About this episode

Dr. William Baker shares practical advice for conductors starting new positions, focusing on building trust and effective communication.

In this Memorial Day edition of "The Choral Director’s Toolbox," host Dr. William Baker offers practical advice in "I Have a New Job — Now What?" Geared toward conductors beginning new positions in churches, schools, and community ensembles, Dr. Baker shares ten strategies for building trust, establishing professionalism, and creating momentum from the very first day. From handwritten thank-you notes and thoughtful preparation to decisive leadership and clear communication, this episode is filled with practical wisdom for launching a successful tenure. In today’s listener question, a community chorus director asks how to design an effective end-of-season survey. Dr. Baker discusses the value of honest feedback, the limitations of anonymous responses, and the importance of asking concise, meaningful questions that lead to useful insight and organizational growth. Today’s inspiration is William Billings’ spirited "O Praise the Lord of Heaven," performed by The Western Wind from their NAXOS recording "I Am the Rose of Sharon," a lively and distinctly American expression of early choral artistry well suited to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Join us for an episode on…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. William Baker

Topics covered

• new job strategies
• choral leadership
• community ensembles
• feedback surveys
• professionalism
• communication

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Western Wind, Festival Singers

Books & works: O Praise the Lord of Heaven

More episodes of The Choral Director's Toolbox

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• Performance Regrets-Ep. 20-26 · May 18, 2026 · 17 min
• What Do Leaders Do?-Ep. 19-26 · May 11, 2026 · 20 min

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