News & Views Saturday, December 21, 2024

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral & Classroom Music Specialists

Gnome for the Holidays! by John Jacobson & Walter Jack
Gnomes to the rescue in a spectacular holiday musical! When Christmas is in jeopardy, John Jacobson’s fun-filled cast of funny gnomes comes to the rescue while telling silly jokes and causing a ruckus. Captivate your audience with a magical story of believing in the unseen and the power of music! Ideal for your winter season, this new musical is sure to bring a smile to every audience!

Star Bucks! The Musical by John Jacobson & Walter Jack
Santa is preparing for his annual trip around the world, led by Rudolph and the other reindeer. But wait – Rudolph is so stressed out that his nose will not shine. He needs a sabbatical! But who can take his place? Santa hosts a musical competition (aka “Dancing with the Stars”) to find out who will have the chance to be the next Star Buck and lead the sleigh. This wonderful holiday feature will be a hit with your audience. 40 minutes.

Santa Songs (9 Jolly Jingles for Unison or 2-part Voices) by Andy Beck, Kirby Shaw, Lois Brownsey & Marti Lunn Lantz, Alan Billingsley, Jay Althouse, & Chuck Bridwell
Grab your Santa hats, tune up those festive singing voices, and let’s celebrate the man with the bag! “Santa Songs” is a collection of showstoppers featuring Santa Claus at the center of it all. Perfect for young choristers and developing carolers, this delightful songbook is packed with holiday cheer. Whether you’re performing in the classroom, at a school assembly, a holiday concert, or spreading joy throughout your community, “Santa Songs” delivers a gift of musical merriment that’ll make the North Pole proud! Choose just your favorites or sing ’em all. Easily adapts into a staged musical or complete program. Titles include: “Be a Santa Medley,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Jolly Old Saint Nick!,” “S.A.N.T.A. (Disco Santa),” “Santa, Bring Me Snow,” “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Santa Mash-Up,” “There Is a Santa Claus (from Elf),” and “’Zat You, Santa Claus?”

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

So You Want to Be a Music Major: A Guide for High School Students, Their Parents, Guidance Counselors, and Music Teachers by Robert Franzblau
This book details the fundamental knowledge, skills, and attitudes that prospective music majors need in order to make a successful transition from high school to college. Specific exercises are offered, along with supporting online resources. It also suggests steps that parents, high school guidance counselors, and music teachers can take to identify, encourage, and guide future musicians and music educators.

Majoring in Music: All the Stuff You Need to Know by Rich Holly
Highlights the major components for survival and success during the formative years in a college, university or conservatory and provides examples and strategies to greatly assist the student musician. With no-nonsense advice and practical tips, this guide will prepare music students (and their parents!) to meet the many challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities afforded them during the glorious college years.

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Don’t miss these favorite selections featured on the Stanton’s Reading Session at the 2024 String Teacher Workshop at Ohio State University. The workshop runs from Sunday July 7-Saturday July 13 and is available in TWO formats: IN-PERSON or ONLINE ONLY. Find out more at music.osu.edu/outreach/osu-stw.

The Golden Gateway by Brian Balmages, Grade 3.5
Celebrate music and its ability to connect with communities around us! This joyful work by Brian Balmages is a powerful reminder of the many ways music inspires and invigorates. Beginning with a beautiful, heartfelt introduction, “The Golden Gateway” soon takes off in exuberant twists and turns before coming to a heroic conclusion.

Shiver by Randall Standridge, Grade 0.5
Whether you are shivering from cold or shivering from fright this work for very beginning orchestras is sure to set the mood of your next Winter or Fall Concert. Using only 6 notes Randall Standridge has creatively designed a piece that reaches students at their skill level while letting them experiment with the fun technique of tremolo!

The Flow of the Tide by Yukiko Nishimura, Grade 3
“The Flow of the Tide” by Yukiko Nishimura captures the feel of a flowing tide, mainly represented through the melodic line. Layers of harmony give the feeling of the tide’s ebb and flow, the splashing spray, and the sea’s changing colors. In addition to the feel of the waves, there is also a contrasting brightness and tenderness. Your orchestra will fall in love with the many moods of this stunning work.

(De)composition by Caryn Wiegand Neidhold, Grade 2
The music is falling apart! Or is it? This creepy-crawly composition starts deep underground in the cello and bass sections with an ominous theme, soon joined by the creaking, scratching, and screeching of unearthly noises from the rest of the zombie orchestra. Skittering fingertips, scratchy ponticello, and eerie glissandi are just a few of the fun extended techniques players will encounter in this scary venture into the dissonance of music – decomposingg!

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recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists

In Search of Inspiration: Interviews with Notable Choral Conductors compiled by Gregory Gentry
Choral conductors shoulder a great responsibility as custodians of their craft. And there is perhaps no better source of inspiration and guidance for today’s conductors than the experiences and insights of choral giants who have blazed the trail we now tread.

“In Search of Inspiration” is a collection of in-depth interviews with fifteen highly respected choral conductors from around the world. Each answers a series of fundamental questions about how they shaped their achievements: How do they balance their time making music and fulfilling teaching schedules and concert schedules? How do they motivate students, manage outside professional commitments in the educational setting, and satisfy administrators?

Each conductor generously shares their wisdom and expertise, discussing memorable educational moments on the podium and in the classroom, recounting stirring experiences in the concert hall, and sharing stories about their work with historic figures in music. They also offer insights on programming repertoire and explain how they have successfully navigated a career in music.

These interviews document the through lines within the choral art – elements of performance and mentorship stemming from such luminaries as Julius Herford and Robert Shaw that connect so many of the great conductors.

A fascinating and relevant read for any choral educator, “In Search of Inspiration” explores the choral art through extraordinary 20th- and 21st-century voices whose artistry and influence will be felt for generations to come.

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists

Rehearsing the Vocal Jazz Ensemble by Daniel Gregerman
From philosophy, auditions, and lesson planning to improvisation and literature selection, this diverse group of nationally recognized educators at all levels discuss these topics and more. Each director practically walks you through a rehearsal! Whether you are a seasoned vocal jazz director or someone looking to get started, the authors’ concepts on running an outstanding vocal jazz program has something for everyone.

Includes chapters by: Andrew Dahan, Roger Emerson, Daniel Gregerman, Greg Jasperse, Connaitre Miller, Kate Reid, John Stafford II, Janice Vlachos, Gaw Vang Williams, and Natalie Wilson.

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists

Arranging Barbershop from the Barbershop Harmony Society
Barbershop singing is often thought of as a genre of music when, in fact, it is a style of arranging. Any song can be arranged in the barbershop style, provided that the arranger be familiar with the tenets of this originally American – though now global – art form. “Arranging Barbershop” provides this framework. It follows in the footsteps of arranging legends, both from the early days of barbershop and those since the preservationist movement, including our modern, living arrangers. All of these artists shaped barbershop to what it is today: a vibrant, unique musical experience that has the capacity to be compelling both for the singers and the eager listeners. This book is intended to empower current and future generations of barbershop arrangers of all skill levels, providing them the tools and knowledge they need to bring their creations to life.

“Arranging Barbershop” is divided into four volumes:
Volume 1: Getting Started provides foundational tools and approaches for the budding arranger.
Volume 2: The Arranging Journey seeks to provide guidance for arrangers at three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced.
Volume 3: Visions of Excellence is a virtual roundtable with 38 of barbershop’s greatest arrangers.
Volume 4: Learn from the Experts (coming soon!) contains two parts: Arranging in Action – dozens of hours of videos, with arrangers discussing and deconstructing their works; Arrangers’ Toolbox – deep dive chapters on specialized topics by top arrangers

Filled with case studies, specific examples (with audio and video clips) and lessons learned, each volume aims to unlock new skills and expertise for everyone interested in arranging barbershop!

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral & Classroom Music Specialists

SEL-ebrate: Bringing Social-Emotional Learning to Music Class through Children’s Literature by Jennifer Heldstab
The phrase social-emotional learning – the SEL of “SELebrate” – has garnered alot of recent attention. But really, it is and has been a fundamental part of what all educators do – including and especially music teachers. SEL runs throughout our music curriculum, as we express emotions and work toward common goals though singing, dancing, and playing instruments. These SEL opportunities are made more explicit through the ten lessons in this resource, all of which are built around favorite children’s books.

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral & Classroom Music Specialists

Waltzing Matilda by John Feierabend/illustrated by Adriana Wimler
“You’ll come a-waltzing” with this lively Australian folk song, part of a series of captivating picture books based on beloved songtales collected by John M. Feierabend. Chock-full of whimsical Australian vocabulary, “Waltzing Matilda” depicts the rugged adventures of a traveling worker (“swagman”) as he journeys across the Australian countryside, encountering both good fortune and trouble along the way. Adriana Wimler’s colorful illustrations capture the natural beauty of the Australian landscape and feature several indigenous Australian animals. See if you can spot them all!

Old Joe Clark by John Feierabend/illustrated by Garant Cosey
Even the big bad fox can’t resist joining the fun in this topsy-turvy folk song, part of a series of captivating picture books based on beloved songtales from the great American folk music tradition. The song’s catchy Mixolydian melody and comical depiction of Old Joe Clark have made this song an American favorite since the early 1900s. Garant Cosey’s vibrant illustrations capture the imaginative spirit of the song, featuring characters who are singing, dancing, and playing the banjo (and spoons). More than 90 silly verses have been published for this song over the years. Add to the fun by creating your own!

The ABCs of Women in Music by Anneli Loepp Thiessen/illustrated by Haeon Grace Kang
Meet Clara the composer, Ella the jazz singer, Selena the pop star, and Xian the conductor! Women in music are brilliant, creative, brave, and resilient. They are composers, conductors, singers, musicologists, electronic music producers, and so much more. In this vibrantly illustrated picture book, meet 26 remarkable women musicians who collectively span over 1,000 years of music history and represent a diversity of cultures, races, professions, and abilities. Their incredible stories and beautiful work are sure to inspire a new generation of musicians!

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists

Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education by Karen Howard
Questions abound about diversity in music education. How can we engage with diverse populations, repertoire, and identities while upholding integrity and achieving equity? What are cultural appropriation, othering, tokenizing, and essentializing? How can we avoid bias in our teaching and repertoire selection? How do we create a more socially just music education?

These are critical questions with accessible answers. But if we are to become better music educators, we must reflect on these questions, our own identities, and our relationships with the music and people of the world.

“Realizing Diversity” by Karen Howard is a groundbreaking and practical resource for crafting diverse and anti-bias music education in classrooms, ensembles, and studios at all levels—from preschool to university and community settings.

At the book’s core is an Anti-Bias Framework intended to help music educators gain confidence and comfort in designing music curricula that are just, equitable, and make participants feel safe and welcome. Structured around the four social justice domains of identity, diversity, justice, and action, this framework explores topics of anti-racism, gender and sexual identity, power and privilege, disabilities, economic realities, empathy, and critical consciousness.

Dr. Howard also includes discussion of educational movements in United States history, the challenging “world music” label and related authenticity, the hyper-prevalence of Western Eurocentric music, inclusive repertoire selection, as well as appendices with critical practices for educators and a sample curriculum.

An indispensable book for pre-service, beginning, and veteran music teachers of toddlers through adults, “Realizing Diversity” considers the many separate but deeply interrelated questions related to creating a more socially just music education.

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists

Hearts All Whole: Reflections on (Life and) Twelve Choral Gems by Robert Bode
With his hallmark wit and humor, choral conductor and poet Robert Bode brings readers on a journey through twelve great choral works, offering anecdotes, valuable insights, and interpretive advice for each. Along the way, Bode chronicles his own learning journey and shares candidly about his mistakes, his triumphs, and his love for the repertoire that has played a significant role in his life and illustrious career. This wisdom-filled volume will forever change your understanding and interpretation of these twelve choral gems – a must-read for all choral conductors and musicians.

Titles include: “Ave Maria” by Josquin, “Ave Redemptoris Mater” by Palestrina, “O Mirtillo” by Monteverdi, “Ave verum corpus” by Mozart, “O schöne Nacht!” by Brahms, “Os Justi” by Bruckner, “Bogoroditse Devo” by Rachmaninoff, “My Spirit Sang All Day” by Finzi, “Hodie Christus natus est” by Poulenc, “At the Round Earth’s Imagin’d Corners” by Spencer, “Ubi Caritas” by Duruflé, and “Sure on This Shining Night” by Lauridsen.

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

recommended by Ken Tilger and Austin Swack, Band Education Specialists

GO ON, Tell Your Story! by LaToya A. Webb and Julia L. Baumanis
“GO ON, Tell Your Story! Voices of Women Band Directors” is a powerful collection of real-life stories told by trailblazing women band directors of varied experiences and identities about the world of professional music and conducting.

Poignant, funny, sad, and uplifting, these stories offer a unique perspective into the challenging and rewarding world of music education and performance, inviting readers to listen and grow with each vignette.

The stories in the book are organized by theme into four sections – Pride, Affirmation, Togetherness, and Happiness – and readers are encouraged to use the book as more of a handbook than a front-to-back read. Along with stories, the book also includes affirmational quotes, a playlist of inspirational songs, and space for readers to reflect.

With the goal of building true support, community, and understanding, “GO ON, Tell Your Story!” is a wonderful companion for all musicians and educators as they grow in their lives and careers.

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About the Authors:
A former band director, Ken taught grades 5-12 band and music appreciation in both public and parochial schools in Central Ohio, and has been at Stanton’s since 2004. His iPod ranges from jazz and funk to classic and alternative rock, and symphonies. His interests include reading, history, traditional amusement parks, outdoor activities (especially hiking), and watching hockey.

Austin Swack joined the Stanton’s team after a decade of teaching band in Texas public schools, where his ensembles were consistently recognized for superior performance. He is equally at home with beginner and advanced students and has extensive experience programming for ensembles at all ability levels. Additionally, he is a versatile arranger as well as an experienced clinician and adjudicator. In his free time, Austin enjoys running, cycling, and cheering on the Blue Jackets!

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral Music Specialists

What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body (Revised Edition) by Bridget Jankowski
This primer for all musicians provides a reliable base for a lifetime of playing and singing. The principles in these pages are the elemental foundation of music education, and will protect a musician from injury, promote the physical freedom and sensitivity needed for technical mastery, and secure the embodied intelligence that grounds musical power and subtlety. Musicians teaching from these principles will see their students thrive. Students studying and restudying these pages will delight in their enhanced performance. This book also serves as the text of a six-hour course on Body Mapping for musicians developed by Barbara Conable.

What’s New in the Revised Edition? Created with the input of experienced Licensed Body Mapping Educators, and led by Body Mapping expert Bridget Jankowski, this revision includes:
• Updated and enlarged images – big enough for coloring.
• Streamlined and clarified content based on new science.
• An updated format that follows the associated Body Mapping course more closely.
• Additional room for notes at the end of each section.

Knowledge from the scientific community continues to inform the work of the Association for Body Mapping Education. The book’s associated Body Mapping course of the same name has evolved over the past two decades, and an updated text for the course will be a valuable resource for novice and seasoned Body Mapping Educators alike.

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral & Classroom Music Specialists

Recorder Readiness: Creative Tools for Building Music Literacy by Danielle Bayert
Kickoff, supplement, or reinforce your existing classroom recorder method with these engaging games, worksheets, and activities that invite customized learning. This hands-on toolkit isolates three distinct elements for building music literacy through recorder practice: rhythm, pitch, and technique. Start with each alone, then combine two at a time, and finally fully synthesize all three with ten culminating read-and-play melodies. Danielle’s creative, outside-of-the-box approach is so effective and so fun! Includes templates for several teacher-made manipulatives, puzzles, flashcards, and more. Recommended for grades 2-5.

Learn more in the video below, and shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.

Recital Treasures by Karen S. Wilson
This collection will become a teacher’s “go-to” for recital and festival repertoire at the mid-inter-mediate level. Students (and parents) are excited by the impressive and diverse musical effects they create. “Showtime!” uses damper pedal and parallel chords (both hands) moving up and down the keyboard to create a big sound. “A Winter’s Dream” and “Lullaby for a Ladybug” are lovely ballads featuring lyrical melodies. “Swirling Snowflakes” has showy hand-over-hand arpeggios. “Fiesta!” provides an authentic Spanish flair and “Llama Rumba” lends a Latin rhythm adventure. Three additional “treasures” in 3/4 meter round out the set.

Reflections of Nature by Ross Petot
This collection of intermediate to late-intermediate piano solos has eight stunning solos that are among the composer’s best works to date. They are reflective for the most part, full of expressive melodies and striking, original harmonies. Mr. Petot has effectively created a rich musical scene in each of these solos – musical gestures that reflect the unique character and mood of the title. Throughout the book, Petot’s immense love of nature is evident. Each solo is crafted with care and richly detailed. The style is contemporary Romantic, with hints of Impressionism, as well as ample use of 7th chords, whole-tone scales, and chromaticism. Each solo is fresh and original, evoking a singular musical scene quite vividly and beautifully.

Mysteries and Legends by Ross Petot
This collection has eight solos whose mood and character aptly reflect the title of the collection. The titles are evocative, such as “Gargoyles,” “The Lost Key,” “Sleepy Hollow,” and “Halo.” These titles set the scene for truly imaginative musical story-telling on the part of the composer. Their style is contemporary Romantic, with melodies that meander in delightfully original ways, and with harmonies that take you on journey that is mysterious, and always memorable. Intermediate to late-intermediate pianists of all ages will love discovering their hidden pathways, unexpected twists, and subtle harmonic turns.

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Technic Classics: Piano Exercises Adapted and Composed by Lisa & Lori Bastien
These books are essential supplements to most standard piano methods. They are compilations of original, adapted, and composed technic exercises from the great European pedagogues of the 19th century as well as original works by Lisa Bastien. The series is designed to help students gain the ability to play the piano efficiently and comfortably while producing a beautiful sound. Close attention is give to the progression of concepts and includes the best exercises by Beyer, Czerny, Hanon, Schmitt, Gurlitt, Burgmüller, Türk, Wohlfahrt, and others. Useful Bastien teaching tips are also included.

Technic Classics Primer
Matches method series in which students learn notes from middle-C outward on the grand staff. Gives focus to lifting from the keys led by the wrists as well as shifting arm weight from one finger to the next. Playing melodic intervals and selected harmonic intervals (2nds, 3rds, 5ths) with the building blocks necessary for playing two- and three-note chords. Various note naming exercises are also included. Beautifully illustrated. A total of 26 exercises on 32 pages.

Technic Classics Level 1
This exercise book gives attention to many technic elements appropriate to early elementary piano students beginning with the down-up motion of the wrist in playing two-note slurs. Focus is also given to developing hands-together playing using mirror technics between the hands as well as parallel motion. It also includes preparation for playing 3-note chords including I and V7 chord (two-note) introduction. Up-touch staccato is introduced along with early experiences with playing staccato vs. legato between the hands. G and F positions are utilized. Agility exercises are notated in eighth notes and some early use of the damper pedal is explored. “Technic Challenges” ask students to transpose many of the exercises to other white keys. Has 52 exercises on 32 pages.

Technic Classics Level 2
Exercises by the master 19th century pedagogues appear more frequently throughout this book than the previous levels. Many exercises are included that build the skills needed for hands-together playing, agility development, finger crossing skills (needed to play fulloctave scales), melodic and harmonic 6ths, as well as I chords, inverted IV and V7 chords for cadences. Also included are hand-over-hand exercises and early experiences in voicing some notes louder than others within a series of eighth notes. Includes 58 exercises on 32 pages.

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recommended by Jen Sper and Lisa Springer, School Choral & Classroom Music Specialists

International Sound Stories: Folk Tales, Fables, and Poems for the Music Classroom by Anna Wentlent
Promote full listening, encourage active participation, and make cultural connections with this useful collection of literature from around the world. 20 folk tales, fables, and poems have been thoughtfully selected from a variety of countries with rich storytelling traditions, including India, Korea, Hawaii, Mexico, Ireland, Germany, Ghana, and more.

Each tale includes specific sound effects, melodic patterns, and rhythmic ostinati for sound exploration on common classroom instruments. You may choose to read and play as written, use them as inspiration for student creation (such as curated playlists or digital compositions), or even employ them as a resource for interdisciplinary work. For convenience, each story is also included as a PDF to project or print. Recommended for Grades 1-6.

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About the Authors:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

Lisa Springer joined the Stanton’s choral staff in July 2023. She taught middle and high school choirs for 27 years in addition to serving as Artistic Director of the Columbus Women’s Chorus. She holds degrees from Heidelberg University and Cleveland Institute of Music. She has enjoyed an extensive professional singing career and continues to perform in the greater Columbus area. During her free time, she enjoys spending time in southern Ohio playing with her grandchildren.