Youth Coordinator

Kristy Brumfield, Youth Coordinator

Clap Your Hands, Rejoice!

Two part

Andy Beck

Alfred Music Publishing 30917

This exciting piece for children’s choir or younger youth is a wonderful concert opener! It has an easy melody that lends itself to Solfege reinforcement during teaching. The middle section uses a simple, yet impressive layering of clapped rhythm patterns and introduces a descant that continues through the ending. Choirs will enjoy singing,  clapping, and being challenged by this fun piece of music.  The excitement of the text will set the tone for the remainder of the concert. 

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Unison/2-pt. (also available SATB and SSA)

John Rutter

Oxford University Press 9780193420625

There is no better way to begin the choir year with young singers than to program a John Rutter piece.  This beautiful standard is perfect for teaching and reinforcing proper head tone.  The two-part harmonies are simple, yet effective for teaching beginners to sing in two parts.  The melody is an effective teaching tool for intervals that may sometimes go beyond the “norm” in children’s choral music.  Audiences and singers alike will enjoy this piece time after time. Consider making it a staple in your music library.  

Mama, A Rainbow

Two part (also available SAB)

Grossman/Hackady, arr. Ed Lojeski

Hal Leonard Publishing 08551680

This beautiful ballad from the Broadway show “Minnie’s Boys” is not your typical showtune!  This piece is perfect as a dedication to the mothers in the audience at your spring concert. The melody and optional harmonies are extremely simple to teach, and Lojeski has provided beautiful piano accompaniment; however, the text is what truly makes this piece unforgettable.  Lines such as “What can I give you, that I can give you?.....Mama young and beautiful, that’s the Mama I’ll always see…” are woven throughout this touching piece. It is sure to be a favorite!

John Jacobson’s Music Express Magazine

Music Express Magazine is so much more than a student magazine. This classroom resource features a different composer each month, complete with a listening map for the highlighted piece. Also featured each month is a different country with a featured folk song, and access to a video with pictures of the people and points of interest.  In each installment, a professional musician is interviewed and there is an accompanying video available. In the teacher’s guide, a multitude of extensions are given for every plan, and each lesson coincides with the national standards for music education. For each of the songs in the student magazine, online choreography with John Jacobson teaching is available, making your music class more fun and active. Also included are lessons for recorders, cross-curricular activities, and lessons that teach harmonization and sight reading skills. A school-year subscription is $195.00, and well worth the investment, as these magazines can be used for years.  I heartily recommend this resource for your elementary music classes as well as middle school music appreciation classes. There are always more plans than you could need, and all of them are easily adaptable to many different grade levels.