News & Views Friday, April 19, 2024

Stanton’s Sheet Music suggests that you send your students into summer with some of these great popular music choices for men’s choirs.  Whether you’re looking for current pop, a classic rock favorite or a Broadway novelty, we’ll help you find the perfect choice for your ensemble!

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, the cheeky and irreverent tune from “Monty Python’s Spamalot” will have everyone whistling along!  It’s a concert change-of-pace that your guys will love to sing.

Here’s a rockin’ remake of the timeless ‘60s hit The Letter, perfect for the pop portion of your concert.  “Give me a ticket for an airplane.  Ain’t got time to take no fast train.”  This arrangement has a kickin’ groove!

Featured in the film “The Blues Brothers,” Soul Man will still have your audience singing along.  Use a live combo to create a powerhouse moment during your show!

For more suggestions, check out our video below, or contact us!

Click here to watch video

Copyright law and its implications affect musicians and educators every day, yet most of us have little to no understanding of it.  Whether majoring in performance or education, undergraduate courses of study rarely present an introduction to the subject, let alone offer any courses that study it in detail.  It is challenging to know what is permissible under the law, and what exactly is allowed under the doctrine of ‘fair use.’  Violations of copyright occur frequently in our schools mostly due to the lack of education on the subject, and, like it or not, use in an educational setting alone does not necessarily constitute compliance with the ‘fair use’ provision of the law.  With increased scrutiny and debate over copyright infringement on the internet, the staff at Stanton’s would like to recommend the following resources to shed light on the subject for musicians and educators alike.  They are presented in order of increasing detail, and we highly recommend The Teacher’s Guide to Music, Media, and Copyright Law for music educators.  In addition, YouTube in Music Education is a great resource for those looking to use this technology to enhance their programs, but have concerns about how to do so appropriately.

Music Copyright Basics – Joel Leach
What is copyright?  This seemingly simple question often causes confusion with its complex answers.  In Music Copyright Basics, professor and expert copyright witness Joel Leach answers frequent questions in a straightforward, easy-to-use format.  Whether you are searching for a simple answer to a common question or want a general knowledge of the copyright procedure, this book will quickly provide you with the information you want.  Music Copyright Basics features: a convenient question-and-answer format; easy-to-understand answers to all your copyright questions; coverage of copyright basics, copyright submission process, copyright ownership, copyright and earnings potential, and international copyright; and a compact, portable design that keeps information easily at hand. (2003)

The Teacher’s Guide to Music, Media, and Copyright Law – James Frankel
The easy-to-understand guide for teachers using copyrighted music and media in the classroom.  In this era of unprecedented access to information, teachers have a wealth of readily available resources for lesson planning, but determining what you can and can’t use legally in the classroom is a difficult task.  Written by a 15-year veteran of the New Jerseypublic schools, The Teacher’s Guide to Music, Media, and Copyright Law helps explain just how information, images, video, and music can be incorporated into any kind of lesson plan without running afoul of copyright laws.  This resource includes: what resources you can use without obtaining permission, how to obtain and license the works you need permission to use, how to check the copyright status of any media item, and how to apply copyright legality examples to real classroom situations. (2009)

Music Copyright Law – Moser & Slay
Music Copyright Law will help you gain an in-depth understanding of a topic that is vital to the success of anyone in or entering the music industry.  From songwriters and performers to managers, producers, and agents, everyone is affected by the issues covered in this book.  Avoiding the technical jargon and “legalese” that bogs down other books on the subject, this book explores the world of copyright law and homes in on how it applies to music.  It begins by building a foundational knowledge of the fundamentals of copyright law – what it protects, the benefits of registering a copyright, and what to do when copyright has been infringed.  Once the fundamentals are established, coverage expands to include controversies involving copyright and music in the digital age and the debates over online music.  Packed with practical examples that bring complex concepts to life, this book is a must-have for any professional in or entering the music business. (2012)

At last, here is the sheet music book to match Selena Gomez & The Scene’s third album, When the Sun Goes Down. The recording was released June 28, 2011, and debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200.  The following week, it had risen to #3.

The album’s lead single, “Who Says” was certified Platinum by RIAA on June 23, 2011. “Love You Like a Love Song” and many of the other titles in the collection are available for instant download and print through Stanton’s Digital Delivery.  It is a delightful electro-dance pop album, and this collection has all eleven titles from the recording!

Stanton’s is closed today so that our staff can devote more time to their Presidential coin collections. You can still browse and shop online and we’ll process your order first thing tomorrow, or you may be able to find what you need on our Digital Delivery site if you need an emergency copy of “Hail to the Chief.”

In the meantime, let’s enjoy this Presidential/Musical mash-up from our current “chief.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Huh? We musicians need to practice before we perform, so it’s time to start practicing. This collection, Irish Tunes, comes with a Sound-alike CD track for all eight fiddle tunes.  If you would rather not use the CD, a friend who plays guitar, mandolin, or even ukulele can play along with the chord names above the staff.  For more information about this collection, or other fiddle or Irish collections, please call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us or visit our website.

If you missed our recent Organ Music Clinic, you can still check out these new titles recommended by Stanton’s keyboard staff:

Easy Hymn Settings Vol 2
Preludes and postludes are found in this second volume which composer Ronnie Nelson has crafted for the organist desiring easier rather than harder compositions. This wonderful, year-round collection has a setting for almost every season of the church year.

In Praise of God
Postludes, partitas, trios, arias, fanfares, and trumpet tunes are featured in this collection by prolific composer, David Lasky, featuring treasured hymns of the faith. These are stimulating new settings for each hymn, especially the “Materna” setting–you’ll want to play it for any patriotic service need!

When In Our Music: Three Hymn Settings
Al Travis’s exuberant writing style is brought to bear on three well-loved hymntunes. The tune INNOCENTS is set to a chorale and five charming variations. ROYAL OAK is cheerful and buoyant, and ENGELBERG makes a majestic and commanding finale to this set.  

For more suggestions for any time of year, contact our keyboard department!

Stanton’s Sheet Music suggests that you send your students into summer with some of these great popular music choices for women’s choirs.  Whether you’re looking for nostalgic pop, a Broadway favorite or an a cappella showpiece, we’ll help you find the perfect choice for your ensemble!

Christina Perri’s debut single Jar of Hearts has been featured on “So You Think You Can Dance?” and “Glee.”  The impassioned ballad provides a powerful, relatable moment for female singers.

Someone Like You, the pop hit by Adele is a heartfelt ballad with a gorgeous piano accompaniment.  After a single voice opening, the vocal texture builds into a full-voiced emotional chorus!

The playful song Taylor the Latte Boy from Kristin Chenoweth will provide a moment of absolute delight in your next concert as it tells a story full of effervescence, humor and romantic innocence.  It’s a truly charming SSA feature!

For more suggestions, check out our video below, or contact us!

Click here to watch video

Do you have a significant other that makes you smile with your heart?  Their looks may be laughable (and even unphotographable) yet they’re your favorite work of art?  Then you could call them “My Funny Valentine.”

With lyrics close to those written above, the well known song, “My Funny Valentine,” has become a staple for the day set aside to honor your favorite loved one.  Written in 1937 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for their musical, Babes in Arms, it is sung in the show by the female lead, Billie Smith, to her love interest, Valentine “Val” LaMar.  She pokes gentle fun at some of his characteristics, but ultimately tells him not to change, because they are what gives him his charm.  Just about everyone can relate to that set of circumstances.  After all, love reigns supreme – especially on Valentine’s Day!

If you would like to perform this wonderful song, there are many settings from which to choose. There are versions for vocal solo with piano, as well as arrangements for choir, jazz ensemble (with or without vocal solo), jazz combo, concert band and full or string orchestra.  You can find these all on Stanton’s website, or try our Digital Delivery option if there’s no time to lose!

It’s been a long time since those reading sessions at the end of last summer…come refresh your memory and your ears with our recommended choral music for finishing out the school year!

*FREE*
SPRING CHORAL READING SESSION
Saturday, March 3rd from 10-11:30

James E. Strouse Workshop Hall
Stanton’s Sheet Music
330 South Fourth St
Columbus, OH 43215

We will read selected titles for SATB, men’s and women’s ensembles appropriate for high school spring concerts and graduation. Because we will be reading music directly from our large inventory and sharing the expertise of the Stanton’s school choral staff, we are able to offer this reading session at no cost to you!

For more information, email us or call 1-800-426-8742 ex 1.

Stanton’s Sheet Music suggests that you send your students into summer with some of these great popular music choices for middle school choirs.  Whether you’re looking for current pop, a jazz favorite or a sophisticated medley, we’ll help you find the perfect choice for your ensemble!

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” with Irving Berlin: From Rags to Ritz, a medley of Berlin’s greatest hits arranged for choir, band and strings!  Includes: “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Blue Skies,” “Play a Simple Melody” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”

Chubby Checker’s dance craze hit Let’s Twist Again is now a fun 2-part choral!  “We’re gonna do the twist and it goes like this…”  Irresistible fun for show and concert!

Boogie down with the 1979 hit Old Time Rock & Roll in this smokin’ arrangement!  One of the most popular singles of all time, it was also a classic scene in the 1983 film “Risky Business.”

From the opening strains, everyone will recognize the quicky, jazzy theme of The Pink Panther by Henry Mancini!  Younger singers will beg to sing this well-crafted arrangement with “scat” lyrics!

For more suggestions, check out our video below, or contact us!

Click here to watch video

If you missed our recent Organ Music Clinic, you can still check out these new titles recommended by Stanton’s keyboard staff:

Communion Hymns Vol 1
This is the first of two volumes containing the complete Holy Communion hymns from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). These settings are not too long, not too short, and not too hard (just right!) to be played either before or after the singing of the hymn.

Biblical Sketches: The Lexington Organ Book
A collection of original pieces based upon biblical passages. This diverse collection was the result of a composition contest for the region V chapter ofthe American Guild of Organists. The compositions vary in style and mood and are designed to reflect the meaning of the selected passages of scripture thatare indicated at the top of each piece. A truly creative and interesting volume of compositions.

Gospel Music For Manuals
Eight gospel favorites are given lush, emotive settings that are so satisfyingone barely notices that they are for manuals only. Useful for preludes, interludes, or communion, these pieces are suitable for a small organ but would also benefit from the varied tone colors of a larger instrument.

Yours Is The Glory
Pastor/musician/composer Ronald Roschke of Colorado has contributed his first volume of organ variation-sets on world tunes, which are perfect pre-service material for times when the respective tunes are sung in worship.

For more suggestions for any time of year, contact our keyboard department!

The 2012 OMEA Professional Conference is just around the corner.  In addition to being a great way to recharge during this long period of the school year and the camaraderie of being around friends and colleagues, it is also a great place to discover new music, learn new teaching techniques, and discover new tools to enhance teaching and learning in your classroom.  The instrumental staff at Stanton’s is pleased to highlight some of the items being featured at this year’s conference. 

Composer and co-author of the Sound Innovations band method, Robert Sheldon will be presenting sessions including Fix It Now: Techniques for Creating Immediate and Significant Improvement in Your Rehearsal, Writing Music for Winds and Percussion, and Preparing Your Ensemble for Expressive Performance.

Composer and co-author of the Tradition of Excellence band method, Ryan Nowlin will highlight approaches for starting beginners, lesson planning, and using the technology and enrichment features of the T.O.E. book during his session, Teaching Band with Excellence: Achieving the Most in Every Lesson.

Conducting takes center stage in Practical Score Preparation Strategies for the Harried Instrumental Conductor by Gary Stith (author of Score Rehearsal Preparation), and Be the Music: Non-Verbal Gestures, Pedagogical and Musical Thoughts and Ideas for the Conductor by Stephen Gage combining the pedagogical approaches of Laban, Green, and Lisk (Conductor, Teacher, Leader; The Musical Mind of the Creative Director).

There are many technology-related sessions featuring Finale notation software including Finale Top Ten; Using Finale and SmartMusic Together to Easily Maximize Your Results; Finale and SmartMusic in Action with HS Band Students; and Using Finale in Music Education, and the sessions/discussions with Sousa historian/Fillmore biographer and Columbus resident Paul Bierley (Hallelujah Trombone), Sam Pilafian (Breathing Gym Live for Band, Orchestra, and Chorus), and Tom Batiuk, cartoonist/creator of Funky Winkerbean, are sure to be both entertaining and informative.

For more information about the sessions, visit the searchable schedule on the OMEA website, and visit Stantons.com, Stanton’s OMEA booth, or stop by the store while you’re in Columbus to purchase any of the titles listed above.  We look forward to seeing you February 16-18!

Involve your youngest singers in worship this spring with one of these great anthems for children’s choirs!

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
Here is an updated version of the classic Palm Sunday hymn that will make your children’s choir sound incredible. This upbeat arrangement has a beautiful contrasting section that creates a quiet moment of worship. A powerful new addition to the Hymnz 4 Kidz series!

Shout with Joy!
“Shout with Joy!” is a celebratory piece lifted from Mark Patterson’s “Can’t Wait to Sing! 2″ collection. Patterson wrote this piece specifically to be used at the beginning of his choir year. There is no doubt that this enjoyable piece will get children singing and make them want to come back from week to week!

Sing to the Lord
The use of simple syncopation in the vocal lines and a simple, yet meaningful Biblical text characterize this composition in the typical Nancy Raabe style. Suitable for children’s choirs of any age, this piece would be particularly useful at the beginning of the choir year or in any general service.

Standing on the Promises
This new addition to the Hymnz 4 Kidz series will keep your toes tapping and your hands clapping! Your children’s choir will love learning this fresh setting of the old gospel hymn, complete with a fun encore reprise!

Want more suggestions from Stanton’s?  Contact our choral department at 1-800-426-8742!

Stanton’s Sheet Music suggests that you send your students into summer with some of these great popular music choices for high school mixed choirs.  Whether you’re looking for current pop, a classic rock favorite or an a cappella showpiece, we’ll help you find the perfect choice for your ensemble!

The trademark ABBA song Dancing Queen from the smash hit musical “Mamma Mia!” is a great choice for both concert and show choirs.  It’s full of energetic, disco fun!

A House Is Not a Home, Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s powerful ballad from “Promises, Promises” is vocally challenging and full of deep emotion.  This setting offers rich rewards for concert and pop groups.

To make a positive change in the world, start with the face you see in the mirror!  Michael Jackson’s pop hit Man in the Mirror makes a powerful impact through the intimacy of a cappella vocals!

Louis Armstrong’s rendition of What a Wonderful World established it as a standard among songs.  The optimistic message is beautifully captured in this lush arrangement by Mark Hayes – and the optional orchestration will add incredible dimension to your performance.

For more suggestions, check out our video below, or contact us!

Click here to watch video

Since The Book of Mormon opened on Broadway in March of 2011,  this award winning musical has been a best seller.  Trey Parker and Matt Stone of  South Park, and Robert Lopez of Avenue Q fame, have teamed up to produce a religious satire musical that is fun, funny and irreverent.

Here at Stanton’s Sheet Music, we waited anxiously until November of 2011 when The Book of Mormon vocal selections finally arrived  in the store. Customers were calling to order this sheet music book before it was even off the press! This collection of all 16 songs and photos from the Broadway musical is a great companion to the cast recording which was released in June of 2011.  All of the sheet music from this collection is also available for immediate dowload through Stanton’s Digital Delivery!

For more information, email or call us at 1-800-426-8742.

Are you already thinking about music for Lent and Easter? From Ash Wednesday to Easter,  Stanton’s Sheet Music has a good selection of  piano sheet music for the holidays. Among many choices, two  collections come quickly to mind:

Jan Sanborn has a book of advanced arrangements called  ”A Month of Sundays-Easter and Lent.” Jan has arranged a prelude, an offertory, and a postlude for each Sunday in Lent.  These beautiful arrangements are sure to enhance your congregation’s worship experience.

“What Can I Play for Easter?”  is a collection of intermediate level pieces for Holy Week  designed to provide 10 pieces that are easily prepared for this busy week. The music strives to reflect the emotions of the events of Holy Week. Arranged by Cindy Berry, these pieces cover Palm Sunday through Easter morning.

Visit our dedicated website, sacredpianomusiconly.com  to look at the rest of the Lent/Easter selections.  Start choosing your music now for a good head start, and avoid the stress of last minute preparations.

It may still be cold and snowy outside, but it’s certainly not too early to be planning your choral anthems for this spring!  Stanton’s Sacred Choral Music staff has carefully chosen these pieces to be appropriate for a variety of worship styles and services throughout the coming months.

For the Lenten season, Who Is That Man? conveys the drama of Jesus’ betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane with reverent simplicity. Evocative harmonic colors and an optional C-instrument obbligato illustrate a powerful text that asks the question: “Why must He suffer there and die all alone?”  Smaller choirs will excel with the new 2-part mixed voicing of Lloyd Larson’s top-seller When You Prayed Beneath the Trees, which is especially meaningful during the days of Holy Week.

The joyous spirit of Let the People Sing Hosanna!, with its catchy and repetitive harmonies and rhythms, will easily fill worshippers with the spirit of “hosanna” on Palm Sunday. A creative choice for a processional, it features a percussion accompaniment that is extremely accessible. Youth or adult choirs will enjoy proclaiming the arrival of Jesus with this instant favorite.

“On that great, great mornin’, Jesus is alive!” Filled with the spirited triumph of Easter morning, On That Great, Great Mornin’, an a cappella original from Mary McDonald, features close vocal harmonies, regular syncopation, and fun-to-sing passages of call and response. An optional solo offers the opportunity to showcase one of your singers and drives the piece to a rousing and celebratory conclusion.  For a Baroque flavor on Easter morning, Christ Is Risen! Alleluia! incorporates the famous Handel chorus from “Judas Maccabeus.” Opening with a thrilling choral fanfare and followed by a strong homophonic section and an enjoyable fugue, this is sure to become an Easter standard!

For other Sundays this spring, try Mary McDonald’s This Is My Father’s World, which incorporates a rich choral treatment and rhapsodic piano accompaniment to create a truly fresh arrangement. Options for congregational participation, handbells, and a C-instrument obbligato all enhance this worshipful selection that is perfect for use throughout the year. Other wonderful choices include Come into God’s Embrace (a compassionate communion anthem), O Magnify the Lord (majestically combined with “All Creatures of Our God and King”), and There Is a Redeemer (featuring a dramatic conclusion and lovely vocal textures).

Did you miss out on our Sacred Choral Music Reading Session?  Never fear!  If you’re interested in receiving a packet from this year’s clinic (featuring these and many more selections for spring worship), please contact us!  You can also click here to view our entire Sacred Choral promotion for Spring 2012.