Tom Metzger

I've been using agents like Claude to write software, and they often explore options and switch paths like a human. A good architecture is crucial, and type-safe languages benefit AI as much as they do us. Using typescript and an ORM makes it way more effecctive. What a wild time to be alive!

It worked like a charm. Works every time. :)

Singing is known to reduce stress, and despite a hectic day with my support person on vacation and a dead car battery, I'm heading to rehearsal. I don't feel like going, but it always improves my mood—it's like a secret life hack. #vancityharmony

This morning, I made a configuration error that took down 400 Choir Genius sites. It took me two anxious hours to figure it out, but only two seconds to fix. No IT system is safe from human error. (Also, the generated image makes me look like a gorilla, showcasing the current state of technology.)

A couple months ago, The Summertimers reached out to see if I would be interested in singing bass with them at the BHS contest in Denver, since their bass had resigned. I agreed to it! So basically three "retreat style" rehearsals and we hit the stage. We are sounding pretty darn good, too! #denver

Great Groupanizer/Choir Genius meeting today with execs at Sweet Adelines International! What could we be cooking up?

My mixed chorus Vancity Harmony is putting on a very fun "Night At The Movies" show, June 7th. Get yourself a ticket before they are gone! anviltheatre.ca <-- TICKET LINK

I may or may not dress up as the emperor from Star Wars... #usetheforce

I grew up as a Canadian, thinking of multiculturalism as a "good thing". This very short video gives an interesting take on it.
youtu.be/CiaA87uZdQ0?...

I'm fulfilling my dream of singing with a great chorus and aiming for a barbershop chorus medal. This year, I'm flying to San Francisco to join the Fog City Singers and will perform with them in Denver. Will I win a medal? Who knows! #goforgold

I sing with quite a few groups and I REALLY prefer learning my music with the Choir Genius app, so if they don't have CG I just create a site so I can connect to it and learn my music. I realize no one else can do this. #problemsolving

Mark Carney is wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt and blue tie. A Canadian flag is pinned to his lapel. A headline reads: "Mark Carney to Be the Next Prime Minister of Canada." Photo by Andrej Ivanov/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Breaking News: Mark Carney, a banker, will replace Justin Trudeau as Canada’s Liberal Party leader and the country’s prime minister. The party chose him to take on President Trump amid a generational crisis in Canada’s relationship with the U.S. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/09/w...

As people on both sides of the border suffer from the dumbest trade war in history, please remember that the American people are not to blame for the poor decisions of their leadership, which few of them could have predicted. This strange period will be over soon enough.

🎶

April in tariffs
This isn't awesome
Everyone suffering
Under these fees

April in tariffs
It's not appealing
You'll never find us
Down on our knees

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I was down in SF for a few days to coach the amazing Fog City Singers and some of the chapter quartets. Had a blast! Thanks to The JRG for putting me up at his very impressive home. I had forgotten how much I enjoy coaching.

Also the afterglow Monday night was a banger. So many tags!

Vancity Harmony Island Tour reflections Vancity Harmony, my wonderful mixed chorus, just finished a bus tour of three cities on Vancouver Island. We sang to sold out audiences in Sydney, Duncan and...

What am amazing weekend! Three shows on a bus tour with Vancity Harmony. It was a peak experience. You should absolutely take your chorus on a bus tour. Reflections in the video.

Very cool. I take it you are a BHS chapter, in Quebec? I'm a barbershop singer myself, from time to time.

Fantastic example! And how is it working for you, from an efficiency perspective?

I've been immersed in the choir business for over 16 years now, and it's clear that multi-choir organizations are the most efficient. Children's choirs figured this out ages ago, and they often have big budgets. But there are other ways to do it. Does your group have one ensemble, or more?

I feel much the same! I've been so enriched by my singing experiences in the past 35 years. Do you think your groups should be clearer about their purpose?

Very cool. Do you have these written down? And would you say all the members know about it?

I’ve been reading Simon Sinek lately and thinking about choirs. I know my choir has a strong sense of purpose, but I’ll admit—I can’t quite recite it on the spot. Do you sing in a group too? If so, what’s your ‘why’? What’s the purpose that keeps you inspired? #ChoirLife #FindYourWhy

It really does seem like the world has gone insane. However, I have chorus rehearsal tonight, and I'm definitely going to go. Even in normal times, when I feel tired and crappy, singing makes me feel enormously better. In crazy times, it's also that community and connection are my best way to fight.

Very cool!

5 Things Every Beginner Guitarist SHOULD Learn In this episode I will show you 5 Things Every Beginner Guitarist SHOULD Learn. This is based on my 35 years of guitar teaching.BEATO EAR TRAINING → https://...

Besides all the other things I'm doing, I'm learning guitar! Always wanted to. So I've watched a ton of YouTube videos, but this short one by Rick Beato was super useful! Enjoy. https://buff.ly/3WMp6Wg

If you're in a chorus or choir, what do you think of as your "product"? Is it the music you put on stage? Or is it the experience your members get? Which is more important? Comment on your situation.

The Barbershop community excels with its exceptional judging program. Judges offer coaching to competing groups, a top service by the Barbershop Harmony Society. As a Musicality judge for years, I've cherished the role, but my path is shifting. It's time for aspiring talents to fill the spot!

I prefer to post about choir stuff or other fun topics, but today I'll break with tradition. A trade war between the USA and Canada will make everyone poorer on both sides. Reminder: tariffs are paid by the CONSUMER in the country imposing the tariff. They are always inflationary.

The only thing that can actually kill your choir is running out of money. The musical product is extremely important, like eating - without it, the group gets thin and eventually starves. Money is more like oxygen. Without it you're dead in 3 min. Are your choir finances healthy? #choirmanagement

One of the keys to great choir/chorus management is having the right leadership structure. Form must follow function, so create the roles your choir business model requires, no more, no less. Don't make the mistake of starting with the people you happen to have! Make the roles first. #e-myth

You're absolutely right. My original post had to be shortened to fit. Full credit for accurate history.