Creative Programming: For Middle School Boys Wednesday, April 15, 2020
recommended by Jen Sper and Lora Moore, School Choral Music Specialists
Build skills and confidence in your changing voices with these new octavos – keep those boys singing!
Life Is a Highway arr. Cristi Cary Miller, TB with piano
Here’s a Tom Cochrane hit from 1991 which gained renewed popularity in the Disney Pixar film “Cars.” This upbeat driving rock song reminds us all to do the best we can at all times. This wonderful new arrangement with positive lyrics can become a theme song for your young musicians and a reminder to the audience to do their best to make this world a better place.
Take Me Home, Country Roads arr. Roger Emerson, TB with piano
John Denver’s enduring and classic ode to West Virginia. This signature song and official state anthem continues to be one of Denver’s best-selling recordings nearly 50 years on. Deftly set by Roger Emerson to develop and emphasize young men’s harmonization and melodic independence skills.
Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel? arr. Greg Gilpin, TB with piano
This energetic spiritual is now available in a NEW TB voicing, perfect for developing men’s choirs. Driving piano accompaniment helps create a rousing performance with many dynamic and rhythmic twists and turns setting this spiritual on fire!
In the Still of the Night arr. Roger Emerson, TB with piano
Here is a classic 1950s “Doo Wop” song masterfully arranged for middle level singers. Young men will embrace this classic style and your audience will smile as your young singers bring this classic style to life. Stylistic notes are offered by the arranger encouraging the singers to have fun while growing as musicians.
Eldorado by Glenda E. Franklin, TB with piano
Take your men on an adventure to the lost city of gold in an energetic concert/festival original that follows the story of a gallant knight who is unyielding in his search for the legendary treasured city. With words penned by Edgar Allan Poe, young and developing male choirs will excel and feel success as they enjoy this rousing quest.
Way Hey – Let’s Go! by Jake Averitt, Unison/2-part unchanged tenor voices with piano
Written with unchanged/developing male voices in mind, “Way Hey – Let’s Go” features a limited vocal range of a sixth and predictable form, and is very appealing to emerging tenor-bass singers. Most of the piece uses a single melody that can be used to develop strong unison singing, making it a programming must!
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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!