John Bertalot's Immediately Practical Tips for Choral Directors/H-28103 (Paperback)

by John Bertalot (Author)
Key Phrases: many choirmasters, thanking ceremony, choir parents, Nancy Willis, First Church, Great Secret (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806628103
• ISBN-13: 978-0806628103
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #707,706 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why we need more full-time church musicians, April 18, 2000

By	Paul Emmons (West Chester, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I encountered the author shortly after reading this book, I said that I wished it had existed when I was just starting out as a choirmaster. He said, "So do I." With little experience even singing in a good choir or observing an excellent director, I had tried to make up for that deficiency by studying as many books about choir training as I could find (typically dating 1880-1940)-- but not with much profit. Indeed the most detailed treatise, by William Finn, probably did my choir's tone, and my own habits, more harm than good. Much of this art is too ineffable to be captured in a book.

But Mr. Bertalot's book differs from the others and would have been valuable. Much of it is common sense (which is not to say that the suggestions would always occur to one on one's own). There are many details, too, about dotting i's and crossing t's: Yes, not only a highly successful, enthusiastic, and energetic choirmaster is speaking to us (rare), but one whose musical tastes and ideals are the worthiest possible (rarer). And yes, he is telling us how his success depends on keeping his choir room tidy, filing papers away in the correct folders, following up anyone's unexpected absence with a phone call or postcard, and writing thank-you letters for any favors received.

Such advice is in the tradition of Bach: "I have worked very hard, and anyone who works as hard can do as well." Or Edison: "10% inspiration, 90% perspiration." This should come as encouraging, even inspiring news to those who have been bitten by the ambition to train an excellent choir, and who probably feel unprepared for the task and isolated from living paragons or mentors. Encouraging, at least, to those who retain enough of their youthful energy and idealism not to be daunted by the overall magnitude of the challenge.

And that is another feature of the book which makes it particularly valuable to the beginning professional. Mr. Bertalot wrote this and his other book (5 Wheels) shortly before retirement-- a retirement which must have surprised many because his manner remained so youthful in its enthusiasm and joi-de-vivre. This outlook shines through clearly in the style of the book as well. Are you young, enthusiastic, and idealistic? That's good, he will tell you. Then he will impart wisdom which preserves and builds on those strengths.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun reading, with a point, April 1, 2000

By	Romain Kang (SF Bay Area, California, US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

To begin, some context for this book seems important. John Bertalot wrote his "Immediately Practical Tips for Choral Directors" while serving as full time music director and organist at Trinity Church in Princeton, New Jersey, with choral programs for boys, girls, and adults, and also serving as the founding director of the Princeton Singers. Prior to that, he racked up a solid career in sacred music the UK. JB has since "retired" back to his native England, where he now serves as Assistant Regional Director of the Royal School of Church Music. Anyone who knows these organizations understands the high standards they have built and maintained over the years. A good deal of this is due to the unique energy and commitment that someone like JB brings to the job. However, the book contains emminently sensible suggestions that could not be accomplished with mere personality.

The key concern of the book is motivating and developing choral singers, especially youngsters, though it is clear that a successful choral director approaches different groups according to their specific needs. There is a certain frame of mind that JB finds effective and encourages other directors to adopt. The strength of his methods was demonstrated in practice at Princeton, though I think the job was made easier because so many in that town understand the value of a solid musical education.

The book is framed within a mythical week where a friend comes to see how the protagonist runs his choral programs. As such, it belongs to a tradition of didactic entertainment. Anyone who knew the choral scene in Princeton between 1982 and 1998 will likely have a few grins from recognizing lightly disguised or composite characters in the story line; JB is not above poking some light fun at his alter ego in the book. The style will not be to everyone's taste, but could be a welcome change of pace for someone who has been chewing on "The Grammar of Conducting" or other traditional music texts.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best!!!, February 22, 2002

By	Guenter Blatt (Schillingen Germany) - See all my reviews

Bertalot's practical tips for choral directors should be a must for professionals as well and even more for non professionals in choral conducting.

It is a splendid, almost infinite source of inspirations, hints, tips and, what counts most to my opinion, gives to choral directors all the basic's about the relation to and the work with singers. One sentence that impressed me most (because it's so simple): 'You have to love people if you want to be a good choirmaster'.

This book should be translated into German and other languages wordwide!!! I'm going to write some further reviews for german choir magazines.