SKU: GI.G-5527

ISBN 9781579991609. English.

Forced to find a way to correct persistent intonation problems in his own choir, author James Jordan with the help of Matthew Mehaffey embarked on the development of a new method of choral ensemble solfege. Choral Ensemble Intonation: Method, Procedures, and Exercises presents this innovative new method, along with procedures and exercises, sure to improve the aural skills of any choir. Not just a temporary fix, this method encourages the building of intonation skills within the confines of the choral ensemble rehearsal. The method includes overall steps for reading a new work and teaches how solfege syllables can promote good intonation through good diction. In addition, the authors provide techniques for maintaining a consistent tempo, running a choral warm-up, and utilizing the accompanist to achieve better intonation. Jordan and Mehaffey also share listening techniques for the choir and discuss how the use of physical movement can assist intonation and good vocal production. Plus, conductors are given tools for modal analysis that will greatly improve the teaching and learning process. This book, video, and exercise octavos are based on the premise that instructors must teach singers what to hear and what to listen to, helping their choirs to sing with more beauty and less effort, all the while creating better musicians. Choral Ensemble Intonation: Method, Procedures, and Exercises has been created to be used in conjunction with a video demonstrating many of the concepts discussed in the book, and featuring the Westminster Choir College Chapel Choir. Two choral octavos of exercises published under the same title, one with shorter exercises, and the other containing fuller studies in all the modes composed by Roger Ames. The companion DVD includes rehearsal techniques and teaching procedures for choirs at all levels! James Jordan is one of America's most respected choral conductors and educators. He is associate professor of conducting at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, a leading center for the study and performance of choral music, where he is conductor of the Westminster Chapel Choir. Prior to his appointment to the Westminster faculty, Jordan served as chair for music education at the Hartt School of Music. His study of the psychology of music has been with Edwin E. Gordon. Jordan's conducting text, Evoking Sound, was his first book with GIA Publications, Inc. His second book, The Musician's Soul, is enjoying critical acclaim throughout America. Matthew Mehaffey is assistant professor of music and the director of choral activities at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. As an author, Mehaffey contributed a postscript essay to James Jordan's revolutionary book The Musician's Soul. He holds a master's degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College and a DMA in choral conducting from the University of Arizona.

SKU: HL.1061767

UPC: 196288092834. 6.75x10.5x0.036 inches.

Here is a piece with a fierce piano accompaniment that will bring excitement and variety to your concert programming. “Sign Me Up” is a concert Gospel choral adaptation that quotes the familiar spiritual, “Roll, Jordan, Roll.” Through the percussive effects in the lyrics and including elements of classical and gospel styles, your high school, college, community, or professional singers, will enjoy learning and performing this work.

SKU: GI.G-9533

ISBN 9781622772407.

All our truth, or all but a few fragments, is won by metaphor. We don’t grasp the meaning of a word or concept until we have a clear image to connect it with. — C.S. Lewis   Understanding artistry and those “things” that contribute to honest and direct musical expression are concepts that are both difficult to teach and difficult for us to understand as conductors and teachers. Born out of his teaching at The Choral Institute at Oxford each summer, James Jordan has realized the power of metaphor for teaching the highest artistic concepts involving human connection and deeper listening. The home of The Choral Institute at Oxford is St. Stephen’s House, the very place that C. S. Lewis worshipped. In this book, Jordan adapts Lewis’s love of powerful and effective metaphors. Jordan uses metaphors as a guide to help conductors engage the most profound the concepts of artistry in music, concepts that are often elusive to teach or learn. These metaphors can be effective doorways to understand our role as artist teacher/conductors in new and vibrant ways. In this book, Jordan explores: The metaphor of conductor as a refractive prism connecting musicians to conductors within constant communicative connection The light-generating source for conductors The power of abiding Polishing one’s metaphorical prism for the most powerful refraction to others Rethinking the “sublime” in music making Understanding and avoiding musical “kitsch” The power of predictive audiation as ultimate trust The artist’s necessary journey into loneliness   GRAMMY-nominated conductor James Jordan is Professor and Senior Conductor at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. He is conductor of the internationally acclaimed Westminster Williamson Voices and the Westminster Schola Cantorum, and is Artistic Director and Conductor of The Same Stream (thesamestreamchoir.com). He is Director of The Westminster Conducting Institute and is Co-Director along with James Whitbourn of The Choral Institute at Oxford. James Jordan talks about his new work, Conductor As Prism:.

SKU: GI.G-10886

SKU: GI.G-5866

ISBN 9781579991913. English. Text by: James Jordon.

...from the author of The Musician’s Soul In The Musician’s Soul, author James Jordan sets readers on a journey beyond the precise techniques of artistry and into a place of selfexploration, where music can be created with new heartfelt honesty and beauty. With The Musician’s Spirit, a companion book to The Musician’s Soul, and The Musician’s Walk, Jordan takes us to the next level of creating a more powerful art form. The Musician’s Spirit focuses not on the self, but on others and the stories each artist is able to share through his or her work. Using thought-provoking quotations, real-life stories, and visual art, Jordan challenges all artists to share themselves with their audience and fellow artists, thereby creating a more personal and beautiful body of work. This book offers practical and inspirational words on courage and vision, the arts of listening and trust, conquering the fear of looking foolish, and the importance of story in teaching. Jordan also includes a Storying Guide to help the reader bring out his or her own story as well as space for personal notes, stories, and reflections. Though written with musicians in mind, this beautiful illustrated book offers tremendous insight for any artist wanting to share his or her vision and story with the world. “Although written for musicians, this stunningly crafted book offers tremendous insight for any artist wanting to share their story and gifts with others.” “Communicating music is not academic, nor is Jordan’s book. The Musician’s Spirit is a guide to help us step out and experience music in the right place.” — Thomas R. Vozzella (Choral Journal, Volume 44, Number 9)   Those of us who have studied with inspiring teachers know how we looked forward to each lesson. The Musician’s Spirit opens such doors again, and reminds us why we are musicians. — Kathleen Thomerson (The American Organist, November 2004).