James Jordan is recognized and praised from many quarters in the musical world as one of the nation's pre-eminent conductors, writers and innovators in choral music. He has been called a "visionary" by The Choral Journal. His career and publications have been devoted to innovative educational changes in the choral art which have been embraced around the world. A master teacher, Dr. Jordan's pioneering writing and research concerning the use of Laban Movement Analysis for the teaching of conducting and movement to children has dramatically changed teaching in both those disciplines. Called the "Father of the Case Study," he was the first researcher to bring forward the idea of the case study as a viable and valuable form of research for the training and education of teachers.
One of the country's most prolific writers on the subjects of the philosophy of music making and choral teaching he has produced ten major textbooks and several choral series bearing his name. He has contributed to four other textbooks. In 2004, four new books authored by him will be published: The Use of the Swiss Ball for the Teaching of Conducting, Ear Training Aural Immersion Exercises for Choirs (Book, CD and Singer's Edition), The Choral Ensemble Warm-Up (Book and CD and Accompanists Edition) and The Musician's Walk (all published with GIA Publications, Chicago) His books on the subject of Vocal Technique for Choirs are considered as essential for the education of conductors around the world. His choral conducting book, Evoking Sound, was named as a "must read" list of six books by The Choral Journal. His newest book, Ear training Immersion Exercises for Choirs details the first comprehensive approach toward aural literacy for choirs using solfege and a unique system of score analysis that focuses upon what is aurally perceived by the choir. His books, The Musician's Soul (GIA, 2000) and The Musician's Spirit (GIA, 2002) acclaimed by both instrumental and choral conductors alike have been credited with beginning a transformation on how music is taught both in ensembles and the classroom through a process of humanizing and loving.
Dr. Jordan also serves as Executive Editor of the Evoking Sound Choral Series. This series presents choral literature at the highest levels for high school and college choirs. In addition to new compositions by America's finest composers, the series also presents new editions of standard choral repertoire, edited with singers in mind. Also unique to this series are solfege editions that utilize Jordan's groundbreaking approach to the use of solfege in choral ensembles that uses accurate aural analysis as the basis of the approach.
Dr. Jordan teaches and conducts at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey, one of the foremost centers for the study and performance of choral music in the world where he is an associate professor of conducting. For the past twelve years he has served as conductor of The Westminster Chapel Choir. In the fall of 2004, he will conduct one of Westminster's highly select touring choirs, a newly inaugurated ensemble, The Westminster Williamson Voices. This choir's mission is not only choral performance and recording at the highest levels, but to serve as an ensemble that employs unique and cutting edge approaches to the choral rehearsal and choral performance. The ensemble will also have at its center a significant outreach to the musical world through workshops and residencies. The ensemble will specialize in premiering significant contributions to the choral literature. The Westminster Williamson Voices is also involved with educational recordings of significant educational choral literature for the next five years for GIA Publications that will culminate in the recording of approximately 200 essential pieces of choral literature.
James Jordan has been the recipient of many awards for his contributions to the profession. He was named as Distinguished Choral Scholar at The University of Alberta. He was made an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in 2002 at Florida State University. The composer Morten Lauridsen dedicated a movement of his acclaimed Mid-Winter Songs to him. This year alone, Dr. Jordan will present over 30 keynote addresses and workshops around the world. Dr. Jordan's book and professional activities are detailed on his website, Evokingsound.com.
Education
Bachelor of Music: Susuquehanna University, Master of Music (Choral Conducting): Temple University, Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology of Music): Temple University, Additional Professional Study. Laban Institute of Movement Studies - New York, Bucknell University (Psychology), Laudinella Kulturzentrum: Conducting Studio Wilhelm Ehmann, Conducting and Choral Music Studies
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The Spiritual/Human Alchemy of the Choral Rehearsal The Tethered Rehearsal Encouraging the Inner Journey: Choirs on the Edge Contextualizing the Choral Experience Teaching Ensemble Silence The Perceiving Choir Selecting Literature for your Ensemble The Rehearsal Atmosphere The "It" of Rehearsal: Setting the Mimetic of the Room The Willful Choir The Energy Dynamic of the Rehearsal: Pacing and Energy The Door Into Musical Style: Timbre Preferences Breathing New Life Into Renaissance Choral Music Determining Tempos for Performance and Rehearsal A Voice Teacher's View of the Rehearsal Score Preparation: A Kaleidoscopic Process The Quantum Conductor e Begin with Aural Study: Ear Before Eye Analysis of Tune and Text Part Five Vocal Score Study Part Five The Rite, Passage, and Necessity of Score Marking for Conductor and Choir Deciphering the "code" of Renaissance Composers Understanding the Journey of Texts The Historical and Structural Analyses of Choral Works Schenkerian Analysis as an Analytical Tool For Performance Preparation Using the Principles of Laban Movement Score Analysis Audiation and Imaging: The Key "Practicing" Conducting Rehearsal Planning Checklists: Covering all steps The Moment Prior to Rehearsal Postscript: The Rehearsal as a Connecting Experience |
For the first time in a single volume, this book provides choral directors with a comprehensive guide to score analysis techniques used by the world’s leading choral conductors and innovators. Together with the companion Volume I: The Choral Rehearsal—Techniques and Procedures (and DVD), this series is an essential guide to productive and musical choral rehearsals written by a leading voice in choral pedagogy. This volume deals with the preparation of both the psychological and spiritual aspects of the choral rehearsal. Designed for use by all conductors, this text is a valuable and groundbreaking resource for choral conductors at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
| 6824 BOOK $39.95 |
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Estabilishing the Spirit of the Rehearsal Planning and Preparing For Rehearsal Teaching Listening Conducting Gesture As A Rehearsal Technique The Accompanist and the Rehearsal Philosophy of Skill Teaching Within The Rehearsal Teaching Rhythm In All Its Dimensions Teaching Artistic Phrasing Through Movement Rehearsal Accountabiity Inward Bound |
In This ambitious yet practical text, the author and a team of expert contributors give preactical insights drawn from many decades of experience int he rehearsal room. Just a few of the topics covered in this volume include: approaches to teaching rhythm, using recording tehnology as part of the rehearsal process, introducing your choir to IPA, incorporating Dalcroze and Laban into the rehearsal, and the count singing system of Robert Shaw. This book is destined to become a trusted companion to anyone seeking to make the most of the choral rehearsal.
| 6470 BOOK $39.95 |
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Introduction And Purpose Developing Analytical Listening Skills How Do You Hear? Identifying Aspects Of Timbre The Conductor's Aural Workbook Pretests And Posttests Snakes and Barrels |
In The Choral Conductor’s Aural Tutor, James Jordan leads directors on a quest for aural mastery of vocal technique "error" detection through a program of guided listening using recorded examples from both a high school and a college choir. The included pretests and posttests encourage forward progress by testing the conductor’s ability to hear and label problems, including too little head tone, off-the-breath singing, jowly placement, sluggish vowel movement, and more. The Core Vocal Exercises on the two CDs demonstrate good ensemble sound by showing both correct and incorrect examples—we learn what a desirable sound is by hearing what it is not. This book and two-CD resource, rooted in the principles of The Choral Warm-Up, is an essential resource for conductors of all experience levels, regardless of what age group they teach.
| 6381 BOOK & 2 CDs $38.95 |
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Music Aptitude and the Choral Ensemble The Fourteen Pedagogical Cardinal Rules: A Brief Perview Philosophy of the Choral Warm-Up: Is A Warm Up Necessary? The Collective Mentality of the Choral Rehearsal: Abandonment of Vocal Responsibilty Building Vocal Skill: A Pedagogical Hierarchy for Choirs Philosophy of Teaching Techniques Alignment and Body Awareness Spaciousness and Proper Vocal Production through the Use of the Sigh: Relaxation of the Vocal Tract - Creating Space Breathing: Inhalation and Exhalation Building Resonance Vocal Techniques "Recipes" Aural Immersion and Aural Preparation of the Choir Blending Through Standings and Rehearsal Room Chair Arrangements Energizing the Sound of the Choir: A Philosophical Challenge Physical Gestures to Reinforce Choral Warm-Up Principles An Application of the Work of Rudolph von Laban to Propel Musical Line Strategies for Teaching Rhythm Rehearsal Planning Template Troubleshooting Chart The Core Vocal Exercises |
The book is a comprehensive guide to teaching vocal technique through designing an efficient choral warm-up that gives the choir "tools" to sing and hear better. Among the topics presented are alignment (using Alexander Body Mapping principles), inhalation, exhalation, support, resonance, vowel colors, leaps, range extension, crescendo/decrescendo, martellato, staccato, teaching procedures for diction (plus general diction guidelines), teaching and reinforcing rhythm and consistent tempo, and strategies for teaching intonation. This is a comprehensive guide for choral directors that: - helps conductors plan and implement efficient choral warm-ups, builds healthy voices within the choral rehearsal, provides vocalises that have accompaniments complete with modulations upward and downward and categorizes vocalises according to specific vocal objectives.
| 6251 BOOK $38.95 |
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Aeolian Scale Dorian Legato Dorian Martellato Dorian 4 Dorian Scale Lydian 2 Lydian 3 Lydian 4 Lydian 5 Lydian Scale Mixolydian Mixolydian 4 Mixolydian Scale Phrygian 1 Phrygian 2 Phrygian 2 Round Phrygian 4 Aeolian Range ExtensionDorian Range Extension Lydian Range Extension Mixolydian Range Extension Phrygian Range Extension |
In response to the success of The Choral Warm-Up: Core Vocal Exercises, teachers and conductors have been requesting more exercises to expand the modal breadth of the series. Choir directors will find these exercises to be a key component in their quest to improve the musicianship and vocalism of their singers.
| 6472 BOOK $24.95 |
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Major Ionian Mode Harmonic Minor Mixolydian Mode Dorian Mode Lydian Mode Phrygian Mode Aeolian Mode Melodic Minor Mode Locrian Mode Octatonic Modes |
Created by Dr. James Jordan and accompanist/composer Marilyn Shenenberger, the exercises in this book are part of an innovative new ensemble solfege method that helps choirs improve intonation through improving aural skills. Each exercise provides a rich harmonic syntax for singers to hear, while singing in different modes. The book contains intonations in all modes, singing difficult intervals within each mode, modal tuning exercises, and a modal choral example. These exercises may be integrated into the choral warm-up. Using this unique method of choral solfege, your choir's hearing ability will improve exponentially as will their intonation and reading abilities. These exercises are appropriate for all ages and for singers at all levels of development.
| 6247 BOOK $15.95 |
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Introduction: Trusting Your Music Instincts Alignment: Creating the Inner Space for Breath Understanding Your Structure: Following Gravity and Releasing the Muscles Your Movement Potential and Conducting: Consistent Tempo: A Prerequisite Skill for the Conductor Opening Oneself: The Anticipatory Position - Readiness to Receive Sound and Breath Breathing and Dropping In: Fundamentals of Connection Initiating Sound: Impulse Gesture, Ictus, the Freedom of Dropping In Gestural Vocabulary: Allowing the Body to Teach the Body Receiving the Sound, Listening, and Active Reaction to the Sound Natural Impulse and Ictus: Initiation of the Musical Line Music Aptitude: Measuring and Realizing Your Music Potential As a Conductor Preparing the Score: Allowing the Music to Speak Giving Meaning to the Music Through the Text Trust and Conducting: Interpreter or Transmitter? Literature for Study and Self-Evaluation A Primer for Rehearsal Technique |
Evoking Sound takes a fresh look at the critical link in the choir: the conductor. And it starts from the very first breath. The importance of such a ground-zero approach is fundamental-before one can conduct, one must inspire those being conducted. Only then can the desired end result-a performance that lives up to its full potential-be achieved. Evoking Sound introduces the subtle but important premusical factors that determine a choir's performance. These include the conductor's stance, breathing, and movement. Written by a professor and conductor at Westminster Choir College, this book questions the basics at the most fundamental level, doing so in a way that will engage and inspire the conductor in you. You'll come away from Evoking Sound feeling a renewed sense of the totality of the conducting endeavor, as well as a grasp of how to better evoke sound from many, unique human instruments.
| 6246 BOOK $34.95 |
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The Teaching of Intonation Skills Keyality and Tonality The Importance and Potency of Aural/Oral Teaching The Foundation of Good Ensemble Listening Solfege System: Fixed or Movable Do? Chromatic Syllables/Solfege Syllable Pronunciation Guide Chromatic Syllables Practicing the Singing of Modes Analysis for Aural Ensemble Teaching On a Key vs. In a Tonality Music with Changing Anchor Notes Exercises for Understanding Harmonic Context Exercises for Understanding Tonality Musical Line and Intonation: Important Partners |
Forced to find a way to correct persistent intonation problems in his own choir, author James Jordan with the help of Matthew Mehaffey embarked on the development of a new method of choral ensemble solfege. Choral Ensemble Intonation: Method, Procedures, and Exercises presents this innovative new method, along with procedures and exercises, sure to improve the aural skills of any choir. Not just a temporary fix, this method encourages the building of intonation skills within the confines of the choral ensemble rehearsal. The method includes overall steps for reading a new work and teaches how solfege syllables can promote good intonation through good diction. In addition, the authors provide techniques for maintaining a consistent tempo, running a choral warm-up, and utilizing the accompanist to achieve better intonation. Jordan and Mehaffey also share listening techniques for the choir and discuss how the use of physical movement can assist intonation and good vocal production. Plus, conductors are given tools for modal analysis that will greatly improve the teaching and learning process.
| 6253 BOOK $24.95 |
Taking James Jordan's choral conducting book Evoking Sound to the next level, this video is a self-tutorial that demonstrates and enhances the basic conducting principles discussed in the book. This insightful presentation includes an overview of fundamental Body Mapping based upon the Alexander Technique as applied to choral conducting, as well as tutorials on breathing and basic conducting patterns. Whether you're studying conducting for the first time or looking for a refresher course, this enlightening video provides invaluable insight into basic conducting technique.
| 6246 DVD $24.95 |
| 6246 VIDEO $22.95 |
This video can be used in conjunction with the book demonstrating many of the concepts discussed in the book, and featuring the Westminster Choir College Chapel Choir.
| 6249 VIDEO $24.95 |
Traditional conducting methods rely on how conductors look-not how they feel. James Jordan's groundbreaking 'Learn Conducting Technique with the Swiss Exercise Ball' takes the study of conducting beyond the mechanics to a higher plane. With the aid of a Swiss Exercise Ball and the Body Mapping tecniques described in this book, conductors can reach a new level of artistic expression and mastery.
| 6543 BOOK $15.95 |
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