CUEnotes
YouthCUE's blog on topics of youth choir ministry, leadership and professional well-being
You Will Need Your Anger Now
“Joy is the gift of love, grief is the price of love, and rage is that which protects what is loved.” I keep repeating these words of Valarie Kaur, an activist and spiritual teacher, over and over today. Joy—so easily stolen. Grief—so unnecessary. Rage—so inescapable. I had babies at the time of Sandy Hook. They […]
Uvalde
Uvalde, Texas, a city of 16,000, sits 79 miles due west of the office in which I sit writing this newsletter. At this precise moment, Uvalde is the scene of the latest mass shooting, the second worst school massacre in US history. I feel darkly certain, however, that by the time this July issue of […]
Where Does the World Go from Here?
The first weeks of the war in Ukraine have been horrible. From the safety of our homes and media devices, we in North America have watched in stunned disbelief as evil acts are brutally inflicted upon those who simply seek freedom from aggression and peace from constant shelling, shooting, and endless intimidation. The people of […]
Strong Leadership
Churches face crises. Communities of faith find ourselves at the crossroads of many issues over time, and occasionally a dilemma digs so deeply that a good outcome – either way we go – does not seem possible. It was in the midst of one of those corporate conundrums a number of years ago that I […]
In Student Choirs, Distance Can Be Used to Develop Choral Sound … Part 3
In Student Choirs, Distance Can Be Used to Develop Choral Sound Part 3 As we return to our choirs and some form of normality this fall, I urge all youth choir directors to consider remaining aware of distances between singers in rehearsals, performances, and worship services. I would further encourage us to maintain singing […]
Recent Developments in the Pandemic Signal Significant Restarts in Choral Singing: Here are some important considerations
As a nine-year-old, I found myself on the Texas Gulf Coast at dawn one morning on a long-anticipated fishing trip. It happened at the very end of the school year, and we were beyond excited to experience the freedom of summer and this fun getaway! As the sun arose over the sandy dunes and gray-cast […]
In Student Choirs, Distance Can Be Used to Develop Choral Sound, Part 2
In Student Choirs, Distance Can Be Used to Develop Choral Sound (Photo) Part 2 During the pandemic, I have often wondered if we will ever return to packed out choir lofts again. That question does not make me sad, but it does make me curious. How long have we worked with the idea that, as […]
With YouthCUE moving towards a full array of programming in 2022, network directors are urged to check the website often for the latest developments
YouthCUE has always been about collaboration. In fact, our first official name was – and officially still is – Youth Choirs Incorporated. The “incorporated” part was not so much about a business model as it was about the whole concept of sharing, collaboration, and mutual engagement, and shared benefits. Nothing we provide our members is […]
Recent pandemic developments signal significant restarts in choral singing. Here are some important considerations …
As a nine-year-old, I found myself on the Texas Gulf Coast at dawn one morning on a long-anticipated fishing trip. It happened at the very end of the school year, and we were beyond excited to experience the freedom of summer and this fun getaway! As the sun arose over the sandy dunes and gray-cast […]
In student choirs, distance can be used to develop choral sounds — Part 1
Over my five decades directing student choirs, one thing remaining totally constant has been this: In the choral setting, the students tend to naturally sit shoulder to shoulder and as close together as possible. This speaks to the teenagers’ craving of security, safety within the group, close friendships, and musical stability. Traditionally, the young singers […]
