Learning to Love the Questions
January 27, 2026
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was a remarkable poet and writer. Although he wrote primarily in German, he also did a considerable amount of work in French. Fortunately, much of his work is available in excellent English translations. One of my favorite examples of Rilke’s “wisdom” comes from his Letters to a Young Poet. Here is … Read more
By: Michael O’Neal
I’m Just One Singer…Am I Really That Important?
January 13, 2026
During his lifetime, Robert Shaw was widely accepted as the unofficial Dean of American Choral Conductors. As such, he was in a firm position to remind choral singers of their responsibilities to their ensembles, and even more importantly, their responsibilities to the composer and the music. I’ve never forgotten his lectures on the subject, which … Read more
By: Michael O’Neal
A Choir Member’s New Year’s Resolutions
December 30, 2025
In the spirit of New Year’s Resolutions, I offer these ten for choir members to consider. Feel free to add your own to the list.
By: Michael O’Neal
Choral Chaos: Keeping Your Cool During the Holiday Season
December 2, 2025
The busiest and most stressful month for most choral singers is December. The reason for this, of course, is the huge number of holiday rehearsal and performance responsibilities that must be met, added to the already increased “busyness” imposed on everyone’s schedules at this time of year. It’s a shame that all the activity often … Read more
By: Michael O’Neal
Vocal Survival Guide for the Cold and Flu Season
November 18, 2025
Singers often dread the winter months because of the extra effort they must exert to keep their voices healthy. The common cold and flu are at the top of the list of those things “feared,” but there are many things to consider for staying healthy and keeping our voices in good shape. Here are some … Read more
By: Michael O’Neal
Freeing Our “Musical” David
November 18, 2025
One of my favorite works of non-musical art is Michelangelo’s David. It has been my good fortune to view this magnificent 17-foot sculpture on three separate occasions in the Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy. The slab of marble from which Michelangelo created the masterpiece had already received several attempts by various sculptors who found the … Read more
By: Michael O’Neal
Robert Shaw and Choral Technique
October 28, 2025
It was my good fortune to sing under the baton of Robert Shaw for a span of nearly a quarter century. During that time, I experienced some of the most well planned and executed rehearsals of my entire musical life. Mr. Shaw was a master at knowing how the music should sound and what needed … Read more
By: Michael O’Neal
Moving from “I Hate It” to “I Love It”
October 14, 2025
My earliest example of moving from “hate it” to “love it” is Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms. I first heard the piece at the age of 20, a time in which I was totally immersed in beautiful, flowing melodies, and rich, luxurious harmonies. My favorite composers were Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and Puccini. With my young and … Read more
By: Michael O’Neal
Please Don’t Make Me Memorize That!
September 30, 2025
A common fear for many singers is that of memorization. The singers are afraid, perhaps with some justification, that they will forget the lyrics of a song in the performance. While forgetting words is obviously a more serious problem for an individual vocalist who is up there alone, it is also an item of concern … Read more
By: Michael O’Neal
Robert Shaw and Count Singing
September 16, 2025
Count singing as a method of learning music is something I learned from famed conductor, Robert Shaw. It was my good fortune to sing under the direction of this amazing musician for many years, and one of the first things I noticed about him was how adept he was at running an enormously efficient and … Read more
By: Michael O’Neal
