The Choir Playbook

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In this choral conducting book unlike any other, the author—conductor, educator, and self-professed “science nerd”—translates two decades of research in psychology, neuroscience, and human behavior into practical and fun strategies for today’s choral director. This book demystifies great conducting with techniques that can literally be used the same day!_x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ How does a character study of Tony Soprano, learning about animation techniques in Pixar movies, watching college basketball, or viewing an episode of The Twilight Zone offer real practical guidance on conducting gestures?_x000D_ Ever thought about how to use the same storytelling techniques that led to the enormous success of KPop Demon Hunters?_x000D_ Cultivate the mindset of the “self-driving choir.” Develop an ensemble with high IQ, where singers possess strong situational awareness to anticipate musical needs, akin to Neo in the Matrix seeing the processes unfold around him._x000D_ How can we harness the power of the subconscious and contagious emotions, a clinically proven effect, to instill better rhythmic acuity in our ensembles?_x000D_ Unlock vocal chemistry. Learn how the physical act of enunciation unlocks areas of the brain that create deep aesthetic connections with the sound for both the singer and the listener._x000D_ How do oxytocin and dopamine spread across the choir during group singing to form closer expressive bonds between singers?_x000D_ Thrive in the “choral multiverse.” Learn to leverage your Default Mode Network to promote more “eureka!” moments in everything from concert programming to rehearsal planning, and combat teacher burnout by embracing “deep play.”_x000D_