Dan V brings the energy in this episode! Having been a student of the Choir Ninja podcast since the beginning, Dan V uses the things he’s learned combined with his experience as a high-production-quality church musician to transport his choir’s audiences to other world. Listen as he breaks down his formula piece by piece.

 

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Highlight to Tweet: “If you get caught up in the minutia of learning the notes, the creative process get postponed until the last minute.” - Dan Vukmirovich

 

Show Notes:

 

The Problem: Most Choir Concerts are BORING. When programming the peppy Spiritual or Gospel song at the end is seen as "innovative", we have a problem.

Creative Content Boxes:

Planning thematically for your concerts can help you begin to create "crockpots" of song ideas/elements- as you find ideas, you can categorize. Helps to reduce the plethora of song possibilities Builds a structure that helps "regular people" make sense of that they are hearing AND often improves concert behavior from your audiences ALWAYS keep in mind that the goal is SUCCESS of your singers and you may need to adapt your music if it fits them but doesn't fit your group. Give your choir INPUT but ultimately YOU must make the final calls. CHOIR BRAINSTORMS are KEY. OVER-DELIVER - Goal is to have people walking out and saying "I was NOT expecting that!" Think EXPERIENTIAL - This is a DISNEY SATURATED culture who often think of live entertainment with EXTREMELY high standards for engagement. It's not enough just to have skills anymore. This does amazing things for the morale of the choir. They feel PROUD to be part of something significant. The extra 10% makes the 90% SHINE. Don't let all the hard work you do miss the mark by not ENGAGING your audience and choir members. Talk about our Fall, H2O: Water Music! concert - explain some simple things we did to dress things up

Areas to consider:

- Welcome area - outside of venue- Usher Team- Programs - paper, virtual- Room Ambience - visuals, lighting, pre-music- Use of Video- Concert Flow - take them on a journey with NO SEAMS- Start with SONG - Grab their attention- Simple Lighting Cues -- Songs - movement, instruments, etc- Audience Participation?- Special Guests - dance, charities, drama, etc.- Outside the box - at least 1 element that is the "NO WAY!" moment- Post-Concert - KEEP THEM IN THE MOOD out the doors - playlist- Reception after - cookies, ice cream, etc.Talk about our Winter, "Let There Be LIGHTS!" Concert and what elements we are including.

ACTION POINTS:

- BRAINSTORM concert ideas for Spring - begin adding to your CROCKPOT.- Share themes in the Choir Nation Group

 

Bio:

Dan Vukmirovich is currently a choral music educator at LaSalle Intermediate Academy in South Bend, IN. He's just started back into teaching after taking a break for several years doing music ministry in a large, contemporary church setting. He had taught at Coldwater High School and Middle School for 7 years, where his groups would consistently receive superior ratings at choral festival. He is married to Lisa who is also a teacher/musician. Two teenaged daughters complete their family, with one studying music at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. In his spare time, he likes to inspire others as an online health/fitness coach.

 

Resources/links Mentioned: Choir Nation group on Facebook Email Patreon - Support the podcast! Dan’s email

 

Sponsored by:

Sight Reading Factory (Use promo code “NINJA” at checkout for 10 free student accounts!)

 

 

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