The Choir Fam Podcast is a venue for conversations about the current state of choral music. Hosts Dean Luethi and Matthew Myers seek to bring the worldwide choral community closer together through their discussions with a variety of guests who work with choir in its various forms. The goal of the podcast is to provide listeners with interesting tidbits of knowledge they could use in day-to-day choral rehearsals and to bring light to the ways that issues in the choral field are being observed ...
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Choral Methods Podcasts
This podcast is an educational outreach of the William Baker Choral Foundation in Roeland Park, KS. Visit us at: ChoralFoundation.org, FestivalSingers.org, or HealthySinging.org
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Ep. 141 - Developing Efficiency in Choral Rehearsals - Richard Zielinski
1:02:22
1:02:22
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"Singing in a choir, you're trying to about five things at the same time, and sometimes you're not even doing it in the language you have spoken your entire life. Sometimes I had to just start with rhythm on one pitch and then build that step by step by step. In the process, I was always trying to teach voice. If the voice mechanism shuts down, tha…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: Christmas Special 2025
46:19
46:19
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As we come to the close of the year, The Choral Director’s Toolbox offers a special Christmas edition, airing December 22 and again on December 29. In place of our usual format, Dr. William Baker invites members of the Choral Foundation faculty to share Christmas-time choral works that hold deep personal and musical meaning.This reflective and joyf…
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Ep. 140 - Providing Mountaintop Experiences Through Choral Festivals - Jenny Bent
49:35
49:35
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“If you have opportunities to have them take over the work, you can engage them in a way with chaos circles. I love doing chaos circles when they’re teaching themselves the music. Sometimes you see students who are usually very shy really step up to the challenge of becoming leaders, You get to see students in a way that they don’t always present t…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: A Compilation of Favorites Ep. 50
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In this special Episode 50 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, we pause at year’s end to reflect on the ideas that resonated most deeply with our listeners in 2025. This retrospective episode revisits three of Dr. William Baker’s most beloved topic presentations: Damns of Distinction, The Pearly Gates Tavern, and Professionalism. Together, these refl…
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Ep. 139 - Musical Magic in Middle School - Gretchen Harrison
53:32
53:32
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“Middle school kids really are very concrete learners. Abstract thought isn’t there yet. Give them the ability to see ‘I’m not the only one having problems on page 10. I must be normal because everybody’s having problems on page 10.’ Or, if it is a kid who’s the only one who’s having a problem, let’s figure out what the problem is. Let the kids hav…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: The Ghosts of Christmas Presents Ep. 48
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In Episode 48 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker takes a lighthearted but meaningful look at "The Ghosts of Christmas Presents," the sometimes awkward expectations surrounding holiday gift-giving in choirs and music programs. With warmth and humor, Dr. Baker shares lessons learned from experience and offers practical ways to f…
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Ep. 138 - Composing a Living - Dale Trumbore & Brandon Elliott
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55:27
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“Going into high school, I did everything possible to avoid the performing arts. My vice principal called me into the office and said, ‘you can’t have an open period. I’m gonig to put you in choir.’ Within weeks, it became a life-changing experience for me – I discovered a community, a way to express myself. I knew by the end of my junior year in h…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: From Pattern to Purpose: Listening Like a Conductor Ep 47
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In Episode 47 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, guest presenter Dr. Jamea Sale, Executive Associate Director of the Choral Foundation and Director of the Institute for Healthy Singing & Voice Research, leads an engaging discussion titled "From Pattern to Purpose: Listening Like a Conductor." Dr. Sale explores one of the greatest challenges for emer…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: Christmas Collaborations Ep. 46
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In Episode 46 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker shares timely insights in Christmas Collaborations, exploring how partnerships between adult, youth, and children’s choirs enrich performances, build audiences, and inspire future generations of singers. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Baker outlines practical strategies f…
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Ep. 137 - Connecting with Audiences Through Choral Storytelling - Joshua Habermann
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47:38
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“My job is to make people love choral music as much as I do, and that’s a lot. I really love choral music. My job is to say ‘you should care about this.’ You might care about it because it’s ravishingly beautiful or because it has a story to tell you. Even if you’re not a person who relates to choral music, you can relate to stories. We’re going to…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: Considerations for Handel’s Messiah Ep. 45
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In Episode 45 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker offers timeless insights in Considerations for Handel’s Messiah, drawing from decades of conducting experience. From editions and orchestration to soloist selection and performance practice, Dr. Baker shares practical wisdom for achieving clarity, authenticity, and joy in this b…
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Ep. 136 - Sharing Musical Value in Community Partnerships - Alex Gartner
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47:14
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“You’re not going to ask a bunch of choir directors to donate to your organization — you’re going to have to go find other people who probably don’t have the type of experience with choir that choral leaders do. It’s about trying to translate not just your own personal love of choir but the reason that your choir exists, what it does for its commun…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: When Something Goes Wrong Ep. 44
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In Episode 44 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker shares real-world wisdom in When Something Goes Wrong, exploring how choral conductors can respond with grace, calm, and professionalism when the unexpected happens on stage. From missed entrances to fainting singers, Dr. Baker offers strategies for maintaining focus and dignity…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: Money-Ball Ep. 43
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In Episode 43 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker reflects on "Money-Ball," exploring what professional sports can teach the arts about value, economics, and perspective. He challenges arts leaders to rethink attitudes toward wealth, business, and success reminding us that the prosperity of one sector often fuels the sustainabi…
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Ep. 135 - Leading All Students to a Positive Choral Experience - Philip Brown
50:32
50:32
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“It's hard to focus on anything educationally if certain basic needs aren't being met, so you're trying to navigate and be proactive as much as possible. I have students who have their own needs and things they're going through that are influencing the classroom. Every year, every group, it's a different dynamic. Every student in this group deserve…
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Choral Director’s Toolbox: Choral Communication Ep. 42
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In Episode 42 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker shares insights on Choral Communication, inspired by the weekly letters of legendary conductor Robert Shaw. Drawing from Shaw’s example, Dr. Baker reflects on the enduring power of thoughtful, personal correspondence to build trust, foster community, and deepen musical artistry.…
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Ep. 134 - Unlocking Creativity by Arranging Popular Music - Garrett Breeze
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51:55
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“I was one of those people that had some biases against pop music. Being in show choirs and seeing the ways that the songs were transformed and arranged really opened my eyes to different styles of music and changed my perspective. I no longer view popular music as being all that different from classical music or film scores. There's just something…
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Choral Director’s Toolbox: Robert Shaw’s Counting Method Ep. 41
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In Episode 41 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker revisits one of Robert Shaw’s most enduring rehearsal techniques, "Count Singing." Learn how this disciplined approach to rhythm, phrasing, and ensemble unity transforms both precision and expression, helping singers internalize metrical integrity before adding text. This week’s…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: Directors as Embodied Models Ep. 40
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In Episode 40 of "The Choral Director’s Toolbox," guest presenter Dr. Jamea J. Sale, Director of the Institute for Healthy Singing & Voice Research, explores "Directors as Embodied Models: Seeing, Mirroring, and Sounding." Drawing on research in mirror neurons and motor learning, Dr. Sale explains how singers unconsciously mirror their conductor’s …
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Ep. 133 - Exploring and Celebrating Latin American Choral Music - Ryan Fellman
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44:36
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“The Spanish language is not treated with the attention and nuance that we often do for many of the languages used for singing auditions. There’s this myth that Americans can't make certain sounds, but in other rehearsals, we work really hard at intense French and German sounds. A lot of composers who aren't familiar with the language set the text …
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Choral Director's Toolbox: Language of Spirituals Ep. 39
20:41
20:41
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In Episode 39 of "The Choral Director’s Toolbox," host Dr. William Baker takes on "The Language of Spirituals," examining how conductors can approach this treasured repertoire with integrity, respect, and scholarship. From questions of dialect and diction to the politics of performance, Dr. Baker argues for historical authenticity over political co…
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Choral Director’s Toolbox: Don’t Hum the Pitch Ep. 38
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In Episode 38 of "The Choral Director’s Toolbox," host Dr. William Baker warns against a common but harmful habit in "Don’t Hum the Pitch," explaining why silent preparation leads to healthier onsets, better focus, and more accurate ensemble singing. This week’s listener question takes on the challenge of balancing Christmas programming with pressu…
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Ep. 132 - Expanding Singers' Tone Color Palette - Francis Cathlina
45:30
45:30
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“I ask them to sing with maximum efficiency, accessing their singer’s formant, and from there, we’ll ask for specific sounds. Sometimes conductors get stuck asking them to blend, to listen. When we do that, it’s like giving them an 8-pack of Crayola and asking them to color. Instead, we start the rehearsal with a 64-pack and then throughout the reh…
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Choral Director’s Toolbox: The Case for Inefficiency Ep. 37
16:17
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In Episode 37 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker makes "The Case for Inefficiency," challenging the idea that rigidly scheduled rehearsals always yield the best results. He shares why flexibility, exploration, and a willingness to linger in the music often lead to deeper artistry and more memorable performances. This week’s li…
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Ep. 131 - Building Community Through Music in Worship - Jennaya Robison
48:22
48:22
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"In my third year of teaching, I started to have vocal problems. I was taking voice lessons. I was singing professionally. It was feeling great. Suddenly my voice was gone, and I couldn't get it back. I took a leave of absence to get some speech language therapy. That's why I'm so passionate about using our voices in the choral ensemble in an effec…
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Choral Director’s Toolbox: Two Teachers, One Kid Ep 36
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In Episode 36 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker shares the personal story "Two Teachers, One Kid," honoring the life-changing impact of teachers who believe in their students and reminding us to “find someone to pass it along to.” This week’s listener question comes from a director struggling with repertoire selection for a s…
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Ep. 130 - Expanding the Choral Sound with Contemporary Music - Rob Dietz
57:19
57:19
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“I love the way that contemporary a cappella engages singers who might not necessarily see themselves as ‘choral singers’ to be able to sing together and maybe discover a love of more traditional choral music. For me, it’s all about engaging more singers. Group singing is such a beautiful community, and I’ve seen the ways it can really change lives…
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Choral Director’s Toolbox: Choral Music Isn’t Going Anywhere Ep. 35
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In Episode 35 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker proclaims "Choral Music Isn’t Going Anywhere," challenging the myth that our art form is in decline. Drawing on history, research, and decades of personal experience, he highlights the remarkable resilience and growth of choirs across America. This week’s listener question tackl…
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Choral Director's Toolbox: The Non-Musical Side of the Audition Ep. 34
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In Episode 34 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker examines The Non-Musical Side of the Audition, highlighting how professionalism, courtesy, and care during auditions shape the reputation of a choral organization. Learn best practices for communication, documentation, and candidate experience that build trust and protect your e…
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Ep. 129 - Making a Difference Through Choral Music - Joy Hirokawa
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48:10
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“We were all asking ourselves, ‘what can we do to counter this, what’s happening in the world? How can I help my singers understand and navigate what is happening in our country right now?’ I made this huge shift in my thinking about what choral music should be and why we should be doing it. It's not just ‘what are you singing and is it gorgeous?’ …
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Choral Director's Toolbox: Meeting the Orchestra Ep. 33
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In Episode 33 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker shares practical wisdom on Meeting the Orchestra—the courtesies, expectations, and strategies that help choral conductors succeed when collaborating with instrumentalists. From stage setup and rehearsal pacing to communication and professionalism, Dr. Baker offers insights you w…
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In Episode 32 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker reflects on the invaluable role of mentors in shaping a conductor’s career, sharing personal stories of wisdom passed down, and lessons learned the hard way, from seasoned colleagues. He encourages today’s young choral leaders to seek guidance from those “who have been over the …
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