Sound Advice: Becoming a Better Children's Choir Conductor - Tapa dura

While Sound Advice clearly states that its intended audience is those who work with treble voice choirs, the ideas in this excellent book would be a valuable resource...for those working with community, high school and university choirs as well. ... Sound Advice is a well-written, organized resource. ... This book should be recommended reading for any musician who has the responsibility and privilege of working with children's choirs. (The Recorder, the Journal for the Ontario Music Educators Association)

Jean Ashworth Bartle continues to set the standard of excellence for children's choirs and conductors. Her comprehensive knowledge of the choral art for children and her deep sense of beauty, are an inspiration. She is a master. (Anne Tomlinson, Artistic Director, Los Angeles Children's Chorus)

Sound Advice: Becoming a Better Children's Choir Conductor is an indispensable resource for the beginning children's choir conductor as well as the seasoned professional. Children's choruses, their artistic and management staffs, and all who care about children who sing in choruses, will value the comprehensive and thoughtful information shared in Jean Ashworth Bartle's newest book. (Judith Willoughby, Founder and Music Director, Temple University Children's Choir and Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Education, Northwestern University)

Bartle uses her words to elevate the teaching of choral music to an art; this facilitates her invitation for readers to manipulate the book's more practical information to fit the parameters of their own teaching situations. Some of the book's strengths are clarity of purpose, a lack of visual clutter, and a positive energy that gives readers confidence without telling them exactly what to do. . . . Jean Ashworth Bartle has produced a text that is filled with advice both accessible and applicable for children's choir directors everywhere. Directors in public schools will find as much helpful content as directors of community choruses. . . . This text should be recommended reading for all choral directors and music teachers, regardless of the types of ensembles they conduct. Sound Advice provides a rare opportunity to see how this master teacher's philosophy is reflected in her pedagogy. (Choral Journal)

Always a vital part of community cultural life, children's choirs can be small amateur clubs or sophisticated arts organizations on a par with adult professional choirs and orchestras. Whatever a choir's size and ambitions, its director faces a formidable challenge. Jean Ashworth Bartle, director of the award-winning Toronto Children's Chorus, has collected her experience and wisdom in Sound Advice. In a clear and direct style, the book offers tips on basics such as conducting fun, effective rehearsals and advanced projects including recording and touring.

Stressing that the choir director's fundamental task is to develop musicianship through singing, Bartle suggests skill-building exercises and interactive rehearsal techniques. The book's appendixes form a sourcebook of warm-ups, repertoire, and suggested programmes, providing several seasons' worth of inspiration.

For teachers just starting out with their choirs, students of the child voice and teaching methods, and experienced choir directors seeking to take their students one step further, Sound Advice will benefit all choir directors who want their choirs to reach a higher level of artistry, musicianship and skill.