The Choir-Directing Compendium

So you’ve figured out how to give the pitch, you’ve got your hand movements down, and your choir sounds absolutely great. 

But if you think that’s all there is to choir directing, you’re in for...

... A BIG...

...FAT...

...UNPLEASANT...

...SURPRISE...

Because after you’ve officially become choir director, you’ll find out that you have to deal with something much more challenging than music theory, conducting technique, or repertoire:

People.

People. Their quirks, funny pronunciation, their tempers, and their egos. 

If all you know is music, you won’t last long as a choir director. 

Because in typical parishes, it's a coveted place.

Not always for those who know more than you, but for those who care more -- not about music, but about power.

Your hard work will have been in vain, you might lose the support of your priest, your choir, your vocation, your friends, and even — be forced to leave your parish. 

Because as ancient Orthodox wisdom says, the devil enters the church through the choir. 

And guess who has to be prepared for that?

That’s right: you, the choir director. 

Are you ready for everything the enemy is ready to throw at you to sabotage:

=> the next service

=> your efforts at growing your choir

=> your relationships in the parish

=> your vocation as choir director

=> the very existence of your parish itself? (We know of a couple of parishes where the destructive work of the devil through the choir ended up in the closing of one parish and the slow death of another)

That’s why we wrote The Gorbik Method Choir Directing Compendium. 

So that every choir director can have a manual for dealing with the upcoming unexpected test. 

Based on Vladimir Gorbik’s nearly three decades of choir directing experience in the Orthodox Church, this little document will help prepare you for dealing with:

=> crises around things like the recent epidemic (Rule #23)

=> terrible vowels  (Rules #42-47)

=> dreadful singers (Rules #22, 30, 31)

=> difficult people in the choir (Rules #25, 32)

=> difficult people outside the choir  (Rules #4, 25-28)

=> well-meaning advisers (Rules #15, 25)

=> ill-intentioned meddlers (Rule #27)

And a lot more. 

Think of this as the handy choir director’s companion that brings back clarity and reason after you’ve been bamboozled by your imposter syndrome, thoughts of unworthiness, delusions of grandeur, nasty comments, well-meaning but destructive praise, and other attacks. 

Whether you’re new at this choir directing thing or whether you’ve been conducting choirs for years… 

...You will find something that will be applicable to your unique situation. 

The Gorbik Method Choir Directing Compendium is your shortcut to getting the knowledge most choir directors acquire only after years of pain and struggle.

Here’s what other choir directors say: 

“I particularly loved the guidance on ____ (Rules #2, 4, 11).  The other part that is useful is ___. It’s part of our tradition and when employed in church music, church song will always sound its absolute best. ___ singing is the best singing!” 

“The mention of ___ (Rules #42-47) is invaluable! We can never underestimate how much ___ we truly need! If you think you’re using good ___, then put forth 75% more and seek to always outdo yourself, especially if you are in a bigger choir”

Jacque, choir director in Kansas City, MO. 

Attention: What the Choir-Directing Compendium is NOT 

This document will not teach you to direct. This is not about musical insights. However, once you’ve read and absorbed the teaching, you will gain knowledge that – if you practice it – should make you a better choral conductor overall. 

The Choir Directing Compendium gives you the 51 principles you need to get you into the right (Orthodox) mindset, and give you the knowledge that you’ll be in trouble without. 

This is way beyond the typical advice of standing tall, have a commanding presence, or pick  complicated hymns to impress your audience. 

This document details a philosophy that should guide your behavior and thoughts. You will absorb the principles delineated in the Compendium every time you watch or sing with an experienced well-established choir director. 

It’s super quick - you can read it in 20 minutes but the amount of knowledge you get is priceless. 

It’s affordable. At $51 $28 this is a positive steal. 

Lastly, this document isn’t available anywhere else. Many other accomplished choir directors will talk about the principles contained here, but you will never hear them give you the full picture like this. They might reveal the principles casually – almost as an aside – during services or practices. 

So if you need to become a better conductor fast - think of picking up the Compendium while the price is this low.

So get it at the special introductory price available for subscribers to the Gorbik Method only!

We’re planning to increase the price in the very near future.