In the film "De-Lovely," Cole Porter admonishes the chorus of "Kiss Me Kate" to snap out their consonants. This book is not only about consonants, but also about vowels, breathing, round sounds and head tones--just a few of the many techniques discussed that will improve your singing in a choir or chorus or any group. It is written with the amateur in mind, but it is just as valuable for the professional. A brief history of choral singing from prehistory to the 21st Century is included. GERALD G. HOTCHKISS has sung in Christian and Jewish choirs, choruses, in octets, quartets, duets,...

As time goes by, there are too many clocks in my house. If the power goes off, besides the time pieces themselves, there are those embedded in our refrigerator, stove, telephones, car, you name it. All awaiting a resetting. Our lives do, too. Of course life doesn't begin at seventy, nor did it end at thirty. It is said the three demands of youngsters are: see me, hear me, pay attention to me. Well it's clear to those of us in our second childhood, few see us or hear us, much less pay attention to us. The world is interested in younger generations. My essays pay attention to us with a twist,...