From the Classroom to the Choral Ensemble Monday, February 10, 2020
recommended by Jen Sper and Lora Moore, School Choral and Classroom Music Specialists
Looking for ideas to help your students transition from the general music classroom to singing in a choral ensemble? These octavos feature interesting accompaniments with everything from hand drums, Orff instruments, woodwind accompaniments, and even street bucket drums! Here are our best recommendations for your beginning singers who are ready to sing choral music from unison into 2 independent parts!
Thunder Drums (Sounds of Nature) by Roger Emerson, 2-part with piano and bucket drums
Originating from the busking scene in cities across the nation in the 1980s, street “bucket” drumming has become inseparable from the modern-day music teacher catalog due to its reliance on found materials, overabundance of plastic and coolness factor. Paired here with choir, this arrangement seamlessly blends the two disciplines into a rock anthem with style!
Nanuma arr. Audrey Snyder, 3-part mixed with piano
Based on a folk song from Ghana, additional melodies and harmonies are added to make this a stylish, swing anthem. This is a happy song of welcome and will make a wonderful, upbeat opener to your concert.
Sunset (The River Sleeps Beneath the Sky) by Mary Donnelly & George L.O. Strid, 2-part with piano and optional flute, glockenspiel & bass metallophone
With parts for Orff instruments (glockenspiel and bass metallophone) and flute, here is a beautiful and thoughtful setting of the Paul Laurence Dunbar poem. Unison voices anchor the beginning of the song followed by two-part part writing that allows for vocal independence. This is a wonderful vehicle for your students to discover dynamic contrasts, beautiful word painting and a chance to discover one of America’s earliest and most important African-American poets.
Contact us for suggestions to help transition your singers from classroom music to ensemble singing, and 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.
Lora Moore joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2018. A former middle school and high school director of 32 years, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Choral Music from Capital University and a Master’s of Arts in Choral Music from The Ohio State University. Currently she is a church choir director, operates a private voice/piano studio and is active as a clinician and accompanist. During the off hours, Lora enjoys scouting out new day trips in Ohio to balance what her budget allows for her frequent trips to New York City to visit family and take in a Broadway show or two!