Page 83 - Jan.indd

February 23-26, 2022 Raleigh, North Carolina

The Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble is ference for four years. She is active of teachers choose to leave the pro-
the award-winning vocal group of as a conductor, adjudicator, and fession before their 5th year. This
George Mason University. Founded clinician. McDermott is continually means that, for many, the longevity
in 2014, this group has performed searching for new ways to make ad- of one’s career is actually shorter
at Jazz4Justice concerts, Mason Jazz vanced musical concepts accessible, than the time spent in school pre-
Vocal Nights, the Kansas City Jazz and to prioritize artistry and expres- paring for the profession. What are
Summit (where they were awarded sion for singers. some steps we can take to manage
“outstanding ensemble”), JENera- burnout? Conductor survival strate-
tions Jazz Festival, and were a fea- gies are an important part of every
tured collegiate group at the 2018 educator’s toolbox.
Jazz Education Network conference Time for a Tune-up:
in Dallas, TX. The MJVE has had Efficient Strategies to Manage Peter Steenblik is di-

the distinct honor of opening for rector of choral activi-
The New York Voices, The Manhat- Symptoms of Artistic Burnout ties at the University of
tan Transfer, and ACCENT. West Florida and artis-
Let’s talk about burnout as a tic director of the Cho-
process, not an event. Nearly half ral Society of Pensacola. Previous

Show Me the Rhythm!

Show Me the Rhythm! off ers a
kinesthetic system for singers to use
when reading rhythms. Like hand
signs, rhythm gestures allow the di-
rector to visually assess individual
comprehension within a group set-
ting. Students can no longer “hide”
by mumbling their counts or tapping
their rhythms lightly—rhythm ges-
tures show who is in the know. This
system helps to build in a sense of
rhythm and meter, strong vs. weak,
and metric vs. syncopated rhythms
in simple and compound meter.

Pamela McDermott is
director of choral ac-
tivities at Longwood
University in Farm-
ville, VA, where she
directs auditioned and non audi-
tioned choirs, teaches conducting,
choral methods, and aural skills. She
is past-president of Virginia ACDA
and chaired the Voices United Con-

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2022 Volume 62 Number 5 81