Marie Grass Amenta

“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” Potter Stewart There have been two music/choral ethics incidents in the news in the last week or so. I will not name names or places but you can probably figure out who is who from the […]

“Firmness in enduring and exertion is a character I always wish to possess. I have always despised the whining yelp of complaint and cowardly resolve.” Robert Burns I can’t stand whiners. Maybe it’s because I am the oldest of six, the mother of three and the aunt of 12 (that doesn’t include the 4 great-nieces […]

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden […]

“Let me give you a definition of ethics: It is good to maintain and further life, it is bad to damage and destroy life.” Albert Schweitzer Last week, I asked you to help you with ChoralNetter Adam* and his dilemma. This week it’s Brick’s* turn. Brick just graduated with a Master’s Degree in choral conducting […]

“Nothing is less important than which fork you use. Etiquette is the science of living. It embraces everything. It is ethics. It is honor.” Emily Post I have had two ChoralNetters contact me in the last month about two different Choral Ethics dilemmas. Both leave me scratching my head. Perhaps you can help; maybe you’ll […]

“Nature recharges me.” Lidia Bastianich Our last concert of the spring is this coming Sunday; I am really looking forward to it. The last couple of rehearsals have been great so I am hoping our concert will be equally as great. I really need a break from my singers; but mostly from what we have […]

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” Vince Lombardi I wrote about perfection here at Choral Potpourri a few years ago. My opinions are essentially this; while I believe in striving for perfection, I rarely achieve what  others might hold up as perfection. I am (mostly) okay with that. […]

“America’s future will be determined by the home and the school. The child becomes largely what he is taught; hence we must watch what we teach, and how we live.” Jane Addams I have been around the performing arts, LITERALLY, all of my life. With an opera singer mother and a tap/ballet dancer/choreographer/stage director father, […]

“When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.” Dalai Lama We are finishing the choir year. No matter what sort of choral organization you are involved with, things are winding down with the end of the school year, the concert year, and the church year. There are people out there you […]

“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” Potter Stewart There have been two music/choral ethics incidents in the news in the last week or so. I will not name names or places but you can probably figure out who is who from the […]