Last Thursday, the Upper School Choir at The Bear Creek School in Redmond had the opportunity to work with choral director Rodney Eichenberger, who has worked with choirs throughout the United States for more than 50 years.

Eichenberger has taught at three universities in the country and has been a frequent guest artist at seminars and workshops on choral conducting.

At Bear Creek, Eichenberger worked closely with Upper School choir director Judy Loudenback and her choir on the music from Handel’s “Messiah,” Susan Brumfeld’s “No Time” and Henry Davies’ “God Be in my Head.”

Eichenberger demonstrated how movement can improve pitch, tone and rhythm.

Eichenberger offered the students a lot of advice including, “Don’t be vague when you sing that part” and “Never sing the same word the same way.”

Eichenberger’s philosophy that musicality is enhanced through movement extended to Loudenback, encouraging her to move with “purpose or intention” while conducting.

Loudenback said she especially appreciated that “(Eichenberger) was able to take music to a deeper level. He is a master at understanding the small nuances of choral music and helping students understand how to bring their music to the next level.”

Choral students also remarked throughout the day how Eichenberger helped them with their sound in such a short time.

Sophomore Holly Ray said she experienced for the first time the beauty of music to move an audience to tears.

“When teachers and parents started crying because of the beautiful sound he created within us during ‘No Time,’ I felt like we accomplished something so huge as a choir,” she said.

Senior Marie Dippenaar added that the moment Eichenberger lifted his hands to conduct as “this strange, vague, unexplainable feeling that he has somehow gained complete power over you. When he conducts, it is as if your voice is a lump of clay in his hands.”

After spending the morning working with the students at Bear Creek, Eichenberger spent the afternoon working with the choir at The Overlake School.

“Rod Eichenberger is an amazing music educator and choral clinician and we were really lucky to have him here,” said Erin Gabriel, choral music director at The Overlake School. “It was an incredible opportunity for all of our students to work with someone such as Rod and for us as teachers to watch them have that experience.”

Eichenberger is Florida State University‘s Professor Emeritus. He has conducted 80 U.S. All-State Choirs and guest conducted or lectured at more than 85 U.S., Australian and New Zealand universities. A graduate of St. Olaf College with advanced study at the universities of Denver, Washington and Iowa, he taught at UW and the University of Southern California prior to his appointment at FSU.