News & Views Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Modern Rock Hits for Marching Band 28 June, 2013

If you’re looking for another marching band show planning option or some great stands tunes, try some modern rock arrangements.  Featuring big-name bands of the past 2 decades, these tunes have solid hooks and riffs, but with a little more modern edge – quite a contrast to the popularity of 80’s & modern pop arrangements, and re-arrangements of the same old rock songs from the 60’s and 70’s.  For more great show planning ideas, keep reading our blog, and shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs.

Creep – Radiohead
Creep, by the English alternative rock group Radiohead, gained worldwide attention when first released in 1993.  In recent years it has become relevant as an anti-bullying theme song.  Its reflective melody and tempo emote to make for a moving change of pace within the production of Jay Dawson’s redHOTradioCITY show. Scored for small bands with reduced instrumentation.

50 Ways to Say Goodbye – Train
Recorded by Train, this hit is upbeat party rock with a little mariachi mixed in.  The melody is passed around to different sections for variety with a solid, hard-hitting chorus.

Gold on the Ceiling – The Black Keys
The Black Keys are storming the rock scene. This is one of their signature tunes in a driving rock shuffle style. With a very catchy riff and memorable chorus, it will quickly become a stands favorite.

The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
This hard-driving rocker from the band Jimmy Eat World really shines in the hands of veteran arranger Doug Adams.  Lots of unison writing and a short drum break make this a perfect tune for the stands and pep band!

Playing the Folk Harp 27 June, 2013

So you bought a folk harp, and now you want a book to help you learn to play it!  How big is it?  How many strings does it have?   What’s with the blue and red strings?  Just how do you use those levers?   “Teach Yourself to Play the Folk Harp” by Sylvia Woods is one of the best books to help you learn all that stuff.

Sylvia has written a short history of the harp, how to hold it, proper hand position, reading music and  how to replace and tie harp strings.  There are plenty of songs to play as you learn new techniques.  Who knows?  Maybe by Christmas you will be confident enough to play “The Christ Child’s Lullaby” in church! 

Stanton’s has plenty of books to learn to play the folk harp, and plenty of books of solos for the harpist.  For more information about this book or other books of sheet music for folk harp, call 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website at http://www.stantons.com.  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Mary McDonald is coming in August! 26 June, 2013

Stanton’s is pleased to welcome back Mary McDonald as our clinician for the August Church Choral Music reading session! Mary McDonald’s music and talents have blessed choirs and congregations across the country for nearly thirty years.

McDonald_Mary_RGBMary is a well-known composer of more than 700 choral anthems, many seasonal cantatas, and keyboard collections. She previously served as a sacred music editor for a major publishing company and continues to serve in editorial consultant role for The Lorenz Corporation in Dayton, Ohio. She is published with every major publisher of church music and has had numerous top-selling anthems. Her unique blend of heart, hands, and humor, combined with a wide range of writing and performing styles, keep her in constant demand as a keyboard artist and keyboard and choral clinician.

Your registration includes a packet of over 40 new choral anthems that are hand-picked from the hundreds published each year. We look forward to seeing you on August 10th for a wonderful morning of singing with one of the nation’s most sought after church music experts.

Sacred Choral Reading Session
Saturday 8/10/2013, 9:00 am-12:30 pm
Battelle Fine Arts Center, Otterbein University
195 West Park St., Westerville OH 43081
Cost: $20.00 (There is no pre-registration; you may register the day of the clinic beginning at 8:30.)
email our choral department for more details

Sacred Piano Reading Session
- Also featuring Mary McDonald
Saturday 8/10/2013, 2:00 pm-4:30 pm
Stanton’s Sheet Music,
330 South 4th St., Columbus OH 43215
Cost: Free!
email our keyboard department for more details

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Awakened, by As I Lay Dying 25 June, 2013

In October of 2012, Christian metalcore band As I Lay Dying released their sixth studio album, “Awakened“.  Now, in June of 2013, the collection of the  authentic transcriptions with notes and tablature to match that album has been released.  The album has received some great reviews.  The guitar riffs are blistering . Josh Gilbert’s vocals are clean, he really shows off in “Defender”.    If  you have enjoyed the album and have wanted to play the songs, this collection of sheet music for guitar is the thing for you.  There are parts written out for multiple guitars, so get some friends together! For more information about this collection or other guitar collections, call 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website at http://www.stantons.com  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

80′s Rock Hits for Marching Band 24 June, 2013

It is only within the last couple of years that publishers have begun mining the wealth of pop and rock hits from the 1980s for marching band, and to great ends.  The 1980s had plenty of catchy pop hits whose characteristics have combined with modern dance beats and technology for many of today’s hits.  In addition, there were a lot of great bands including Journey and Bon Jovi, and huge solo artists like Michael Jackson. These tunes are also a perfect fit for this generation of parents who grew up in the 80s and 90s.  With the success of arrangements like The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats and A-ha’s Take On Me, it is only fitting that new titles be added to the growing 80s catalog for marching band.  Check these new charts out, and be sure to shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
arr. Doug Adams
Inspire your team and fans with this timeless rock anthem from the group Journey. Doug Adams’ easy, effective arrangement contains an optional trumpet solo before building to a stirring finish.

Master of Puppets – Metallica
arr. Jay Bocook & Omar Cermenates
From Metallica’s classic 1984 album of the same name, this monster song has been hailed as one of the greatest heavy metal tunes of all time. Unmatched for excitement and energy, this driving arrangement is sure to draw attention!

Right Round – Flo Rida; Dead or Alive
arr. Ralph Ford
One of hip-hop artist Flo Rida’s biggest hits was this catchy offering based on Dead or Alive’s 80′s pop hit.

Rock You Like a Hurricane – The Scorpions
arr. Michael Brown & Will Rapp
This driving rock tune recorded by the Scorpions in 1984 has taken on a life of its own in American pop culture and sporting events. Frequently used in TV, films and video games, the song features the familiar chorus and a relentless rock groove.

Uncontrollable Urge – Devo
arr. Michael Brown
Recorded by Devo, this frantic punk rock hit is perfect for adding excitement and energy to any sporting event. The catchy riffs and solid scoring ensure instant success!

Jazz Piano Solos Series 21 June, 2013

Hal Leonard publishing has a series of advanced level  jazz piano solo collections arranged by selected recording artists and transcribed and arranged by editors at Hal Leonard. Two new books are out now, “Jazz For Lovers” and  “Late Night Jazz”.   Some selected artists are Bobby Darin, Art Tatum, Marian McPartland , Dave Brubeck,  Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong.  Standard jazz tunes are liberally distributed among the collections, tunes including  “Beyond the Sea”,  “Prelude to a Kiss”, and “God Bless’ the Child“. Broadway tunes are represented, too, including “My Ship”  from “Lady in the Dark” and “Bewitched” from “Pal Joey”.  If you love to play jazz music for your own pleasure or for other people, there is a wide selection in this series.  For more information about the collections of sheet music in this series, call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website and http://www.stantons.com.  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music  needs!

Commit to “Excellence” for your choral ensembles! 20 June, 2013

Stanton’s Sheet Music is pleased to announce our 20th annual Excellence in Choral Literature Clinic on Saturday August 24, 2013! This session was designed to help you select concert and contest literature from some of choral music’s most distinguished composers, featuring the best in new music for mixed, treble, and men’s choirs at all levels of difficulty. Registration fee includes a complimentary packet of over 30 titles.

Come join us to discover beautiful music and share ideas with colleagues and friends! For more information, please check out our video below, contact us by email, or call us at 1.800.426.8742. Register online NOW!

Click here to watch video

Marching Band At The Movies 19 June, 2013

If you or your band members are looking to perform a movie themed marching band show this year, there are a number of new arrangements to consider including the newest James Bond theme, Skyfall, Pixar Favorites, a complete How to Train Your Dragon show, and the theme from Marvel’s The Avengers.  For more fantastic movie themed ideas, check out the Movies category of the Show Planning section of our website, and shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

The Avengers
From the blockbuster hit movie, here is a solid and energized arrangement of the powerful main theme. This bold composition will inspire courage and makes a great show opener or closer.

Pixar Favorites
With music composed by Randy Newman and Michael Giacchino, Pixar’s fantastic movies have given us some of the best themes in modern film. This fast-paced mini medley includes familiar melodies from Cars; Toy Story; Monsters, Inc.; Ratatouille; Up; and A Bug’s Life.

Twilight Overture
Opening with the distinctive haunting melody, here is the beautiful introductory music to the hit film Breaking Dawn – Part 2. This very effective arrangement builds quickly to a dramatic peak and powerful finish.

You’ve Got a Friend in Me
Based on the hard-hitting big band version in Toy Story 2 as performed by Wheezy (voice of Robert Goulet), here is a swingin’ arrangement for the field or stands. Effectively paced throughout, Paul Murtha’s chart includes a brief trumpet solo and concludes with a dynamic shout chorus.

How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon, Part 1  (This is Berk)
How to Train Your Dragon, Part 2  (Dragon Battle/This is Berk)
How to Train Your Dragon, Part 3  (Test Drive/Coming Back Around)

James Bond
Die Another Day/Live & Let Die
For Your Eyes Only/Goldfinger
James Bond Theme
Skyfall

Modern Ragtime 18 June, 2013

Ragtime may be over a hundred years old, but some people are still writing new Ragtime music!  Larry Porter‘s  recent release through Schott Music, “Piano Rags” , is such a collection.    Four of the eight pieces in this book of sheet music were inspired by his impressions of his native country, the U.S.A.      “Athens County Rag” is a reference to his native state, Ohio.  “Peace March”  is a nod to Larry’s anti-war leanings.  “Crab Apple Rag, (An Inedible Slow Drag)”  is a fun slow drag, with the footnote: “Do not play this piece fast. A fast interpretation  may cause indigestion in the listener as well as the performer.”  Not all Ragtime is fast!  If you have questions about this collection or other Ragtime music, please call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website at http://www.stantons.com. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Chaplin The Musical 17 June, 2013

Charlie Chaplin, actor, producer, director, composer and writer, was active in the performing  arts from childhood until the age of 80.  “Chaplin The Musical“, with book by Christopher Curtis and Thomas Meehan,  and music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis,  covers the life of Charlie Chaplin.  Zachary Unger plays Charlie Chaplin as a child. Rob McClure plays Chaplin from young adulthood to death at 88.

The  songs and dances in this musical are full of energy.  Rob McClure is great as Chaplin.  He has studied Chaplin’s movements and body language, and it shows.  The musical received six Drama Desk Award  nominations including Outstanding Orchestrations and Costume Design.  Fifteen songs from the musical are in this collection of sheet music.

For more information about this collection or other collections of Broadway musicals, call 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website at http://www.stantons.com.  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Elementary General Music Clinic – Register TODAY! 14 June, 2013

gm logoElementary General Music Clinic
Wednesday 7/31/2013, 9:00 am-12:30 pm
Columbia Heights UMC
REGISTRATION: $20.00
Stanton’s Sheet Music is excited to welcome back Cristi Cary Miller as our clinician for the 31st edition of our Elementary General Music Clinic. This is one of Stanton’s longest running and most successful clinics, showcasing the best new teacher resources, song collections, games, musicals and more! We are sure that you will find materials that will keep you and your students interested throughout the year. Get your school year started on the right foot!

In a Time Lapse-Ludovico Einaudi 13 June, 2013

Ludovico Einaudi‘s  “In a Time Lapse” was recorded in a remote monastery in Verona.   The music “explores the concept  of capturing emotions and experiences in a single moment in time.”  (From the back cover of the solo collection.) The music is flowing and relaxing to listen to.   This book of piano sheet music matches the album and includes five bonus tracks;  “Bever”, The Dark Bank of Clouds”, “Sarabande”, “Ronald’s Dream” and “Corale Solo”.  “Time Lapse” is one of the prettiest solos on the album.   Ludovico Einaudi is one of the top-selling and most-requested recording artists with at least 23 recorded albums to his credit.   One of the terms used to describe his music is “minimalist“.  This is a lovely collection to play from for your own enjoyment or to play for others.  For more information about this collection or collections of other modern composers, call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website at http://www.stantons.com.  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Complete Marching Band Shows 2013 12 June, 2013

While most band directors enjoy the creativity of planning marching band shows with specific themes, music styles, or by specific artists, and our marching band webpage and Listening Library are designed to help with this, publishers usually release 1-2 complete shows each year.  Aside from taking some of the thought out of mixing and matching tunes, and deciding what should be an opener, production number, closer, etc., these shows usually consist of program material that isn’t available any other way, are arranged with a program order in mind, and often include introductions, transitions, and reprises that just aren’t done in “stand-alone” arrangements, giving the show a musical beginning, middle, and ending.  There are three unique complete shows available this year, and each one is worth a listen!  Visit our marching band webpage and Listening Library for more show planning ideas, and shop Stanton’s for all your marching band sheet music needs.

How to Train Your Dragon
From Hal Leonard we have a complete show featuring John Powell’s popular score from DreamWorks Animation studio’s How to Train Your Dragon.  The concert band arrangements from this film have been particularly popular, and the film-score quality translates well to the marching band field for directors looking to balance a popular theme with a more “symphonic” sounding show.

How to Train Your Dragon, Part 1 (This is Berk)

How to Train Your Dragon, Part 2 (Dragon Battle/This is Berk)

How to Train Your Dragon, Part 3 (Test Drive/Coming Back Around)

redHOTradioCITY
Arrangers’ Publishing is offering a creative take on some alternative rock tunes from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, and Owl City, hence the show title.  By taking one of the best tunes from each of these bands, creating show-style arrangements of them, and putting them in Arrangers’ Reduced Instrumentation series (fewer parts and range demands than typical Arrangers’ arrangements), Tom Wallace has produced one of the most creative complete shows in recent memory that is sure to hit home with your 30-something parents!

Higher Ground

Creep

Umbrella Beach

Sir Elton John
The other Arrangers’ Publishing complete show features 4 of the most well-known songs by Elton John focusing on his classic Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album.  The show opens with sound effects and the orchestral quality of Funeral for a Friend and Love Lies Bleeding, moves to the driving rock in a hard-hitting arrangement of Saturday Night’s Alright (for Fighting), and closes with the touching Your Song, which is a perfect Homecoming selection, as well.

Funeral for a Friend

Love Lies Bleeding

Saturday Night’s Alright (for Fighting)

Your Song

Pat Metheny, What’s It All About 11 June, 2013

What’s It All About” is the first of Pat Metheny‘s albums that contains none of his own compositions.  The recording of his arrangements  was released in June 2011, and received a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in February of 2012.  Metheny’s arrangements of these tunes uses  solo baritone guitar with some restringing and retuning.   The editor of this collection, Masa Takahashi, has transcribed the pieces so they can be played on a standard six string guitar.  Each piece has directions for retuning for that piece, standard notation and tablature.  If you have wanted to play some of these songs, this will help you to achieve that goal! For more information about this collection or other collections of guitar sheet music, call 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or check our website,  http://www.stantons.com.  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Stanton’s Super Session is Coming Soon! 10 June, 2013

ss logoDo you need to put a little “spark” in your choral program? Is there just too much new music out there for you to review? Join us for a fun, enriching day of music education with Andy Beck, Greg Gilpin, and Stanton’s own Jen Sper featuring music from Alfred Publications, Shawnee Press and many other choral publishers.

Stanton’s Super Session
Saturday 8/3/2013, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
at Stanton’s Sheet Music, 330 S. Fourth St, 43215
REGISTRATION: $55.00 (includes lunch)

Nowhere else will you find such a variety of new choral selections and teaching resources to inspire and motivate you and your students as you begin the school year.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

The Irish Violin Book 07 June, 2013

There are twenty famous tunes from Ireland in this collection for fiddle.  There is a section discussing the bowing styles most commonly used among Irish fiddlers including an admonition to bow correctly, “for if the bowing is wrong, no one can really dance to the music.” (From the preface, second page.)   One of the finest compliments to a fiddler is to have the people around you start dancing to your playing, then have them ask for more.  This collection includes a CD, which has 2 tracks for each tune.  The first has a fiddle playing the melody and the second has a guitar playing the melody. You can play along to the CD on either track.   If you are already familiar with Irish tunes, you will recognize Brian Boru’s March,  Spancil Hill,   Sally Gardens and more .  If you would like to get acquainted with Irish fiddle music, this is an easy collection to get started with. For more information about this collection of fiddle tunes or others, please call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or check out our web site at http://www.stantons.com.  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Rock the Stands with These Pop Hits! 06 June, 2013

2013 is a great year for pop marching band arrangements.  Thanks to the resurgence of strong choruses and the addition of infectious dance grooves to today’s pop hits, there are plenty of charts that will be a blast for your band, and be a hit with the stadium crowd.  From current pop song master Bruno Mars to hits by Adele, fun., and many more you can’t go wrong!  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Beauty and a Beat – Justin Bieber & Nicki Minaj, arr. Tom Wallace

Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen, arr. Michael Brown

Die Young – Ke$ha, arr. Jay Bocook or Nick Barratta

Everybody Talks – The Neon Trees, arr. Mike Story

Feel This Moment – Pitbull & Christina Aguilera, arr. Tom Wallace

Good Time – Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen, arr. Doug Adams

Home – Phillip Phillips, arr. Michael Brown

I Knew You Were Trouble – Taylor Swift, arr. Tim Waters

Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars, arr. Paul Murtha/Will Rapp or Victor Lopez

Runaway Baby – Bruno Mars, arr. Paul Murtha

Scream & Shout – Will I. Am, arr. Tom Wallace

Skyfall – Adele, arr. Jay Bocook/Omar Carmenates

Some Nights – fun., arr. Michael Brown or Brian Scott

Starships – Nicki Minaj, arr. Tom Wallace

The Middle – Jimmy Eat World, arr. Doug Adams

We Are Young – fun., arr. Tom Wallace or Jerry Burns

Get Ready for “Joy of Singing” and the “John Jacobson Workshop!” 05 June, 2013

logo JJWStanton’s Sheet Music is pleased to invite you to our 2013 “John Jacobson Workshop” on August 1st and “Joy of Singing” on August 2nd – two full days of the best new music from Hal Leonard!

John Jacobson Workshop
Thursday 8/1/2013, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Columbia Heights UMC
REGISTRATION: $60.00 teacher/$40.00 student, Both fees include lunch

logo JOSJoy of Singing
Friday 8/2/2013, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Columbia Heights UMC
REGISTRATION: $50.00 (includes lunch)

Register now online, or contact us at 1-800-426-8742 or choral@stantons.com for more information.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Elliot Del Borgo (10/27/1938 – 5/30/2013) 04 June, 2013

With sad regrets, we mourn the passing of Elliot Del Borgo, a great composer/arranger of band and orchestra sheet music. An award-winning member of ASCAP, he was a frequent consultant, clinician, lecturer, and adjudicator in the United States and abroad. Born in Port Chester, NY, Elliot Del Borgo earned a B.S. degree from the State University of New York, an Ed.M. degree from Temple University, and an M.M. degree from the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, where he studied theory and composition with Vincent Persichetti. Elliot has published over 600 compositions with various publishers and in 1980 wrote the music for the Olympics in Lake Placid.  He described his work as “music you will want to play again and again … and music that will enable your ensemble to improve.”  We will all miss his contribution to music education.

The Life and Music of Robert Shaw 03 June, 2013

Robert Lawson Shaw was born in Red Bluff, California on April 30, 1916 – another century, another America.  By the time he died, 82 years later, Shaw had become one of America’s classical music icons – a key figure who helped create a culture of classical music in the United States.

When Shaw was a boy, there scarcely was such a culture outside of New York, Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Yale University, and a few other places.  And a classical choral tradition?  It existed, but its existence was neither broad nor deep.

More than any other single person, Shaw was responsible for this change.  He was the principle re-inventor of the choral art in America.  Shaw did not transform choral music from a hobby or an academic pursuit all alone.  But Shaw made choral music important, artistic, and popular.

Shaw is part of an American mythic tradition that encompasses Jay Gatsby, Leonard Bernstein, “American Idol,” and Barack Obama.  Shaw was his own mold, an American prototype – like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mohammad Ali, Ernest Hemingway, or Clint Eastwood.

Deep River: The Life and Music of Robert Shaw is a rich and in-depth biography of this complex man and his relentless drive to transform American choral singing.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!