News & Views Thursday, August 24, 2017

recommended by Judy H. and Jennifer F., Sacred Choral Music Specialists, and Jen Sper and Alissa Ruth, School Choral Music Specialists

International Carol Suites arr. Mark Hayes
International Carol Suites weaves together familiar and lesser-known carols in a thrilling and multicultural celebration of the holiday season! Select one movement for a ten-minute burst of Christmas joy, or perform several for an extended presentation of carols from around the world. English text is included throughout the work, with foreign language text also included where appropriate – great care was taken to find the best English translation of each song, but in many cases the translations are not literal, so we encourage you to use the original texts whenever possible. The dazzling orchestration is ideal for combined performances, whether used as a sophisticated cantata option for a church setting or community chorus, or for accomplished choirs at the high school level.

International Carol Suites contains 30 carols, representing 20 countries: Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bohemia, Russia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the United States.

Carols of Europe
I. Carols of Western Europe (Good Christian Men, Rejoice; He Is Born, the Holy Child; The Son of Mary; Still, Still, Still; Gesu Bambino; Break Forth, O Beauteous, Heavenly Light; Angels We Have Heard On High)
II. Carols of Eastern Europe (Ukrainian Bell Carol; O, Come Rejoicing; Infant Holy, Infant Lowly; Rocking Carol; Come, Hear the Marvelous News; Carol of the Russian Children)
III. Carols of the British Isles (What Child Is This?; God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen; Deck the Hall; The Wexford Carol; Baloo, Lammy; The Snow Lay on the Ground; Joy to the World)
Carols of the Americas
I. Carols of Central and South America (The Journey; Going to Bethlehem; The Babe; At the Hour of Midnight; Song of the Wise Men)
II. Carols of North America (The Huron Carol; Brightest and Best; Behold That Star; Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow; Go, Tell It on the Mountain)

About the Authors:
Judy H. has been working in Stanton’s Choral Department since 1975. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Bowling Green State University, and a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from The Ohio State University. A member of the Grove City Chamber Singers, Judy also enjoys reading and spending time with her four grandchildren.

Jennifer F. is a graduate of Otterbein College with a degree in Vocal Performance. She has worked at Stanton’s for over 14 years specializing in Sacred Choral, Classical Vocal and Handbell music. Jennifer is a soprano section leader in the Chancel Choir at First Community Church in Columbus Ohio, and is also the founder, Artistic Director and bass bell ringer for Handbells Columbus.

Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.

Alissa Ruth began working at Stanton’s in the summer of 2016. She is a former middle and high school choir director and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Capital University. She is an active choral singer in the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, as well as various choirs in the Columbus area, and she spends her free time running, doing yoga, cooking, and watching Netflix.

recommended by Jen Sper and Alissa Ruth, School Choral and Classroom Music Specialists

The middle school general music classroom can be an exciting (and/or terrifying) place! Throughout this coming school year, we’ll be sharing with you some valuable resources to help you develop enthusiasm and skills in your middle school musicians! Today, here are some great new options for teaching guitar and ukulele:

Ukulele Jukebox by Tom Anderson
Drop in a nickel for hours of music-making fun! From one chord and a downstroke strum to switching from chord-to-chord using a pop shuffle, your students will explore the exciting world of playing the ukulele. This straight-ahead instrument provides the perfect introduction to playing harmony, singing with others and feeling the infectious rhythms of different styles of music. Chord frames, pictures of finger placement and notation are used throughout the song collection in a step-by-step, sequential fashion for building instrument-playing knowledge. Suggested strums are demonstrated with helpful audio examples. Pitched classroom instruments parts are also included for additional harmonic support. Everyone gets in the act! You also receive digital access to performance/accompaniment audio recordings plus PDFs of singer and instrument parts for projection and reproducible options. Well-known songs are the pathway to play these fun accompaniments. Get those ukuleles in your hands, plug in the jukebox and keep on jammin’! Songs include: Hey Lolly Lolly, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, Jammin’ Bells, This Train/The Crawdad Song, Rockin’ Robin, C.C. Rider, and more! Suggested for grades 4-8.

Essential Elements for Guitar
Take your guitar teaching to a new level! Hal Leonard’s top-selling comprehensive method for band and strings is now also available for guitar. With the time-tested classroom teaching methods of Will Schmid and Bob Morris and popular songs in a variety of styles, Essential Elements for Guitar is sure to become a staple of guitar teachers’ instruction – and get beginning guitar students off to a great start.

This method has been designed to meet the National Standards for Music Education, with features such as cross-curricular activities, quizzes, multicultural songs, basic improvisation and more. Available in both Level 1 and Level 2 books, and with LOTS of supplemental resources including flashcards, warm-ups, and song collections covering composers and artists from J.S. Bach to Disney Songs and Jimi Hendrix, and everyone in between!

Essential Elements for Ukulele
Playing the ukulele is an enjoyable, easy, and inexpensive way to get involved in music. It provides a way to learn musical concepts and skills that can apply to any instrument you decide to study. Moreover, it will give you a great opportunity to share the joy of making music with other people. This book will help to provide you with the basic skills and musical background you need to get started. The online audio contains demonstrations of all the songs and examples available for download or streaming using the access code printed inside the book. This carefully crafted method emphasizes chord strumming skills; teaching students HOW to practice; note reading exercises; “chord challenges” to learn how to figure out chord progressions; tab reading; and more.

Level 1 includes nearly 30 familiar songs that students can play while still learning, including: All My Loving, Home on the Range, Hound Dog, Jambalaya (On the Bayou), La Bamba, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Rainbow Connection, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and more! Level 2 is also available for continued musical development, and we expect additional supplemental resources to become available in the future, too!

Find more valuable resources for your music classroom on our website, or contact us for more recommendations! And don’t forget – shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Authors:
Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.

Alissa Ruth began working at Stanton’s in the summer of 2016. She is a former middle and high school choir director and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Capital University. She is an active choral singer in the Columbus area, and spends her free time running, doing yoga, cooking, and watching Netflix.

recommended by Barb M., Keyboard and Folk Music Specialist

Play your favorite songs quickly and easily with Hal Leonard’s Play-Along series! Just follow the tab or notation, listen to the audio to hear how your instrument should sound, and then play along using the separate backing tracks. The Cover Band Hits volume includes: “Cruise,” “Ex’s & Oh’s,” “Get Lucky,” “Nobody to Blame,” “Shut Up and Dance,” “Thinking Out Loud,” “Uptown Funk,” and “The Walker.”

The price of each book includes Audio Access to audio tracks online, for download or for streaming, using the unique code inside. Now including PLAYBACK+, a multi-functional audio player that allows you to slow down audio without changing pitch, set loop points, change keys, and pan left or right – great for practicing! “Cover Bands” has matching books for Guitar, Electric Bass, and Drum Set, so get your band together and “Play-Along!” Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Author:
Barb M. has worked in the Keyboard Department at Stanton’s since 1981. An active folk musician in the Columbus area, Barb also works with ensembles at her church and plays in the Columbus State Concert Band. In her spare time, Barb loves working with animals and computer games.

Stanton’s is pleased to welcome back Mary McDonald as our clinician for the August Church Choral Music reading session, and we invite you to join us at Overbrook Presbyterian Church (4131 N. High Street, Columbus OH 43214) on Saturday August 12, 2017.

Mary McDonald is well-known in sacred music. With a career that spans over thirty-five years, her songs appear in the catalogs of every major publisher of church music. More than eight hundred anthems, seasonal musicals and keyboard collections testify to her significant contribution to sacred literature.

In 2000, Mary became the first ever woman President of the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference. In addition she has served as accompanist for the Tennessee Men’s Chorale since 1985. Her greatest desire is “to give God glory for the songs He has allowed me to compose. He alone, is the true Creator behind my pen.”

In 2011, after serving as sacred music editor for The Lorenz Corporation in Dayton, Ohio for more than twenty years, Mary answered a new call. Now she takes her tremendous passion and love for music making directly to churches as an independent artist. She is in constant demand in churches across the nation for composer weekends and conferences.

Your registration for the clinic includes a packet of over 35 new choral anthems that are hand-picked from the hundreds published each year. We look forward to seeing you on August 12th for a wonderful morning of singing with one of the nation’s most sought after church music experts.

Sacred Choral Reading Session
Saturday 8/12/2017, 9:00 am-12:30 pm
Overbrook Presbyterian Church
4131 N. High Street, Columbus OH 43214
Cost: $25.00 (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 8/12/2017, 2:00 pm-4:30 pm
Stanton’s Sheet Music
330 S. Fourth Street, Columbus OH 43215
Cost: Free!
email our keyboard department for more details

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

recommended by Jen Sper and Alissa Ruth, School Choral and Classroom Music Specialists

School starts soon – are you ready?!? Let Stanton’s help you out, with some great new repertoire for your ensembles – today, here are our top choices for HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS:

FOR HIGH SCHOOL MIXED CHOIRS
And We Are the Dreamers of Dreams by Neil Ginsberg
Familiar words from Arthur O’Shaughnessy’s “Ode,” freely set with highly creative craftsmanship and expression, virtually dance off the page of this artful and unique musical interpretation. Equally effective in a single ensemble performance or a massed choir setting.

Safe With Me by Bryan Sharpe
“Though the sky is dark, though the stars in heaven can’t be seen, though the world is cold, you will be safe, safe with me.” Brilliant opportunities for teaching phrasing, dynamic contours, breath support, and general musicianship abound. The depth of beauty and sensitivity in this Bryan Sharpe original make it a stunning addition to any concert program.

I Have Loved the Stars Too Fondly by Heather Sorenson
Inspired by Sarah Williams’ poem, “The Old Astronomer,” this new concert work tells of the irony of life’s moments; of a life long lived through joy, sadness, longing, endurance, love and so many other lessons rolled into a vessel of musical inspiration. “The shadows give perspective on things already known; and the light, although familiar, was only mine on loan. I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” Optional cello included, this work is outstanding in text and music.

Old Joe Clark arr. Dan Davison
Davison’s arrangement of the famous American folk song was written to help mixed choirs of all abilities succeed. Throughout this arrangement, the tenor and bass parts are supported in other sections to help bolster their performance. With an exciting, rhythmic accompaniment, these very accessible vocal parts still provide a flashy ending making it a perfect program closer for any ensemble.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL TREBLE CHOIRS
Count the Stars by Andy Beck
A poignant original text combined with Latin phrases from the Requiem Mass lays the foundation for this tender song of remembrance. Contemporary cluster chords, beautifully sculpted phrases, and expressive dynamics leave the listener with a sense of awe and wonder.

O Clap Your Hands by Victor C. Johnson
Johnson’s dynamic setting of this text adapted from the Psalms is the perfect opening number for concert, festival or call to worship. The opening fanfare-like section is complemented by a contrasting, legato middle section before returning to the joyous opening statement which leads to an exhilarating conclusion, complete with handclaps.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL MEN’S CHOIRS
Love Do You Hear Me Sing? by Glenda E. Franklin
Based on the work of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Over the Land Is April,” the romantic and musical text is set here for young men’s voices. This a cappella and mostly homophonic arrangement sings in keys that fit both changed and unchanged voices with a lilting 3/4 time signature that creates vibrancy in the warm and lush writing.

Roll, Jordan, Roll arr. Ruth Morris Gray
A rhythmic piano accompaniment drives this well-crafted arrangement of the classic spiritual. Singers will love the crescendoing choral riff that connects the syncopated refrains to the call and response verses. A vibrant descant grows more and more soulful toward the end, bringing the piece to a climactic close!

Find more Stanton’s Signature Selections on our website, or contact us for personalized recommendations for YOUR ensemble! And remember – shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Authors:
Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.

Alissa Ruth began working at Stanton’s in the summer of 2016. She is a former middle and high school choir director and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Capital University. She is an active choral singer in the Columbus area, and spends her free time running, doing yoga, cooking, and watching Netflix.

recommended by Jen Sper and Alissa Ruth, School Choral Music Specialists

One of my favorite parts of going to music conventions (think ACDA, OMEA, and the like) is seeing the choral performances; not only are so many of the performing choirs fabulous, but their directors often have found creative repertoire choices that showcase the choirs’ skill sets in a memorable way. Additionally (though I’m sure you know this already) repertoire selection is one of the most important tasks that we choral directors take on, and I know we’re always looking for that next concert closer, or the perfect fit to the performance theme, or the next piece that will have the audience talking about it long after the performance is over.

Whether you are looking for a creative piece to incorporate in your choir’s repertoire for a conference performance, or just looking for something in a style that is a little more off the beaten path, we have found four pieces that stood out to us amidst the new compositions that we think could bring the house down for your concert.

Gaur Akelarre by Josu Elberdin
Spanish composer Josu Elberdin aims to write pieces that tell a story, and this is no exception. “Gaur Akelarre” tells the story of a coven of witches and warlocks preparing for the night, using energetic rhythms and interesting melodic leaps and harmonic passages. The piece begins in 5/8 time, and the use of both the non-traditional meter and dotted rhythms create a sense of instability in the listener, who cannot predict where the piece will go. The tongue-twisting text, liberal use of chromaticism, and use of dissonance and unexpected harmonic progressions makes this piece a showstopper.

Kaisa-isa Niyan by Nilo Alcala
Based on a popular children’s chant from the Southern Philippines, this fast, rhythmic piece from Los Angeles-based Filipino composer Nilo Alcala is sure to impress your audience. Challenging because of both rhythm and modality, the piece treats the voice in an almost “instrumental” fashion to start, establishing the tone of the piece with a driving ostinato pattern, contrasted by the soaring soprano line that follows. The piece concludes with rhythmic stomping, clapping, and shouting, making the piece even more unique.

Selene’s Boat by Don Macdonald
Using text by poet Allison Girvan, Don Macdonald’s new composition explores the power of the sea-wayfarer goddess “Selene” and her power to harness the moon’s influence over the tide. The atmospheric nature of the piece is established right away by the pitched percussion accompaniment, originally written for hapi or hang (though marimba, vibraphone, or harp would be excellent substitutes while maintaining the fantasy feel of the composition). The blurring of the rhythmic lines and breathy dissonances also create an ethereal, silvery tone, punctuated by the melody in the alto line.

Stone by Jacob Narverud & Ryan Main
I’m excited every time I see a Jacob Narverud piece cross my desk; he has done a great job of composing and arranging in a wide variety of styles and voicings and has done all of them well. Here, he and fellow American composer Ryan Main have set Robert Bode’s haiku in an “aggressive fusion of choral, electronica, and percussion forces which uses the latest digital sampling and non-traditional percussion effects (water gong, a combine disc blade, bowed crotales, stones, and scraped tam-tam).” The text painting is unmistakable here, as the fire and volcanoes are represented through the driving percussion accompaniment, accented rhythmic figures, and well-placed dissonances, and this would make an incredible opener or closer to your choir’s program.

We would love to hear your thoughts on these pieces, especially if you choose to perform them with your choir! For more information about these pieces and other recommendations, visit our website at www.stantons.com, email us at choral@stantons.com, or call 1.800.42.MUSIC, ext. 1.

About the Authors:
Alissa Ruth began working at Stanton’s in the summer of 2016. She is a former middle and high school choir director and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Capital University. She is an active choral singer in the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, as well as various choirs in the Columbus area, and she spends her free time running, doing yoga, cooking, and watching Netflix.

Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.

recommended by Barb M., Keyboard and Folk Music Specialist

Newly available in the Hal Leonard “Strum Together” series is the collection Celtic Songs. It is designed for five different instruments to play from together: soprano ukulele, baritone ukulele, guitar, mandolin and 5-string banjo (or any combination or number of those instruments). It contains seventy Celtic songs from the British Isles, including: “All Through the Night” from Wales, “Barbara Allen” from England, “The Blue Bells of Scotland” from Scotland, and “The Wild Colonial Boy” from Ireland. The melody line is included, so a fiddle could play along, too! Another couple of tricks – an Irish tenor banjo can play from the mandolin chords, and a tenor ukulele can play from the soprano uke chords, to bring more instruments in on the fun! This collection can provide hours of music for one person or many, so gather your friends and “Strum Together!” Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Author:
Barb M. has worked in the Keyboard Department at Stanton’s since 1981. An active folk musician in the Columbus area, Barb also works with ensembles at her church and plays in the Columbus State Concert Band. In her spare time, Barb loves working with animals and computer games.

Masterworks for Two
This outstanding collection features 10 classic songs for any combination of two voices and piano. Alfred Music’s top masterwork arrangers provide supportive accompaniments, well-crafted vocal lines, historically informed editorial markings, plus IPA pronunciation guides and complete translations for every piece in a foreign language. Superb recital, concert, and contest repertoire for developing singers.

Find more repertoire resources for young singers on our website, or contact us for more information. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

recommended by Jen Sper and Alissa Ruth, School Choral Music Specialists

#FLASHBACKFRIDAY
Looking for some quality throwback pieces for your choir? We’re here to help!

FOR HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS
It Had to Be You arr. Greg Gilpin
This classic, first published in 1924 and recorded by a wide variety of artists, is the perfect beginning-of-the-year jazz number for your SATB choir. It features accessible four part writing, a supportive piano accompaniment, and attainable (but still warm and colorful) jazz harmonies.

FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIRS
A Banana Split For My Baby arr. Rosana Eckert
This arrangement of the sweet Louis Prima tune presents the perfect opportunity to introduce and develop the vocal jazz style. The voice-leading has been approached with care, the ranges lie in a comfortable place, both melody and harmony are accessible for young singers, and there is a good blend of unison and part-writing. If you have a young show choir, this would be a fun piece to start off the year!

FOR MEN’S CHOIRS
It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me arr. Paul Langford
This Billy Joel piece, considered a rock and roll classic, transfers quite effectively into the choral medium. The feel of the piece is authentic to the original, and it keeps the high energy that the piece is known for. Often in men’s voicings, we’ve found that the melodies can be lost or obscured in the part writing, but that hasn’t happened here, and because of that, in addition to the nice blend of part writing and unison, this piece is one with which your men’s choir can find success.

FOR ELEMENTARY CHOIRS
We’ll Meet Again arr. Roger Emerson
This charming WWII era piece (recently featured on the last broadcast of the Colbert Report) would make an effective concert closer for your young choir. It utilizes appropriately light, bright ranges, primarily homophonic writing, and the sentiment is lovely (not to mention it provides the perfect opportunity for a little soft shoe).

For more information about these pieces, as well as other recommendations, visit our website or contact the Stanton’s Choral Department at 1-800-42-MUSIC, Ext. 1, or choral@stantons.com. We are excited to help with all of your sheet music needs!

About the Authors:
Alissa Ruth began working at Stanton’s in the summer of 2016. She is a former middle and high school choir director and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Capital University. She is an active choral singer in the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, as well as various choirs in the Columbus area, and she spends her free time running, doing yoga, cooking, and watching Netflix.

Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.

by Alissa Ruth, Choral Specialist

Dan Forrest (b. 1978) has been described as having “an undoubted gift for writing beautiful music….that is truly magical” (NY Concert Review), with works hailed as “magnificent, very cleverly constructed sound sculpture” (Classical Voice), and “superb writing…full of spine-tingling moments” (Salt Lake Tribune). In the last decade, Dan’s music has become well established in the repertoire of choirs in the U.S. and abroad, through both smaller works and his major works Requiem for the Living and Jubilate Deo. Dan’s music has received dozens of awards and distinctions, with premieres in major venues around the world. Dan holds graduate degrees in composition and piano performance, and is active as a composer, educator, and pianist.

Dan’s career and compositions are framed by his belief that “All good things, including any beauty that we encounter, are from God, through God, and ultimately to God. All beauty is God’s beauty, wherever it is found.”

The music of Dan Forrest is available through Stanton’s from several publishers, including: Beckenhorst Press, Hal Leonard, Lorenz, and Hinshaw. For more information about Dan Forrest and his music, please visit his website.

Stanton’s Recommends: Good Night Dear Heart, O Come All Ye Faithful, See Amid the Winter’s Snow, The Work of Christmas, Psalm 8

About the Author:
Alissa Ruth began working at Stanton’s in the summer of 2016. She is a former middle and high school choir director and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Capital University. She is an active choral singer in the Columbus area, and spends her free time running, doing yoga, cooking, and watching Netflix.

Featuring talented clinicians from major publishers, Stanton’s summer choral clinics are a fantastic way to jump-start your school year! We always look forward to visiting with our regular customers, matching up faces with names of new attendees, and meeting teachers new to Stanton’s from across the country.

Mark your calendar for these dates:

	Elementary General Music Clinic Wednesday August 2, 2017 Clinician: Sharon Burch
	THE JOY OF SINGING for Young & Developing Choir Thursday August 3, 2017 Clinicians: John Jacobson, Cristi Cary Miller & Rollo Dilworth for Middle & High School Choir Friday August 4, 2017 Clinicians: John Jacobson, Cristi Cary Miller, Rollo Dilworth & Mac Huff
	Stanton’s Super Session Saturday August 5, 2017 Clinicians: Andy Beck, Greg Gilpin & Jen Sper

Registration is open now! For more detailed information regarding any of these clinics, contact the choral department at 1-800-426-8742, extension 1. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

recommended by Ken Tilger, Band Education Specialist

Among the new marching band releases each year are arrangements that just stand out.  You can tell just by hearing them that they will be best-sellers and hits with your students because of the great arrangement, popularity of the song, or both.  In case you overlooked them, I’m happy to share our favorite new marching band charts so you can snag them just before the season begins.  For Vol. 1 of our favorites check out yesterday’s post.

That’s My Girl arr. Tom Wallace
With its brassy horn licks, funky rhythms and roaring bass, That’s My Girl by the group Fifth Harmony, gives dance lines and bands the necessary ingredients they need to produce an exciting and entertaining performance.

Faith arr. Paul Murtha & Will Rapp
From the entertaining blockbuster animated film Sing, this driving rock tune was recorded by the legendary Stevie Wonder and featuring Ariana Grande. Just try sitting still for this one!

Can’t Stop the Feeling arr. Paul Murtha
Justin Timerlake has taken the pop world by storm with the release of this chart topping mega hit! With an infectious groove and catchy riffs this arrangement will add a contemporary flair on the field or in the stands.

Bang Bang arr. Tom Wallace
Bang Bang is the latest hit from the new album by venerable punk rock band Green Day. Aggressive power chords and chaotic musical stylings deliver the goods as a powerful and convincing opener. The furious nature of the verse and chorus is contrasted with an Arabic sounding bridge, providing a quick and surprising musical twist, all of which is amazingly captured in this Tom Wallace chart.

Find more exciting charts for the upcoming marching season on our website, or contact us for more recommendations! Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Author:
A former band director, Ken taught grade 5-12 band and music appreciation in both public and parochial schools in central Ohio, and joined the Stanton’s team in 2004. His iPod ranges from jazz and funk to classic and alternative rock, and symphonies.  Besides music, he geeks out on comic books, amusement parks, hockey (especially the Penguins), and all things Pittsburgh.

recommended by Ken Tilger, Band Education Specialist

Among the new marching band releases each year are arrangements that just stand out.  You can tell just by hearing them that they will be best-sellers and hits with your students because of the great arrangement, popularity of the song, or both.  In case you overlooked these, I’m happy to share our favorite new marching band charts over the next 2 days so you can snag them just before the season begins.

24K Magic arr. Tom Wallace
Bruno Mars’ hit song, 24K Magic, covers all the bases. Heavily influenced by the styles of the ‘70s and ‘80s, this is a retro funk, disco, R&B sensation. There is something here for everyone, especially dance lines, and bands that are looking to grab some attention in the stands.

HandClap arr. Paul Murtha
Recorded by Fitz and the Tantrums, you’ll hear this catchy tune used in TV commercials as well as on the airwaves. This energetic chart is a great way to get the crowd involved with the signature hand clapping section.

Chained To the Rhythm arr. Jay Dawson
Debuting at the 2017 Grammy’s, Katy Perry’s thought provoking release became an instant international hit.  With latin/disco rhythms this is a perfect choice to perform with your dance line, or as a crowd-pleasing pep band chart.

Starboy arr. Ishbah Cox
Recorded by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, here is an energetic stands tune that skillfully passes the melody from section to section.

Find more exciting charts for the upcoming marching season on our website, or contact us for more recommendations! Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Author:
A former band director, Ken taught grade 5-12 band and music appreciation in both public and parochial schools in central Ohio, and joined the Stanton’s team in 2004. His iPod ranges from jazz and funk to classic and alternative rock, and symphonies.  Besides music, he geeks out on comic books, amusement parks, hockey (especially the Penguins), and all things Pittsburgh.

Stanton’s Sheet Music is pleased to announce our 24th annual Excellence in Choral Literature Clinic!

EXCELLENCE IN CHORAL LITERATURE
Saturday 8/26/2017, 9:00 am-12:30 pm
Stanton’s Sheet Music, James E. Strouse Workshop Hall, 330 S. Fourth Street, Columbus OH 43215
REGISTRATION: $20

This session, led by James Gallagher (Professor Emeritus at The Ohio State University), is 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. Your 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 contact us by email, or call us at 1.800.426.8742. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

recommended by Jen Sper and Alissa Ruth, School Choral and Classroom Music Specialists

The Music Show by John Jacobson & Roger Emerson

“Join your favorite animated characters led by the famous Luigi’s Baton and his side-kick Mike the Microphone, as they introduce young music students to the ‘FUN’damentals of music, with emphasis on the fun! With the help of their friends Cadence the Drummer and Fret the Guitar, children will love learning about beat, rhythm, tempo, melody and so much more.”

This video series (with lesson plan guides included) is a resource that we feel will be useful for reinforcing concepts which you have introduced to your students. Intended for introducing/practicing elements such as steady beat, rhythm, and high/low, lessons include objectives, materials, vocabulary, suggested lessons, and assessments, making this accessible for you and your students. This would also be a helpful resource if you have a substitute teacher who is a musician as well.

The following are included in this all-in-one format:

– Full color digital lessons with embedded video episodes for instant viewing
– Projectable and reproducible song charts with lyrics and embedded audio
– Activity visuals to reinforce music concepts
– Quality lesson plans

All of the projectable content is included via digital access and viewed in your browser, so there is no need for special software. Just download the files onto your computer and you’re ready to go! Performance and accompaniment audio recordings are also available in a separate folder via download for performance options.

Songs include: The Beat Is the Heart of Music; I’ve Got Rhythm, How ‘Bout You? Take a Rest; We’re Gonna Sing High, Low and in the Middle; Presto Is Fast, Largo Is Slow; Lines and Spaces Baby! Suggested for grades 1-3.

For more information about this and other classroom recommendations, visit us at stantons.com, call us at 1.800.42.MUSIC ext.1, or email us at choral@stantons.com. We look forward to working with you!

About the Authors:
Alissa Ruth began working at Stanton’s in the summer of 2016. She is a former middle and high school choir director and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Capital University. She is an active choral singer in the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, as well as various choirs in the Columbus area, and she spends her free time running, doing yoga, cooking, and watching Netflix.

Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.

recommended by Jen Sper, School Choral Music Specialist

All Together, SING! by Lon Beery
A new skill building resource developed by Lon Beery, “All Together, Sing!” is invaluable to choral teachers working with changing voices. It provides multiple opportunities to both match pitch and develop the singing independence required for maintaining multiple parts. Grouped by age from younger to older, partner songs in various keys accommodate fluctuating vocal ranges. Voice testing models and other helpful teaching strategies are also included.

Find more choral resources on our website, or contact us for more information – and remember, shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Author:
Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.