News & Views Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Downton Abbey aired in September of 2010 in the United Kingdom. It  aired in the United States only a few months later  in January of 2011.  By the third season, it hasbecome one of the most widely watched television series in the world.  The music played in the series finally made it  “across the pond”  in March of 2013.

Published by Hal Leonard in two levels  of piano sheet music, the original music by John Lunn is available in both intermediate/advanced level and easy level.  If you love hearing the music, you’ll love playing it.  For more information about this or other piano music from TV or films, please call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com or visit our website at www.stantons.com.  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs.

Does your youngster get excited about hearing music, or “reading” along with you?  Here are four picture books,  each including a CD that goes along with the book.  The books have heavy card stock pages with colorful illustrations.  Each page has a corresponding song on its CD.  The players in the  jazz band recording are some of New York City’s hottest young jazz players.

“Duck Ellington Swings Through the Zoo” is about Duck going to the zoo to relieve the boredom of the zoo animals with his jazz piano.  Things certainly liven up!  “Charlie Bird Counts to the Beat” tells the story of Charlie Bird playing his sax and counting up to ten.  Three Happy Hippos playing harmonicas never sounded so good!  “Mingus Mouse Plays Christmastime Jazz” is about Mingus Mouse, who, upon arriving at home for Christmas, realizes he hasn’t brought a present for his mom.  After a little brainstorming, he solves the problem.  (Sorry. You have to read the book.)

In “Nursery Rhyme Jazz“, we meet the main jazz characters, which include Ella the Elephant and a few more we haven’t mentioned, yet.  You have never heard nursery rhymes quite like this!  Delight your little one(s) with one or more of these wonderful books.  For more information about these, or other children’s books or songbooks, please contact us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website, www.stantons.com.  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

For piano teachers and parents of piano students, Stanton’s Sheet Music is a rich source of materials for lessons and music for fun.  We stock many of the current piano method series, such as Piano Adventures by the Fabers, Piano Town by Keith Snell, the Premier Piano Course from Alfred Publishing, and more.  We stock favorite series some of us grew up with, such as Thompson’s Modern Course, the Schaum Pre-A Book and the following books, and Aaron’s Piano Course.

Sheet music like “Somewhere in Time”, ”Ashokan Farewell”, “Bumble Boogie”, “You Raise Me Up”, and other songs are available in easy piano versions and in intermediate to advanced versions.  Books of popular songs and tunes are available.  The “Twilight” series of movies is available on different levels, as are the “Pirates of the Carribean” series.  The “Star Wars” piano solo books are favorites on any level, as are the Harry Potter collections of sheet music.  The Disney collections are very popular. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Investigate our website, www.stantons.com, call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, or email us at keyboard@stantons.com to find out more!

The soundtracks from our favorite movies and TV shows offer a wealth of great music that can “walk the line” between pop and classical. Choose one of these great arrangements recommended by Stanton’s band department:

Music from Brave
arr. Michael Sweeney, Grade 1.5
Here are the main themes from the popular Disney/Pixar movie Brave in a concise and easy to learn setting for very young players. Sure to sound great with limited rehearsal time.

Highlights from Brave
arr. Sean O’Loughlin, Grade 3
Featuring a marvelous blend of Celtic-flavored themes, Patrick Doyle’s soundtrack from the blockbuster Disney/Pixar film Brave ranges in mood from haunting and lyrical, to powerful and majestic.

Dark Shadows
Danny Elfman, arr. Victor Lopez, Grade 2.5
Director Tim Burton brings the cult classic series Dark Shadows to the big screen. A great opportunity to introduce cinematic soundtrack, this medley certainly depicts the intensity of Danny Elfman’s original score.

Game of Thrones
arr. Michael Brown, Grade 2
The dark and dramatic theme from the popular HBO series Game of Thrones is one of the most distinctive and effective themes for TV or film to come along in several years. Arranged in a powerful setting for young bands, this is sure to be a hit with your students.

Highlights from How to Train Your Dragon
John Powell, arr. Johnnie Vinson, Grade 2
Composed by John Powell, the exciting and emotionally powerful music from the DreamWorks film How to Train Your Dragon has taken on a life of its own. Here is an adaptation for younger bands by Johnnie Vinson that includes the tender lyricism as well as dramatic heroic moments of the original.

James Horner Movie Magic
arr. Michael Brown, Grade 3
James Horner has written some of the most memorable and striking movie themes of the past 30 years, and Michael Brown has assembled several of them in this stunning medley – “The Bioluminescence of the Night” (from Avatar), “Southampton” (from Titanic), “The Plaza of Execution” (from The Mask of Zorro), Rocketeer Main Theme, and Theme from Field of Dreams.

Skyfall
arr. Jay Bocook, Grade 3
The theme to the latest James Bond movie, Skyfall was co-written and performed by popular British singer-songwriter, Adele, and won both the Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Faithful to the original, Jay Bocook’s arrangement for band is sure to spark your students, and be a hit with your audience!

For more great suggestions for your concert band, contact Stanton’s band department. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

The Bluegrass Songbook is full of 51 classic Bluegrass songs, from “The Ballad of Jed Clampett” (Beverly Hillbillies theme), to “The Wabash Cannonball“.  The words, piano part, and guitar chords are all there for each song in this book of sheet music. The lovely song, “The Long Black Veil”  is included, as is the encouraging song “Keep On the Sunny Side“.   This is  a great songbook for a singalong or jam session. For more information about this collection of Bluegrass songs or others, please contact us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website.  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

This group of books from Hal Leonard’s Essential Elements Guitar Ensembles is perfect for your guitar class, beginning at the mid-beginner level, and going up to the mid intermediate level. As long as all three parts are covered, any number of players can participate. These are great fun if you have 2 more guitar buddies who want to play ensembles, too.

Each book includes the score with all three parts, and has 14-15 songs per book.  Each book of sheet music costs $9.99, so each trio costs only sixty- six cents!  There is a melody part, a harmony part, and a bass line written for the regular six string guitar.  There are several styles of music to choose from:  pop, rock, jazz, and even Disney!

If you would like to know more about these or any other sheet music we have, feel free to contact us at 1-800.42-MUSIC or at keyboard@stantons.com.

Want to be a hero to your students this spring?
Program one of these exciting arrangements featuring some of our favorite “good guys.” They are sure to engage your students, delight your audiences and still offer the educational elements and challenges that are important for strengthening your musicians!

The Avengers
Alan Silvestri, arr. Michael Brown
Grade 3
Marvel’s “The Avengers” are here and more popular (and powerful) than ever! Alan Silvestri’s main theme perfectly portrays the drama and grit of the film, and Michael Brown skillfully brings this energy and excitement to the concert stage.
Avengers Assemble!

The Dark Knight Rises
Hans Zimmer, arr. Ralph Ford
Grade 3.5
Poignant with bold striking musical punctuation, this comprehensive medley recreates chilling musical moments from the intense finale to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Includes “Rise,” “On Thin Ice,” and “Imagine the Fire.”

Selections from Batman: Arkham City
arr. Michael Story
Grade 2
From the acclaimed video game soundtrack, Batman: Arkham City includes three prominent, yet contrasting themes. This through-played medley is certain to energize players and audiences alike. Game on!

For more quality, pop arrangements for your concert band, check our previous blogs with Music of Adele, Music from the Hunger Games, and Modern Pop Hit for Concert Band. Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

No pop artist is currently more universally popular or successful than Adele.  Her second studio album, 21, was the biggest selling musical release for both 2011 and 2012.  It featured three #1 hits, spent 24 weeks at #1 in the U.S. – the first album to do so since 1985, and has sold over 26 million copies through 2012!  The #1 single Rolling in the Deep is the fourth song in history to win Grammy awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year in the same year, and with over 7,600,000 copies sold, it is the highest selling digital song by a female artist in the U.S., and the second-highest overall.  Add to that an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for Skyfall, the latest James Bond movie theme which she both co-wrote and performed, and you have an artist riding the crest of success.  There are several Adele hits available for concert band that are perfect for spring concert programming and community bands, and are sure to be a hit with your students and audience!

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs.

Adele in Concert
arr. Michael Brown
Grade 3
Certified Diamond with over 10 million copies sold, Adele’s second studio release 21, topped the charts in 30 countries, including spending 24 weeks at #1 in the U.S. – the first album to do so since 1985!  Michael Brown’s great-sounding arrangement features all three #1 singles from the album: Rolling in the Deep, Someone Like You, and Set Fire to the Rain.

Rolling in the Deep
arr. Robert Longfield – Grade 1.5
arr. James Kazik – Grade 2
Winning 3 Grammy awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video, hit single Rolling in the Deep from the album 21 by Adele is the biggest crossover hit in the U.S. from the past 25 years!  Spending 65 weeks on the charts, your students will love the opportunity to play this hit that Adele describes as a “dark, bluesy gospel disco tune.”

Skyfall
arr. Jay Bocook
Grade 3
The theme to the latest James Bond movie, Skyfall was co-written and performed by popular British singer-songwriter, Adele.  Featuring musical characteristics of previous Bond movie themes with hints of THE James Bond Theme thrown in for good measure, Skyfall won both an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.  Faithful to the original, Jay Bocook’s arrangement for band is sure to spark your students, and be a hit with your audience!

“The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey“, which was released in December of 2012, is still playing in some theaters around town.  The music, composed by Howard Shore, is still playing on CD players in living rooms around town.  Some of us are still sort of humming parts of “Misty Mountains” or “Song of the Lonely Mountain“, the music for both written by a team; Finn, Donaldson, Long, Roche and Roddick.  This movie, the first of three parts, is based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s book, which he wrote in 1937.  Obviously, the tale of Bilbo Baggins and friends is an enduring one.  This new music, composed to help tell an old tale, will endure, as well.  “Misty Mountains”, a poem written by Tolkien for the book, is given melody for perhaps the first time.  “An Unexpected Party” is properly bright and merry.  “Dreaming of Bag End” sounds so longing, just like feeling homesick.  These and other pieces from the movie have been written on three levels; intermediate to advanced, easy, and big note (just one step easier than “easy”).  Now is the time to get these lovely melodies under your fingers!  For more information about these books of movie sheet music, or other movie selections, please call 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or check out our website at www.stantons.com

Stay tuned for “The Desolation of Smaug”. ( Due out in December of 2013.) We saw Smaug open one eye after the thrush “knocked three times.” What musical treats will there be for us in the next installment?  Smaug has to have his own theme!  Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

As musicians, we get started early.  So March first isn’t too early to get ready for Saint Patrick’s Day on the 17th.  One book we have to offer is for easy piano, “Ireland’s Best Loved Songs and Ballads“.  It has twenty Irish songs in it, including the perrenial favorite  ”Danny Boy”.  A book in piano/vocal/guitar format is  ”Irish Ballads“, fifty-five songs including “Danny Boy”, “Carrickfergus”,  and   “The Minstrel Boy” .  “The Irish Songbook“  is a collection of seventy-five songs, collected and made popular by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, a well-known Irish band.  It includes the lovely  song “Eileen Aroon”, the silly song “Mr. Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay” , the sailor’s song  ”Paddy Doyle’s Boots” , the war  protest song “The Lowlands of Holland”, love songs, and many more.  For more information on these Irish song books or other songbooks you may be interested in, call 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website at www.stantons.com

Drumset is something that is much easier to figure out by seeing or hearing than just by reading.  “The Drumset Style Resource“  book by Pete Sweeney teaches styles from hip-hop to jazz.  The accompanying CD lets you hear the examples.  Each of the ten chapters gives  an overview of each style.  Narada Michael Walden’s “Out of Time“  DVD demonstrates his different styles of drumming in odd meter, and includes some play-along audio.  Check out the link for more about this DVD from this Grammy Award winning performer.   “The Brush Secret” by Florian Alexandru-Zorn shows “how to apply your own voice to the brushes.”  The material presented in this DVD is appropriate for beginners and advanced players.  Information presented includes how to use the right equipment and how to apply brush styles to genres like Funk, Jazz or Reggae.  For more about these products , or other drumset material, please call 1-800-42-MUSIC, see our website at www.stantons.com, or email us at   keyboard@stantons.com.

This new DVD by Daniel Glass, “The Century Project“,  takes  you on  a journey through 100 years of history of the drum set.  From its inception just after the Civil War, (1865), to the British Invasion, (1965), Daniel Glass explains the evolution of the drum set and how we play it.  Eleven vintage drum sets are shown, and Daniel Glass demonstrates a variey of classic styles and techniques.  There are threee hours of material on this DVD.

In a different DVD set,  Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste,  the Originator of the New Orleans Funky Drumming, presents his life, his legend, and his funky style.  A master of his craft, “Zigaboo”  features a documentary and instruction with an all-star band.  If you have been interested in New Orleans funky style drum set playing, these 2 DVDs will get you going!

For more information about these DVDs or other drum set instruction or music, call 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantonscom, or see our website at www.stantons.com.

For piano teachers and parents of piano students, Stanton’s Sheet Music is a rich source of materials for lessons and music for fun.  We stock many of the current piano method series, such as Piano Adventures by the Fabers, Piano Town by Keith Snell, the Premier Piano Course from Alfred Publishing, and more.  We stock favorite series some of us grew up with, such as Thompson’s Modern Course, the Schaum Pre-A Book and the following books, and Aaron’s Piano Course.

Sheet music like “Somewhere in Time”, ”Ashokan Farewell”, “Bumble Boogie”, “You Raise Me Up”, and other songs are available in easy piano versions and in intermediate to advanced versions.  Books of popular songs and tunes are available.  The “Twilight” series of movies is available on different levels, as are the “Pirates of the Carribean” series.  The “Star Wars” piano solo books are favorites on any level, as are the Harry Potter collections of sheet music.  The Disney collections are very popular.

Investigate our website, www.stantons.com, call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, or email us at keyboard@stantons.com to find out more!

Does your youngster get excited about hearing music, or “reading” along with you?  Here are four picture books,  each including a CD that goes along with the book.  The books have heavy card stock pages with colorful illustrations.  Each page has a corresponding song on its CD.  The players in the  jazz band recording are some of New York City’s hottest young jazz players. ”Duck Ellington Swings Through the Zoo” is about Duck going to the zoo to relieve the boredom of the zoo animals with his jazz piano.  Things certainly liven up!  “Charlie Bird Counts to the Beat” tells the story of Charlie Bird playing his sax and counting up to ten.  Three Happy Hippos playing harmonicas never sounded so good!  “Mingus Mouse Plays Christmastime Jazz” is about Mingus Mouse, who, upon arriving at home for Christmas, realizes he hasn’t brought a present for his mom.  After a little brainstorming, he solves the problem.  (Sorry. You have to read the book.)  In “Nursery Rhyme Jazz“, we meet the main jazz characters, which include Ella the Elephant and a few more we haven’t mentioned, yet.  You have never heard nursery rhymes quite like this!  Delight your little one(s) with one or more of these wonderful books.  For more information about these, or other children’s books or songbooks, please contact us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website, www.stantons.com

According to the Contemporary A Cappella Society, “contemporary a cappella” is a moniker used to describe the idiom of popular a cappella (voices only – no instruments) that arose during the mid- to late 1980s, and now spans a wide variety of styles including rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop, country, jazz, etc.  Here are just a few of the newest publications from master a cappella arranger Deke Sharon:

Double platinum and Grammy nominated, this a cappella arrangement of Beyonce’s epic pop power ballad Halo features interwoven polyrhythmic vocal textures and a powerful soprano solo. Optional body percussion (stomps and claps) notated.

Holding Out for a Hero, the #1 song from the “Footloose” soundtrack sung by Bonnie Tyler, was one of the biggest songs of the 1980′s. Bombastic and fun, it’s a great feature for a female soloist, and makes a great show closer or encore.

Originally performed by Maxx Factor on “The Sing Off” season one, Love Story is sweet, warm and easy to sing yet full and rich. The melody is in the soprano 2 part with duet and trio lines throughout.

Take a rock and roll hajj back to the psychedelic 60′s on Steppenwolf’s Magic Carpet Ride. Packed with energy, this arrangement makes for a great show opener, closer or encore.

Perhaps the most iconic song of the 80′s, Thriller is finally available as an a cappella arrangement! Rhythmic, full, fun to sing, yet not too complex so your singers will be able to tackle a few signature dance moves while they sing. Zombies optional.

Check out our website for more titles in the Contemporary A Cappella series, and contact us for further repertoire suggestions!

Stanton’s Sheet Music suggests that you make your students the stars this spring with some of these great popular music choices for women’s and men’s choirs.  Whether you’re looking for current pop, an inspirational ballad or a Broadway showstopper, we’ll help you find the perfect choice for your ensemble!

The English singer/songwriter Adele’s second album, “21,” has enjoyed enormous critical acclaim, with reviewers lauding her multi-Grammy-winning vocal performance and introspective songwriting. Four smash hits are included in the ten-minute medley Adele: Songs from the Album 21, including: “Rolling In the Deep;” “Rumour Has It;” “Set Fire to the Rain” and “Someone Like You.”  A great feature for treble ensembles!

From Season 3 of “Glee,” the soulful cover of the hit song Shake It Out by Florence + the Machine provided a dramatic and inspirational moment for the girls of New Directions. Simple acoustic accompaniment and expressive vocal harmonies make this setting a super choice for women’s ensembles!

Celebrate 50 years of James Bond 007 – and the release of the movie “Skyfall” – with the fabulously recognizable James Bond Theme, originally premiered in the film “Dr. No.” Men’s choirs can now enjoy these exciting rhythms, marvelous melodies, and snazzy harmonies!

The layered wordless accompaniment provides a steady and soulful underlay for the sweet pop melody and lyrics of the Bruno Mars chart-topper Just the Way You Are. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Prom, Spring Concert or any romantic occasion!

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