain the whole process. This episode is sponsored by Sight Reading Factory (use promo code "NINJA" at checkout for 10 free student accounts). Listen: Click to download episode! Highlight to Tweet: “You don’t have time to NOT sight-read every day.” -@ChrisMunce Show Notes: Resources Sight Reading Factory Projected on screen, smart board, or smart wall Patti DeWitt Printable PDF sight singing examples Very easy at the start and progresses to quite difficult Unison, 2pt, 3pt, 4pt, SATB, SSA, TTBB Octavos Warm-ups Section leaders instruct Circles “Let them tell you what they did wrong.” Rationale “You don’t have time to NOT sight-read every day.” Routine Every day Beginning of class After warm-ups On solfege With hand signs Give DO Sing tonic triad and tuning exercises (d,m

After almost 2 years and 130 episodes, the Find Your Forte podcast will become the Choir Ninja podcast.  The new podcast will focus on giving Choir Nation actionable takeaways from EVERY episode that can be used to improve your middle or high school choral program. Listen: Highlight to Tweet: CHOIR NEWS! Find Your Forte podcast w/ @ryanmguth will now be Choir Ninja podcast Show Notes: Why? If downloads are a measure of value, the most valuable episodes have been Technique Tuesday or Find Your Forte interviews with conductors who “spill the beans”.  We need more of that. Choir Ninja aims to be a solutions-oriented podcast, just like it’s host. Predictability encourages habit which makes for more successful choral directors. FOMO (Fear of missing out) A stronger Choir Nation What’s changing? The title and the branding Narrowing the focus No more profile interviews More interviews with in-the-trenches choral directors who can relate to Choir Nation Always actionable takeaways The days Moving to Monday and

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For the first time, I interview the choral director of an ALL boys school. Chris DeVries is an energetic guest, and for that reason an interesting conversation ensues about falsetto, the smell of the weight room, and morning routine. Listen   Bio Coming soon! Chris recommends Links Saint Francis High Choir Nation on Facebook Support the show on

In this episode, I discuss ways to create meaningful relationships with your special needs students and their families of your choir program. You will also learn ways to accommodate these students moving forward both in class and in performance without depriving the rest of your choir of the attention they deserve. Listen   I recommend... Calend.ly My notes... Reach out to the family Phone is best If necessary, email requesting a phone call PRO TIP: Use a scheduler like Calend.ly to find a common call time Find out their goals "How can I serve [Student} better?" LISTEN and take notes. Restate parent's goals for [Student] in your own words so they know you're listening. Filter all commentary through an "I want [Student] to be successful and show him/her in the best light possible." After conversation, log the contact. Speak to the student, if possible What are your goals for being in choir? Suggest options if he/she needs help, i.e. to make friends, sing better, be on stage and pe

Fellow podcaster, John Hughes, of Choir Chat comes on the Find Your Forte podcast to follow my format and share his choral philosophy, ups and downs, and his unique contribution to the choral world. Listen   Bio Dr. John C. Hughes is assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at Ripon College in Wisconsin. In addition to conducting the college’s choirs, Hughes teaches conducting, choral methods, and private voice lessons. Beyond Ripon College, he is in demand as a clinician and honor choir conductor and serves as assistant conductor of the Choral Institute at the Green Lake Festival of Music (WI). He also founded and hosts Choir Chat, a weekly podcast of interviews with conductors and composers. Hughes earned his undergraduate degree in Vocal Music Education from Augustana College (IL), where he studied with Jon Hurty and Michael Zemek. After teaching in public schools for several years, he earned the M.M. in Choral Conducting from Northern Illinois University, where he studied choral c