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Own SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN 4/26 on 4K Ultra HD™ & Digital! Comment with your favorite memory from the film and 20 winners will be selected at random to receive the 4K digital movie!
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Community, Excellence, & Competition
In 2019, the Vestavia Hills Singers finished the competition season undefeated. Dr. Megan Rudolph, who led the choir program at the high school from 2000-2021, attributed the success of the group to the dedication of each student working for the success of the whole. During a 2019 interview, Dr. Rudolph explained her approach to teaching as well as the value of arts education. “We learn how to work together on something bigger than ourselves. We learn how to always realize that we are a part of a bigger chain, and if we’re not pulling our weight, we’re not going to be successful.” Building personal character, supporting good citizenship, and using constructive criticism effectively were hallmarks of Dr. Rudolph’s choir department.
https://www.productionsmag.com/article/community-excellence-competition/
Going Beyond the Score: How to Involve Your Instrumentalists in the Important Task of Adapting the Music as Your Show Evolves
Most of the top show choirs in the nation work closely with an arranger throughout the entire show production process, from conception to performance. Groups such as these put on shows that approach a level of professionalism, particularly in the way they integrate their musical scoring with their stage visuals. For the 99% of directors who don’t have the luxury of an arranger co-producing their show, this level of performance might seem unattainable. But with just a little bit of effort, any director—with the help of instrumentalists—can take a score beyond the notes on the page to achieve a higher level of performance not unlike those displayed by top choirs.
https://www.productionsmag.com/article/going-beyond-score-involve-instrumentalists-important-task-adapting-music-show-evolves-2/
Finding Your “Golden Brick”: How to Push Boundaries with Success
One of my mentors in college, Ron Simpson, taught a lesson that has since informed my composing and arranging every day. He described what he called the “Golden Brick Rule”, and it concerned how to break convention and try creative things without going too far. Imagine you’re looking at a red brick wall, only one of the bricks is made of gold. To what is your eye immediately going to be drawn? The golden brick, of course, is going to stand out among the red bricks. Taking the analogy further, if you had a wall that was made entirely of golden bricks, no single brick would stand out.
https://www.productionsmag.com/article/finding-golden-brick-push-boundaries-success/
Singing vs. Shouting: Vocal Advice from an Expert
In show choir, our end product is the result of hours of practice and preparation. These are hours split among the many facets of the genre, the two primary facets being singing and dancing. I tell the singers in my studio that to be an outstanding performer you need to prioritize four tasks: 1) vocal technique, 2) musicianship skills, 3) communication/acting ability, and 4) developing mental strategies that help them to overcome any challenges they may encounter. This article addresses the vocal technique component of being a performer, and it will aid you in helping your singers reach a level of excellence that will keep them singing with a clear, energized, and healthy tone from the beginning of your season to the last note of your closer at the final competition.
https://www.productionsmag.com/article/singing-vs-shouting-vocal-advice-expert-2/
PLAN FOR SUCCESS
It is unlikely that you would leave for vacation without first choosing a destination, packing a bag or deciding on your mode of transportation. Whether it's a vacation, a staff meeting or what's for dinner, planning is an essential part of completing any task successfully. School fundraising is no different; in fact, it's very similar to planning for a vacation. Choosing your destination should be the easiest part. The fundraising committee says, “We have X amount of dollars and we need to raise Y amount of dollars in order to purchase the new computers for our lab.” Substitute whatever your need is and you’re done! Read the full story here:
https://www.productionsmag.com/article/plan-for-success-2/
PREPARING TO TAKE THE STAGE ONCE AGAIN
Due to the heavy impact of COVID-19 on the performing arts and live events industry, we anticipate performers, backstage crews, theater directors, guests, and any role in between are beyond enthused for the return of theater this fall. But safety remains a major concern as the pandemic continues to be a lingering threat. No matter the venue size or location, performance halls will likely have to be more strategic and creative than ever in their spatial panning in order for the audience to feel safe and comfortable, while enjoying the performance. Read the full story here:
https://www.productionsmag.com/article/preparing-take-stage/
IS THERE A FUTURE IN VIRTUAL COMPETITIONS?
At the end of February of 2021, I was adjudicating the only show choir competition for the year. It was a pleasure to be a part of the team as this marked 20 years of judging at this high school. It was a virtual competition, and I was quite curious about how it would work. Read the full story at:
https://www.productionsmag.com/article/future-virtual-competitions/
10 REASONS TO HIRE A TOUR OPERATOR FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE TRIP
Planning a student trip or group tour takes time and expertise. It involves multiple suppliers such as airlines, motorcoach companies, attractions, accommodations, and restaurants. There is a way to make this process simpler for you. Here are ten great reasons you should hire a tour operator for your next trip. Read the full story here:
https://www.productionsmag.com/article/10-reasons-hire-tour-operator-performance-trip//
A SINGLE SOUND SOLUTION FOR MANY ACOUSTICAL NEEDS AT ASSUMPTION COLLEGE
The new Curtis Performance Hall at the Tsotsis Academic Center at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, was built to serve many needs. Class lectures, theatrical performances, choir concerts and movie showings all happen at the hall. And those many needs require vastly different acoustics. To determine the right sound solution, the school leadership partnered with acousticians, architects, consultants and sound experts. They set out to determine how to create the best-sounding, best-looking space to accommodate the various needs of the students. Read the full story here:
https://www.productionsmag.com/article/single-sound-solution-many-acoustical-needs-assumption-college/
Productions Magazine June 2021 Issue: The 5 Types of Show Choir Storytelling - It’s easy to think of show choir as being divided into two camps: those who do “story” shows and those who do “traditional” shows. But that mindset overlooks a crucial fact: that ALL songs tell a story and therefore ALL shows are story shows. This article outlines the five most common types of show choir storytelling to help directors choose what is right for their choir. View our June 2021 digital issue here:
https://cloud.3dissue.net/26196/26199/26424/57096/index.html?73026
