Conducting a Choir: 5 Things That Have a BIG Effect | James Stegall | TEDxWesternIllinoisUniversity

Have you ever wondered how a choir coordinates all of its members? James Stegall provides essential tips to organizing a choir, and demonstrates how it may apply to other large groups.
Dr. James Stegall is the Director of Choral Activities at Western Illinois and the 2013 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer. He conducts the University Singers and Madrigal Singers and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting and literature.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@treees8982]

You can tell how much experience this teacher has. Fantastic advice - not only for musicians....

[@freerangeeggs6442]

Just got elected music captain of my high school now I gotta learn to conduct the choir. Thank you for this it's so helpful!

[@jabrane1564]

my right ear enjoyed the video

[@ezagorianou9837]

Oh yes 😂😂

[@James_Bowie]

left ear in my headphones

[@raeannaroylance5401]

😂

[@barbaracale1015]

I'm a school orchestra director with a growing awareness of neurodivergence. While he makes great points, I think we need to realize that many young musicians are definitely watching us and connecting with us and the literature, BUT... they struggle with eye contact. And in fact, we have to learn to adjust our communication skills to allow for different types of musicians.

[@aleksandrabelaya-ec1bm]

It's an all time thing, with older choirs and orchestras, I feel lonely when they don't look up from there notes up at my conducting, and have to remind them to look up.

[@anthonyrodriguez9846]

I like James Stegall's 2nd point the most. I love the idea of a calendar to keep everyone on track and see if they are ahead, behind or on time. Preparation is very important and can make the difference.

[@eleazarevanmoeljono8804]

Thank you for letting this shared to us. I believe this video helps us a lot!

[@Luna8167]

Woooow! Need to watch it every time when I'm preparing to work with choir:) Thanks a lot for valuable information and understandable English (even for me)

[@kitchensproductions]

Great information!! Thank you!

[@CritER2023]

Wow. Lot's of useful information.

[@junglehippie3817]

*Leslie Garcia* Point two is very important in the quality of a choir at least in my perspective. It takes the whole choir to practice their music to become greater day by day.

[@fatimamelendez5302]

These 5 points are very important. The 1st definitely is important singers have to be confident. Imagine being a conductor and everyone is scared to perform or sing their part. Preparation is key also. To perform any piece a singer has to be prepared and know their part.

[@giulianamachado82]

All these 5 points are important when singing in a choir but the ones that stuck out to me the most were numbers 1,2, and 3. I think that having confidence when singing is essential and the certain emotions in the song have to be expressed throughout the entire piece and give a meaning to the words being sung. Preparation is key to having as well as showing emotion and having confidence through your music because you have the song memorized. Having the song memorized helps you bring it to life because you know the words and what message they bring to the audience. This video pointed out some of the most important things a choir and any vocalist should have when working as a professional musician.

[@ezagorianou9837]

I belive that the most important for someone who's getting in to choir is to be able to harmonise and can tune them self's

[@_oneeyedsupport_7702]

Great Info!

[@RocketMan12260]

Watch in 1.25 speed

[@quigley4440]

Thank you for that.

[@senthuflutebox]

Long live you

[@maikitx6838]

Bless you

[@arizleidapetunia5753]

Thank you

[@galenbrubaker5603]

I watch all videos at 2x speed. Save time, live better

[@voiceofpetra]

Really cool stuff. Thank you! I don't understand the last one - how are you providing questions? Are you actually asking your choir questions during rehearsals?

[@deniseparmenter4896]

I love the comment to have a great musical experience!

[@gabe.r8986]

I think .3 does a great job of explaining how you don't need an a to succeed in Choir

[@ellier4106]

I think the first two statements are very important. The way a person or choir presents themselves in a audition or performance is very important. Also if the whole group practices their music it will be better every day.

[@lonehero8676]

Make a video about rest and sustain

[@DiegoCastro-ky4gl]

That man must be a genius. He is professor in music and literature. I've studied literature and I'm studying choral conducting. He made my dream true? Hahahahha

[@calebdelacruz5138]

Diego de la Vega ey Diego, can you tell me about a book of choral exercises?

[@jamespotter756]

can you do a video on how to tell a choiir to stand up?

[@foreignlexi9409]

For real, I tell my choir to stand up but they dont move. WTF!

[@solcarzemog5232]

How about working with golden age choirs instead of young, energetic, motivated singers?

[@crazyknighthero6198]

there are like no comments

[@gheorghe3487]

That's why people put me obstacles to don't finish the Debts and to make my own school music because in Romania 2003 I conduct too I have choir of 40 students,of 14- till 25 year's old but again obstacles to don't pay my Debts and bill's and to don't open my school music and radio what we are talking about

[@distance9491]

Watch in 543.25 speed

[@Maigeru]

Watch in 0.75 speed