Director Wisdom: Candid Conversations with Sweet Adelines Directors - Couverture souple

Palus, Jennifer

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1099385687 ISBN 13 : 9781099385681

Editeur : Independently published, 2019

Synopsis

Directors interviewed: Becki Hine, Betty Clipman, Britt-Helene Bonnedahl, Dale Syverson, Diane Porsch, Elizabeth Davies, Jennifer Cooke, Jim Arns, Karen Breidert, Kim Vaughn, Kim Wonders, Lori Lyford, Michael Gellert, Mo Field, Peggy Gram, Ryan Heller, Tony DeRosa, and Vickie Maybury.


Why create a book of interviews with Directors?

This book grew out of two realizations. The first was a moment that has repeated itself many times in my experience as a Sweet Adeline. I’d be in a group of members talking about the organization, and someone would mention the name of a Sweet Adelines icon such as Bev Sellers or Renee Craig. Everyone would pause for an instant and smile as they shared this bond of memory and admiration. I knew the names, of course, but never had the opportunity to meet these women or observe their talents on stage. I could tell by the response, though, that I wish I had known them!

The second was the realization that some of the high-achieving and best-loved Directors of the current Sweet Adelines generation were starting to leave the spotlight (or at least they can see in the exit from here!). Of course, the video archive of modern performances is much larger today, so new members will be able to watch performances by today’s great Directors and understand why they were admired and respected long after their hands stop waving. But they will have missed the opportunity to chat with these Directors, to get past the excitement of meeting an idol and swap some stories. I began to wonder: Would it be possible to capture some sense of their spark and wit and experience through interviews? Would members find it interesting to read about how the “marquee” Directors approach running their choruses? What are the common themes and what makes each Director, each chorus, unique?

I hope you find this book interesting and helpful. If you ever wondered what it was like to sing for Dale Syverson, Jim Arns or Lori Lyford, this might give you a taste of what life in their choruses is like. If you have sung for only one Director (as I have) in your Sweet Adelines career, you can get a sense of what’s similar and different across the organization. If you are considering following a Director’s path, there is a lot of great advice from the masters in these chapters.

You may look at the list of Directors and think, “Oh, you missed so-and-so!” Yup. This is not a definitive list. It’s just a representative group of great Directors who also share one trait: They were willing and able to talk to me. To those I missed or with whom I couldn’t connect, I offer one word: Sequel.

Finally, I should mention if you’re looking for scandal and gossip, if you’re hoping for snarky asides from or about the Directors – you’re in the wrong book. There’s none of that here. There’s humor, humility, and some honest sharing of foibles. There are lessons-learned, and frustrations conquered. There’s a strong sense of the Directors’ love for every singer on their risers, and there’s the confident, competent explanation of masters describing their methods, opinions, and advice. This book is one part historical archive, one part giddy fangirl scrapbook, and one part love letter to the amazing women and men who do so much more than wave their arms every week.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Independently published
• Date d'édition: 2019
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1099385687
• ISBN 13: 9781099385681
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 257
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.fr/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg