Well,I’mnotsurethelivin’isalwayseasyinthesummertime,butIdobelieveitgiveseachofusachance torest,recharge,andmaybeevenrenewabit Asaretiredteacher,mycalendarisn’tquiteasfullasitonce was, but I’m still keeping busy My public school accompanying job wraps up at the end of May, and my church choir commitments wind down in early June but I’ll still be playing for services throughout the summer
OurSWACDAleadershipteamisgearingupforourfinalsitevisittoAlbuquerqueinearlyJune.Wewantto makesureeverydetailisjustright readytowelcomeourmembersandsetthestageforanunforgettable conference. I’m so thankful for the incredible people who said “ yes ” to being part of this team. I’m surroundedbysmart,talentedcolleagueswhogivesomuchtothisorganization andfromwhomIlearnso much.Keepaneyeoutinfuturenewslettersasweintroducemoremembersoftheconferencecommittee.
InJune,I’malsohopingtocarveoutalittlefamilytime traveling,exploringnewplaces,reconnectingwith friends,andspendingtimewithfamilywedon’tseenearlyoftenenough.ThenJulyrollsin,andit’sshaping uptobebothbusyandexciting.Lastyear,IattendedTCDAasarepresentativeofSWACDA,andthisyear I’ll be heading to my “home” conference in Missouri, along with summer conferences in Kansas and Arkansas OneofthebestpartsofACDAismakingnewconnectionsandrenewingoldones,andI’mtruly lookingforwardtodoingjustthat
This summer, we’ll be announcing the interest session presenters, and selected auditioned choirs for the 2026conferenceinAlbuquerque We’realsoworkinghardtoreleasethefullschedulebeforesummerends, soyou’llhaveeverythingyouneedtosharewithyouradministrators andhelpthemseejusthowvaluable thisconferencewillbe.Ihopeyou’llmakeplanstojoinus.It’sgoingtobesomethingspecial.
In my experience talking with educators and students that don’t, or are apprehensive to, perform jazz, alwaysthenumberoneansweristolistenmore.Thesameanswerapplieswhenworkingwithgroupsthat singajazzchart,butarenottrulysingingjazz.Correctpartsandlockedchordsarepresent,butthestyleis not(referringtoafewspecificslikevowelplacement,tone,andarticulationsthatbetterrepresentswing, bossa,orballads,etc.).
Listeningisalong-usedjazztechnique.Jazzerslistentomusicians,oftenbeyondtheirownabilities.They pickupsomestylistictechniques(evencharacteristicriffsorlicks)andblenditintotheirownrepertoireof tools to use during performance. Therefore, a musician’s solo style is developed from a combination of influences.Somecanbecomeinspiredandinfluencedsomuchthataudiencemembersintheknowcantell whowas/isontheperformer’slisteningrotation
As a listener of jazz, look for a variety of instruments and styles to get fresh perspectives on your own favorites.When you listen out of the box, you may find yourself growing out of the box. Also, listen to styles you like and groups or people that you admire to assess what you enjoy Mostly, just listening to different groups and soloists will instill a sense of feel and time, along with the love of rhythmic unpredictabilityanddissonancethatwillgoalongway.
If you are listening because of a certain chart or arrangement you have programmed, here’s a thought of cautionaboutonlylisteningtothepublishinghouses’audioexamples.Manytimestheperformancewillbe recordedbystudiomusiciansthatarenotsingingintheappropriatejazzstyle.Emulatingtheseparticular examples can lead you down the wrong path Instead, mix your demo listening by finding original recordingsofthearrangementand,mostimportantly,trycontactingthearrangerforaperformancedemo. Youwillalmostalwaysfindgoodhelpthiswayandyou’llgetastylisticallyauthenticexample.
There is also a notable point of watching groups live or online Watch for performance expression and analyzethegeneralelevated“coolquotient.”YouTuberabbitholes,asyouwellknow,canbevastandtime sucking.Yourdiscernmentisencouraged.
R&R Resource
Included here is a list of vocal jazz groups, vocal soloists, and instrumentalists as well as a fewYouTube suggestions No one performer or group was intentionally left off this list It’s merely a jumping off point Don’t get overwhelmed Even a little can be very informative and possibly open the door to a steady diet
Congratulationsonalmostmakingittotheendoftheschoolyear!Formostofus,themonthofMaytends tobethetimewhenwegetreadyforthefinalconcertofthesemester,auditionstudentsfortheupcoming schoolyear,andtieuplooseendsbeforethelastdayofschool.Thethoughtofsummervacationisthelight attheendofthetunnelthatmotivatesustoremainvigilantaswecountdownthedaysbeforewegetour much-neededsummerbreak Afteralmostninemonthsofworkinglonghoursintotheevening,wakingup early for before-school rehearsals, and working on weekends, our summer is the time where we get an extended opportunity to focus on ourselves. Summer vacation is in place to give teachers the chance to relaxandrechargesothattheycanbereadytotackletheupcomingschoolyear
Regardlessofwhereweteach,manyofusfacethesamechallengesandissuesinthefallwhenwereturn after our break.We start our fall with hours of professional development that can sometimes leave very littletimetobeinourroomstotrulyprepareforthefirstfewweeksofschool.Thenwhenstudentsarrive, wehavethearduoustaskofmakingsurethattheyarescheduledforthecorrectchoirclass Onceweget them in the correct class, we need to assess their voices to ensure that we put them in the correct vocal section. Of course, we must devote time to get to know our students and for them to get to know each other Andwithanytimethatyouhaveleft,youhavetogetyourkidsreadyfortheirfirstconcertofthe year,whichtendstobeonlyweeksafterthefirstdayofschool.Thebeginningofthefallsemesterdemands somuchofusasmusiceducators.Thetransitionfromthelazydaysofsummertothehustleandbustleof thefallcanfeellikeyou’regoingfromzerotoahundredmilesanhourinjustafewshortweeks
Thefallsemesterbringsofmultitudeofchallengesthatrequireavastamountofourenergyandattention. Eventhoughthereisnormallyatwo-weekbreakbetweenthefallandspringsemesters,wereallydon’tget a lot of time to rest and recharge. In many cases, we use the winter break to prepare for the upcoming springsemester.Whetheritbefinalizingmusicforacompetitionorfestival,choosingliteratureforsoloor ensemblecontests,orpreppingformusicalrehearsalsandperformances,wereallydon’tgetalotoftimeto focusonwhatWEneedduringthewinterbreak.Beinganeffectivemusiceducatorcantakealotoutof you.Thetimethatweinvestintoourprogramsandintoourstudentsleavesverylittletimeforustoinvest inourselves
Findingtherightbalancebetweenworklifeandourpersonallifeisanongoingstrugglethatchangeswith time Like many brand-new educators, at the beginning of my career I spent countless hours creating lessonsplans,answeringemails,andcompletingallthemanyadministrativedutiesassociatedwithbeinga choirdirectorbeforeschool,afterschool,andonweekends.Mycarwouldbethefirstcarintheparkinglot inthemorningandthelastcarintheparkinglotatnight Thislifestyleleftverylittletimetospendwith myfamilyandlovedones.IfeltlikeallIdidwaswakeup,gotowork,comehome,gotobed,andthenI wake up to start the cycle all over again. It’s not only new-to-the-profession teachers that struggle with achieving a work-to-personal life balance that works for them Even educators with more teaching experiencecansometimesfallintothetrapofover-workingthemselveswithoutfindingtimetorecharge.
R&R Resource HighSchoolMixed
Continued
When you get on a plane, during the safety briefing, the flight attendants always say that it is important thatyouputonyourmaskfirstbeforehelpingothersputontheirmask Weknowthatwemusttakecare ofourselvesbeforewecantakecareofothers,butsometimesthat’seasiersaidthandone Teachersareselfless, a characteristic that sometimes emphasizes the needs of their students ahead of their own Though thisisatraitthatmanyofusshare,itisimportantthatwealsoprioritizetakingtimetodothethingsthat gives us joy and fulfills us as musicians so that we can have the mental capacity and patience to have a positiveimpactonourstudents.
Every person ’ s work-to-personal life balance is different. There are several different factors that must be considered when determining what balance looks like in our lives. Having a significant other or children canvastlychangetheamountoftimeyouhavetospendatwork.Forexample,ifyouhaveyoungonesat home or rely on childcare during the day, you may not be able to devote extra time at work because your family needs you at home. Your vision for the trajectory of your choir program and what you want to achievecanalsoaffecttheamountoftimeyoudevotetowork.Ifyourvisionforyourchoirprogramistobe selectedforanhonorchoirperformanceortoawinchoircompetition,youmayneedtoinvestmoretimeat work for rehearsals. It is important that we do not compare our definition of balance to that of our peers. Remember that each of us comes to the table with different life experiences, different students, and differentresourcesatourdisposal
What is ironic is that we spend almost nine to ten months of the year devoting most of our time to our choirprogramsbutonlyhavearoundtwomonthstofindtimetorechargesothatwecanbereadyforthe nextschoolyear.Becausewehavesuchasmallamountoftimetoinvestinourselvesinthesummer,itis crucialthatwespendthattimedoingwhateverweneedtodotoberefreshedforthefall.So,whataresome of the things that we can do during the summer to recharge so that we can be ready for students on the firstdayofschoolinthefall?Ibelievetheseactivitiescanbeorganizedintotwoseparatecategories:Rest& RelaxationandInvestinginYourselfasaMusician.
Rest&Relaxationisjustthat.Itistakingtimetodoactivitiesthatdonotcorrelateorhaveanythingtodo with work. Activities such as spending time quality time with friends or going on a family trip fall under thiscategory.TakingtimetogetcaughtuponyourfavoriteTVshow,havingamoviemarathon,andeven rekindling your love for a hobby or personal project can also be a part of rest & relaxation.These are things that we love to do, but do not necessarily have the time during the school year to accomplish. For somepeople,doingactivitiesinthesummerthathaveabsolutelynothingtodowithmusicisexactlywhat theyneedtorecharge Othersmayfeelthatthesummershouldbeusedasatimetoenrichtheirskillsasa musicianandasaneducator
R&R Resource HighSchoolMixed
Investing in yourself as musician during the summer can look like several different things Attending conventions,workshops,andconductingsymposiumsfallintothiscategory Othersmayusethesummerto enrollingraduate-levelcoursestofurthertheireducation Ifyouarefortunatetohaveacommunitychorus or ensemble in your area, consider using the time during the summer to perform Many of us joined this professionbecausewelovedsinginginchoirwhenwewereyounger.You’dbeamazedathowsingingand beingontheothersideoftheconductingpodiumwillreigniteyourloveforchoralmusicagain.Gettinga chanceto“filltheirmusicalcup”throughprofessionaldevelopmentorperforminginthesummerisexactly whatsomepeopleneedtobereadytoencourageandinspirestudentswhenschoolresumesinthefall.
Whether you prefer to use the time in the summer for rest & relaxation or to invest in yourself as a musician, take things at your own pace and follow the beat of your own drum. The school year is rigid, structuredbysetschedulesandcalendarobligations,leavinglittleroomforflexibilityorpersonalchoice.In contrast, summer offers the freedom to shape your days however you like. One of the greatest gifts of vacationistheabilitytochoosehowyouspendyourtime.Letyourinterestsanddesiresguideyou,rather than just your obligations. In a profession as demanding as music education, it’s vital to acknowledge the immensetime,energy,anddedicationitrequires Summerbreakexistsforareason:togiveusthechanceto rest, recharge, and reignite our passion and love for teaching people how to sing together as one Use this time intentionally whether that means total relaxation or pursuing professional development opportunities so you ’ re prepared energetically and emotionally reignited for the year ahead Remember, your summer doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s Let go of comparison and guilt; your well-being and whatyouneedcomesfirst Afterall,asthesayinggoes:Youneedtoputonyourownmaskbeforehelping others.
BeOurGuest DavidFryling
NationalACDAPresident
AChoralCredo
Ibelievesinging,together,reallyandtrulymatters.Ibelievethisartofstaggeringbeautyandvulnerability requires us to bare our souls and reveal the universality of human endeavors that connect all people I believe this vulnerability and connection at the heart of vocal music is therapeutic. Research has linked singing together with mood improvement, increased emotional regulation, and all the benefits of “flow” state apsychologicalstateofdeepfocusandsatisfaction Wesingtogethertofeeltogether
I believe choir is community. An act of such beautiful vulnerability as singing requires the warm and empoweringembraceofsimilarlyvulnerableandempathetichumans.Itiswheremanyfindtheirdeepes friendships,meettheirlife-partners,andforgetheirown“foundfamilies”Wesingtosupporteachother,lift eachotherup,andcreatetheextraordinary,together.
Ibelieveconductorsareatourbestwhenweimaginetheconductor-choirrelationshipas“dancepartners.”I find in this metaphor the perfect reminder of the important parts we each play I believe we each have essentialresponsibilitiesinthedance,andthoughoneofusbynecessitymustlead,bothdancepartners must be alive in the moment, aware of our individual duties, and continuously striving to express some truthdeepfromwithin anddeeperthan ourselves
Ibelievethat,whenweasconductorsareatourbestonthepodium,weactasfacilitatorsofaunified yet somehow deeply personal expression of the people in front of us. I believe we ’ re very simply there to remindotherstoaskhowthecomposerunderstandsthetext,andthencreateaspaceinwhichtheycan expressthemusic,thepoetry,andthemselvesashonestlyandvulnerablyaspossible
Ibelieveweall singersandconductorsalike aretaskedwithupliftingwithinourselvesandwithinour audience all the joys of being human. I believe these joys include (but are most certainly not limited to) meaningfullycreativepersonalexpression,deepcommunitybondswithourfellowhumans,cultivationof our empathetic imaginations, and a transcendent connection with the people who have chosen to come listentooursongs.
AndIbelievedeeplyinACDA Ibelieveinitspeople,itsmission,anditsvision“tocreatepowerfulartistic experiencesandbeadvocatesforculturalandeducationalchangethatwemighttransformpeople’slives.”I believewecaneachembracethisvisionasourown.Letuslistendeeplytooneanother,leadsimplyfrom humble confidence and self-reflection, and remember we are all in the transformer-of-lives business I believe the gifts we share and the legacy we build, one song at a time, really and truly matter. Sing on, Southwest!
DaveFryling NationalPresident,ACDA
BeOurGuest DavidFryling
NationalACDAPresident
For more than twenty-five years, Dr. David Fryling has engaged audiences, singers, and educators as a professional conductor, teacher, adjudicator, and clinician His many years of work with students and choraleducatorsonLongIslandwashonoredwithan inductionintotheLongIslandMusicHallofFameas the “Educator of Note” of 2014, and his artistic leadership on the podium has been recognized with two 1st Place American Prizes in Conducting, one each in the community chorus and college & universitycategories.
Since 2001, David has been Director of Choral Activities at Hofstra University, where he conducts the select Hofstra Chorale and Hofstra Chamber Choir, teaches choral conducting, and supervises choral music education student teachers in the field. From 2007 to 2013, Dr. Fryling spent his summers as coordinator of the Vocal Artists program at the InterlochenCenterfortheArtsinMichigan,wherehe wasconductorandmusicdirectoroftheWorldYouth Honors Choir and Festival Choir & Orchestra He has since served as a guest artist on the conducting faculty of the NewYork State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) School of Choral Studies, as well as the Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Sitka, AK. He is the Founding Conductor and Artistic Director for eVovo Voice Collective. David is a past president of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Eastern Region, and currently serves as National PresidentoftheACDA.
StateoftheState Kansas
AlexUnderwood,President
Choral music is thriving in Kansas!We are fortunate to have a strong community of choral musicians who champion one another in our work with our own choirs. For us, spring is a seasonofclinicsandfestivalsandguests,whichprovidesmany opportunities for us to hear each other’s works, share knowledge,cheerleadoneanother,andgenerallystrengthenour choral community. Almost every college or university choral programhostshighschoolchoirsinsharedperformances,
some invite exciting composers to explore the generative part of our field, our orchestras are performing their choral masterworks, church choirs are singing cantatas, and children’s choruses are ending their seasonsbygoingallout
Through this flurry of activity, our choirs build important relationships with each another. And as we navigate this season in our country and world, Kansans understand the power of fortifying strong communities. Fortunately, choral musicians are practiced at building community amongst the singers in our ensembles and between our ensembles and the broader public. In a time when nonconfrontational Midwesternersarelikelytoavoidconversationsthatmayveertowardsthesocialandpolitical,itcanbea challengetogetamixed,orevendividedgroupofpeopletoworktowardsacommongoal.Wethinkchoiris agreattooltohelpeasetensions,buildcommonground,andshareoneanother’shumanity.
With that in mind, our summer convention is slated for July 9-11 in Lawrence on the campus of the UniversityofKansaswherewe’llspendourtimefocusingonSingingtoBelong.Wearelookingforwardto hosting Kansas-natives, Maggie Burk and Dustin Cates, along withWhitney Covalle, Howard Helvey, and Kate Reid as our guest clinicians and presenters We’re also thrilled that SWACDA President, Jonathan Owenwilljoinusthissummertoo
Choral music is, at its core, about connection connecting with our singers, our audiences, and with each otheraseducators.ACDAhasbeenaconstantsourceofthatconnectioninmyprofessionallife,providinga communitywhereIcangrow,beinspired,andshareinthecollectivejoyofmakingmusic.It’saplacewhere I’m surrounded by people who understand the unique challenges and deep rewards of this art form, and whereIfindthetoolsandmotivationtocontinueevolvingasaconductorandeducator.
I stay involved with ACDA because it reminds me that our work is bigger than any one rehearsal, performance,orseason.Throughconferences,workshops,andthesimpleactofgatheringwithcolleagues, I’m continually re-energized by the ideas, passion, and artistry of my peers It’s where I learn, where I contribute,andwhereI’mremindedwhyIchosethisprofessioninthefirstplace
At the end of the day, I believe in the power of choral music to build community, foster empathy, and transformlives ACDAamplifiesthatmission,andI’mgratefultobepartofit
