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2022 ACDA Western Region Conference

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The Power of Story in Song: rehearsals and help to straighten out ate and undergraduate conducting
Feeding the Choir’s Soul our singers’ “forgetting curve.” and choral literature courses. She
is in demand as a conductor, guest
David Edmonds is the clinician for lecturer, and presenter throughout
Over the course of rehearsal this session. His photo and bio are the United States. Choirs under her
period, our singers speak, sing, re- on page 104. direction have performed at the con-
peat, practice, and scrutinize each ferences of ACDA, College Music
word of our repertoire. This leads to Society (CMS), American Guild of
“message fatigue” and a numbing to Organists, and Arizona Music Edu-
the power of the story in the song. As Re-Writing History: cators.
choral conductors we must bring the Curriculum Redesign for
magic of the text back. This session 21st-Century Conductors
will teach you how to inject aesthetic Strong Body, Strong Mind,
intention into your singers’ perfor-
mances through poetry, visual art, In the fall semester of 2020, grad- Strong Music
creative writing, and collaborative uate choral conducting majors at the
processes. University of Arizona embarked on As global consciousness shifts to a
an educational journey that featured more holistic way of living, society is
Dean Luethi is the clinician for this a new curriculum including study of realizing that, even with technolog-
session. His photo and bio are on historical and contemporary works ical innovations, something is miss-
page 30. by women and BIPOC composers ing. Many people are rediscovering
alongside those who have been part eastern philosophy, where the mind
of traditional courses of study. Eliz- and body work together to fi nd bal-

The Residue of Thought: abeth Schauer, who researched and ance and sustainability. The present-
designed this curriculum, shares her ers of this session have made mental
Cognitive Science in the thoughts about what it means to be and physical wellness a daily prac-
Choral Rehearsal an educated conductor in the 21st tice in their musicianship and want
century, ways to re-consider current to share their passion. Attendees will
After just 20 minutes, average educational paradigms, and resourc- walk away with healthy living prac-
learners forget more than half of the es for those who wish to create their tices, yoga postures, breathing, and
information they have just encoun- own innovative and inclusive curric- meditation techniques that can all be
tered. For decades, findings from the ula. applied immediately at home and in

field of cognitive science have led to the choral classroom.

significant improvements in student Elizabeth Schauer
learning, retention, and achieve- serves as director of Steven Hankle is the
ment in STEM classes around the choral activities at the assistant professor of
world. Unfortunately, these tech- University of Arizo- choral music and music
niques rarely, if ever, appear in the na, where she has re- education at the Uni-
choral rehearsal. By drawing on ceived recognition for her innovative versity of Dayton. He
proven strategies from peer-reviewed and inclusive curricular approach. teaches choral conducting, choral

research, this session will help to fa- Schauer conducts Symphonic and methods, University Chorale, and
cilitate more effective and effi cient Arizona Choirs and teaches gradu- women’s ensemble. An active guest

140 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2022 Volume 62 Number 5