New Releases

Tijs Krammer : Choral Conducting Technique

Review: Explore the art of gesture and how it shapes the music you get from your singers. Is it always necessary to beat the time? What should I do with my other hand? Are there strategies for connecting with larger groups? How can I develop my own conducting style? This clearly presented text answers these questions and many more with both theory and practice. Special features include carefully designed diagrams that illustrate beat patterns in a variety of meters, plus downloadable exercises for further study. A complete method for beginners, and a refresher course for experienced directors.

Songlist: Basic Movements, Indicating Cues, Endings, and Tempo, Posture, Beat Patterns, The Anchor Pattern, The Size of the Conducting Movements, Common Mistakes in Beat Patterns, Changes in Time, Choosing Alternative Beat Patterns, The Left Hand, Conducting Volume, Cueing Entrances, Cut-Offs, Eye Contact and Focus, Complex Time, Passive Conducting, Subdivision, Fermatas, Varied and Effective Conducting

Valeaira Luppens and Greg Foreman : Circle of Song

Review: Move the desks out of the way and invite those eager young musicians to circle up for some fun-filled active-learning music time. This practical planning book is a creative teacher's treasure and a kinesthetic learner's playground. Along the way, there'll be plenty of singing, moving, listening, playing, laughing, and learning! Favorite childhood songs are the foundation throughout, plus learning targets, required resources, and step-by-step instructions are included for every activity. Recommended for grades K--5.

Songlist:

Voicing: Children

Various : Arranging Barbershop - Volume 2: The Arranging Journey

Review: 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: 1) Getting Started, 2) The Arranging Journey, 3) Visions of Excellence, and 4) Learn from the Experts. Each volume is meant to be standalone but also a part of the greater whole: - Vol. 1, Getting Started, provides foundational tools and approaches for the budding arranger. - Vol. 2, The Arranging Journey, seeks to provide guidance for arrangers at three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Vol. 3, Visions of Excellence, is a virtual roundtable with 38 of barbershop's greatest arrangers. - Vol. 4, Learn from the Experts, 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!

Songlist:

Various : Arranging Barbershop Vol 1 (Getting Started)

Review: 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: 1) Getting Started, 2) The Arranging Journey, 3) Visions of Excellence, and 4) Learn from the Experts. Each volume is meant to be standalone but also a part of the greater whole. Volume 1, Getting Started, provides foundational tools and approaches for the budding arranger. 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 in the barbershop style.

Songlist:

Various : Jazz Junior

Review: Alfred's top vocal jazz arrangers were called upon to contribute Great American Songbook arrangements designed to introduce beginners to the genre. And oh, how they delivered! This is an indispensable collection for young soloists or unison singers including reproducible student pages and a fabulous foreword (with developmental exercises) by Dr. Michele Weir. Enhance the jazzy vibe with full rhythm section accompaniments on the available audio. Teach swing, scat, jazz articulations, stylizations, and more! Recommended for grades four and up

Songlist: Bye Bye Blackbird, Duke's Place, Fascinating Rhythm, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)., Jeepers Creepers, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, Misty, Orange Colored Sky, Over the Rainbow, Straighten Up and Fly Right

Voicing: Children

Veronica Veysey Campbell and Liza Hobbs : Everlasting Voices for Older Singers

Review: Increasing numbers of people are taking to singing in later life, driven in part by increasing medical evidence of of the health benefits it brings. Singing aids physical and neurological well-being, but above all it brings enjoyment, not only to those who have a lifetime experience of singing (both in choirs and solo), but also for those to whom it comes as an entirely new activity. Everlasting Voices, compiled specificlaly for the older singer, contains: 24 songs with a modest vocal range, in a wide range of styles; backgrouned notes about the songs and their composers; prononciation guides for singing in Italian, German, Spanish, and French; a guide to keping your voice healthy; performing advice and technical guidance

Songlist:

Voicing: Medium High