Choir Ninja, with Ryan Guth

4 habits to make your summer happier and more fulfilling, with Ryan Guth

Here are 4 ways to make sure you don't get hit with the lack-of-routine summer funk!

Mastering the music ed job hunt, with Kyle Karum

Kyle Karum is an expert music ed interviewee and shares his tips on creating a compelling cover letter, resume, and portfolio that your potential employers will love! Support the Find Your Forte podcast on Patreon Join Choir Nation on Facebook!

Feng Shui your choral classroom (I think), with Ryan Guth

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing the configuration of your room, and seating your choir. Support the Find Your Forte podcast on Patreon Join Choir Nation on Facebook!

Choral preparation hacking, with Christian Giddings

Choir Nation member, Christian Giddings shares his use of numeric scoring to help identify the number of minutes he'll need to teach any choral work and program balanced concerts. JOIN CHOIR NATION ON FACEBOOK

What to do when you have a month of choir left and no mission, with Ryan Guth

There comes a time at the end of the year when there's a month left and your choir has very little left to accomplish. In today's Technique Tuesday, I'll go over some ideas of how to spend your time to enhance your program and add some fun to the end of the school year! JOIN CHOIR NATION ON FACEBOOK

No bad kids, with Braeden Ayres

Choir Nation member, director, and composer, Braeden Ayres joins us for a very honest conversation about his approach to turning around children that "don't want to be there" and making them love their choral experience. Join Choir Nation on Facebook

5 considerations for writing a bio people actually care about, with Stevie Berryman

No one really cares about your bio as much as you do, but if you follow these guidelines, you'll make friends with your audience before even going on stage! Join Choir Nation on Facebook! Choir Nation, you have an assignment. Write, or rewrite your bio. Share it in a post in the Choir Nation facebook group (www.facebook.com/groups/choirnation/). Even if you can’t think of any need to have a bio, this is a great exercise for self-reflection and personal development. The goal of t...

My for-profit choir model: Get paid what you're worth for the work that you love, with Ryan Guth

Here's exactly what I did to start a half million dollar for-profit choir business without giving up my full-time teaching job. Work with me

The 5 question choral audition process, with Ryan Guth

Here's my common sense approach to choral auditions that allow you to create a choir of humans, not voices.   JOIN CHOIR NATION ON FACEBOOK

The Talent Monster, Part 2 (From The Positivity Effect)

The Talent Monster Since age 17, choral director Ryan Guth has stepped up to the stage with purpose. With a true passion and fire for choral music, his purpose is use that energy and love to motivate and inspire others to find their forte and step up to the podium of life on their terms. Over the years, Ryan has taught countless kids achieve results in their singing beyond what they ever imagined by constantly raising the bar and teaching them how to work smarter. Some of Ryan’s pr...

How he found his forte, Part 1 (From The Positivity Effect)

Dr. Thomas Recher of the Positivity Effect podcast interviews me, Find Your Forte Host, Ryan Guth. Part 1 of 2 Show Notes

Don't leave points on the table! (How your choir can kill it at competition), with Ryan Guth

In today's Technique Tuesday, learn the secrets to crushing it at choral competitions used each season by yours truly (the only guy in history to perform an encore at the Music in the Parks festival).  Join Choir Nation on Facebook

Music knows no borders, with Helmuth Rilling

A live interview with choral legend, Helmuth Rilling. The Maestro shares some heartwarming moments in his career and his opinion on American coffee...amongst other things.

10 proven ways to prevent Choir Zombie Syndrome, with Ryan Main

Learn 10 ways Ryan Main gets his middle and high school choirs to be more expressive when they sing, preventing "Choir Zombie Syndrome".  Show notes and blog post at www.ryanguth.com/tt018 Join Choir Nation on Facebook!

Sell out your concerts and create raving fans, with Stevie Berryman

Stevie Berryman, of Stevie Be Music, explains how she goes beyond programming to create concert experiences that entertain, sell out, and create raving fans. She gives examples of her own concert experiences and breaks down the essential elements. 

I want to throat punch your attendance policy, with Ryan Guth and Stevie Berryman

It's time to give solutions to your choir's attendance issues that don't suck. Stevie and I offer creative answers to common attendance questions in this co-hosted episode. Join Choir Nation on Facebook!

Choosing repertoire for youth choirs, with Tom Shelton

Tom Shelton, president-elect of ACDA, joins Ryan to explore his musical journey and offer tips on choosing repertoire for youth choral ensembles.  Join Choir Nation on Facebook!

To get to your "Why", start first with who, what, where, when, and how.

An important episode for me (and hopefully you too)!  Ask yourself these questions to find your why.  1. Who do you have the most energy around? 2. What makes you excited to get up in the morning? 3. Where are you the happiest? 4. When was your most self-affirming moment? 5. How do you achieve those moments when you feel fulfilled?    

Becoming an inclusive choral director, with Angie Broeker

Angela (Angie) Broeker, Director of Choral Activities at The University of Saint Thomas (MN) stops by to speak about embracing the idea of inclusion as a choral director.

The 3 essential steps to getting your students to practice, with Ryan Guth

Here's why it's important to get your students to invest their own time outside of rehearsal. In today's episode, I explain the 3 essential steps to getting them to practice at home.

Choral values, with Topher Keene

Choir Nation member, Topher Keene pops by my studio in NJ to dialogue with me about building programs with a strong music-centered set of values.

Put the text first, with Ryan Guth

Always start with the text when you begin a choral piece. Here is a 5 step process to do a deep read of the text with your choir before you sing a note. Join Choir Nation on Facebook!

Your choir sucks because you suck, with Ryan Guth

Time to take responsibility for your own choral experience and help grow Choir Nation by not sucking anymore. In this episode, Ryan explores the common problems he sees in the choral world and he proposes solutions. 

Top 5 lessons from a middle school choral veteran, with Dale Ducan

Middle School Sight-Singing Guru, Dale Duncan shares some stories from his early years and share this top 5 lessons for any middle school choral director. FREE SIGHT-SINGING WEBINAR MARCH 8th 2016, 8pm EST Sign-up at www.ryanguth.com/duncanwebinar

There's a choir for that, with Nancy Shankman

NYU Choral Director and Music Education professor, Nancy Shankman has established herself as a woman who knows how to get people of all ages singing together. She's brought together choirs from public schools to parents in the waiting room of their child's choir. Nancy discusses the importance of singing together at any age!

On Magic, Beanie Babies, and the future, with Zac Hill

The performance blueprint, with Linda Davis

Country star, sweetheart, and mother of Lady Antebellum singer, Hillary Scott shares her expertise in creating engaging performances that transcend genre. Linda has been traveling with Kenny Rogers for over 20 years, has won a GRAMMY next to Reba McIntyre, and enjoys a lively singing career of her own.

5 ways to prevent burnout, with Dana Campbell

Career coach, Dana Campbell, who specializes in helping professionals prevent and recover from burnout shares her secrets with Choir Nation.   Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)  

The dreaded parent meeting, a choral director's rite of passage (and how to handle it)

The dreaded parent meeting, a choral director's rite of passage... Here's a tricky scenario that came up with a friend of mine, and how I advised her deal with it.

TT014 : My takeaways from 2015 & making 2016 the year of freedom!

One more year has come and gone, so it’s time to reflect a bit. I’m going to do it for you in this episode and give you some handy takeaways to make 2016 your best year yet. MUSIC TEACHER MONEY SCHOOL FACEBOOK GROUP   Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)  

FYF 035 : Focus on the mission, with Joe Buches

Join Joe Buches, director of the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus as he talks about growing his organization from 30 singers in 2004 to over 150 in 2015 by making his audience and the choir's mission the top priority.    Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

Technique Tuesday 013 : 3 ways to provide value to influencers in your field, with Ryan Guth

You have to provide value WAY before you ask an influencer for anything. Here are 3 ways you can begin to provide value today so that influencers take notice and offer you opportunity.    Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

FYF 034 : I teach music, with Paul Rardin

Temple University's Paul Rardin explains his answer to the question "So, what do you do?". Dr. Rardin speaks on the idea of the "Gumby Creed" and it's connection to passion, inspiration, and gaining clarity.   Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

Technique Tuesday 012 : The 5 types of haters and what to do about them, with Ryan Guth

Haters need the most love. Find out the 5 types of hates in your life, and if you have to engage them, how to do in the most positive way.   Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

FYF 033 : Improvised success, with Ola Gjeilo

Ola Gjeilo in a different interview than most. We get a behind-the-scenes peek at one of the choir worlds most recent successful composers.    Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

Technique Tuesday 011 : Avoiding overwhelm as a music educator, with Ryan Guth

In this Technique Tuesday, learn simple tips to condition yourself and others to work within certain boundaries so that you can avoid overwhelm. Learn to use Google Calendar to theme your days, strategies for email, and a lot more.  Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

FYF 032 : Keep the door open, with Patrick Freer

Value bombs galore! Patrick Freer of Georgia State University offers so much amazing insight on working with middle aged choir members, and thinking about your program in a way that respects the importance of a complete vocal education.    Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

Technique Tuesday 010 : Hacking choir retention and recruitment, with Patrick Freer

Patrick Freer, tomorrow's guest, drops his first of many value bombs as he teaches choir nation to think outside the box when it comes to keeping your choir members engaged and even picking up new ones along the way!   Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

FYF 031 : Passion and precision, with NIgel Short

Exclusive interview with Nigel Short, artistic director of the world renowned choir, Tenebrae and former member of the King's Singers. Hear him speak about the idea of passion and precision as well as his fun upbringing as a seven-year-old "professional" singer! Recorded in-person in Philadelphia pre-concert.      Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android...

Technique Tuesday 009 : Who are your 5?, with Ryan Guth

The late Jim Rohn, motivational leader and business expert, used to say "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." In this episode I explain the benefits of having the right 5, and how to identify, and replace members of your five by providing value to a potential new members.   Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

FYF 030 : Facilitating magic moments, with Tim Brown

In this episode, Tim Brown, formerly of Clare College Cambridge discusses the joy of working with amateur singers and offers some great stories as well! Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

TT008 : Fix breathy and chest-dominant tone in adolescent female voices with these key exercises, with Ryan Guth

Alan Davis from Portland, OR writes:   So, my question was: How would you approach working with a 9th-grade girl, in beginning choir, that has a very small and low range (often only 3-4 notes)?     Here are a few factors to consider: 1) This is the second year (having sung in eighth grade) that this girl has been singing.   2) She does not have any medical vocal "issues."   3) She speaks in a lower register than is found in MOST 9th grade girls.    4) Her tone is breathy...

FYF 029 : Lose the maestro mentality and make genuine connections, with Dominick DiOrio

An incredibly fun conversation with Dr. Dominick DiOrio (@DomDiOrio) of Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. We get off on some fun tangents including video games, cooking, and insecurities. He's certainly a rising star in the choral world, so take some advice from a young successful conductor.   Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

Technique Tuesday 007 : Fundraising – Organizing and Funding a Musical in 3 Easy Steps

Each year, public and private school music teachers throughout the U.S. are faced with the dilemma of funding a quality musical production for their students, often without substantial backing from their district. That needn’t be a concern! On today’s episode, I show you how to produce a great musical on a small budget, attracting students to the program while also gaining the support of parents and administration for this year’s production and for years to come. Free bonus sheet a...

Technique Tuesday 006 : Start the period off right for a peaceful and focused rehearsal, with Ryan Guth

Start each rehearsal with the choir focused and accept nothing less. You're doing their little anxious brains a favor. You can always do this if you need to "hit the reset button" on discipline in the classroom.   Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

FYF 028 : How to achieve authenticity through tone, with Kenney Potter

In this episode, Dr. Kenney Potter of Wingate University explains his three-tiered process to achieve authenticity in choral sound through developing a well-researched tone. Show Notes: www.ryanguth.com/028 Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)  

FYF 027 : What's your plan B, C, and D?, with Eden Badgett

In this interview, I sit down with Eden Badgett, choral conductor and arts administrator extraordinaire, who also happens to be the Director of Festival Development at ACDA. She gives choir nation a glimpse into the creative world of event planning with many thoughtful takeaways! Show Notes: www.ryanguth.com/027 Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android) ...

FYF 026 : Sit down with Maestra Amy Andersson of the Zelda Symphony Tour

Ryan (@RyanMGuth) sits down with Amy Andersson (@AmyMaestra), the conductor of the Zelda Symphony Orchestra and their most recent concert "Symphony of the Goddesses". She talks about her work with this large-scale concert experience and what it's like to perform for video gamers not symphony goers. Mentioned in this episode is AMA with Tim Sharp - Participate at www.ryanguth.com/asktim Show Notes: www.ryanguth.com/026 Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ...

FYF 025 : Do what you love and the money will follow, with Patricia Guth

In this episode, Ryan (@RyanMGuth) interviews his mother and fellow choral director, Patricia Guth (@WriterPat221). She shares with choir nation her steps for creating a choral business in a profitable niche. Show Notes at www.ryanguth.com/025 Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)

FYF 024 : How to be a musician of value, with Jo-Michael Scheibe

Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe (@JMScheibe) of USC's Thornton School of Music opens up to Ryan (@RyanMGuth) about what he believes constitutes a musician of value in the choral world and offers advice on how to be adequately prepared to earn your place on the right podium for you. Get the show notes here Connect with Ryan on Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Website ***** Leave a Rating and Review ***** Never miss and episode! Subscribe on iTunes (iOS)/ Stitcher (Android)