Eric Wilkinson's outstanding resource was invaluable to me as a new high school choral director. It covers everything from writing a choir handbook to handling choral assessment, warm-ups to repertoire, and parent communication to singer buy-in. In one book, I had all the tools I needed to hit the ground running in my high school choral classroom. A+!

—Todd Monsell, Choir Director
    Christ Church Episcopal School, Greenville, SC

In an engaging and collegial voice, Eric Wilkinson and Scott Rush offer practical advice and excellent resources for choral directors. Having both built highly successful programs throughout their careers, Wilkinson and Rush draw on their experiences to provide perspective, ideas, and ‘how-to’s’ that will benefit every teacher.

—Dr. Alicia W. Walker
    Associate Director of Choral Studies
    University of South Carolina

Habits of a Successful Choir Director presents effective teaching principles and provides a practical approach to everyday issues choir directors face. Building on the successful Habits series, Eric Wilkinson and Scott Rush have created a practical guide to all aspects of a successful choral program, including:

• Program organization and management
• Teaching the components of singing
• Rehearsal strategies and ensemble fundamentals
• Music literacy and repertoire selection
• Strategies for assessment
• The significance of music making

Additional sections address musicianship, classroom management, working with parents and colleagues, the importance of warm-up time, building student leadership, professional development, field trips, fundraising, schoolwide scheduling, developing a mission statement, and quality of life issues.

This is a comprehensive book that will exponentially inspire as teaching skills grow. It will serve as a constant and essential companion throughout the career of any choir director.

Eric Wilkinson is the Director of Choral Studies at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. His pursuit of excellence in teaching and conducting has taken him to London, Vienna, New York City, and Rome. Wilkinson’s choirs have consistently earned superior ratings at state and national choral festivals and have performed in Carnegie Hall, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Washington National Cathedral.

Scott Rush is the Director of Fine and Performing Arts in Dorchester District Two in South Carolina. A graduate of the New England Conservatory and the University of South Carolina, Mr. Rush is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. He is the founder of the Habits series for GIA Publications.