Feedback Friday: Middle School Choir

International Trumpet Guild Conference

This is a milestone day for Stanton’s Sheet Music: you’re reading the first blog posting from an iPhone!

Enough of that–The real reason for the blog is that we’re at ITG in Harrisburg, PA. (BTW, that’s David in the photo) Arriving on Wednesday at the Harrisburg Hilton, we set up a massive display of trumpet music. If it said “trumpet” we brought from the store. We’ll be here through Saturday at 12:30pm so if you’re in the Harrisburg, PA area come see us. For more information on ITG, check out their website or read our previous post.

We “practice what we preach,” as well! Sales associate Ben Huntoon will be performing on the Festival of Trumpets on Saturday. The grande finale will be Carmina Burana performed by mass trumpet ensemble in the statehouse rotunda. Eeoww!!!

Summer Reading for Choir Directors

Ah, summertime…and the livin’ is easy…a time for rest, relaxation, and professional development!  Use your summer break wisely by taking one of these resources with you to the beach, and the beginning of your school year is sure to be smooth sailing:

Tim Seelig’s Quick Fixes makes it easy to help your choir take the beautiful singing they do in warm-ups and apply it to your repertoire.  This budget-stretching book is full of concepts that singers understand and can incorporate into their singing.  Small enough to fit in your choir folder, it’s easy to find the choral “symptom” in the index, read the plan of treatment, and immediately fix the problem…right on the spot!

Have We Had This Conversation? by John Yarrington offers solution-oriented techniques for having more effective conversations with your school, church or community choir.  This book not only contains suggestions for rehearsal strategies, motivational techniques and personal inspiration, but also includes specific procedures for addressing text considerations, improving conducting gestures, and developing musicality. 

Inside the Elementary School Chorus by Patricia Bourne is specifically designed for the music educator working with non-auditioned children’s choruses.  In addition to helpful how-to’s, this outstanding resource illustrates how children’s choirs can become environments where participants learn a strong sense of community alongside high levels of musicianship.  Includes a DVD that provides sight and sound to the strategies shared in the text.  Down-to-earth and inspiring!

The practical handbook Sing 6-7-8 by Roger Emerson provides an engaging and witty approach to working with young adolescent singers (who can often be a challenge!).  This text is full of creative ideas and solid solutions in an easy-to-read question-and-answer format.  Topics covered include: recruiting, classroom management, the adolescent voice, repertoire, working with administrators, colleagues and parents, and much more!  Ideal for both experienced educators and those new to the field.

Check out our video below for information about the resources above, and contact us for more great summer reading suggestions.

Fun Jazz Piano Method!

This set of 3 books , entitled “Jazz Connection”, is to be used in tandem with Eric Baumgartner’s “Jazzabilities” series.
It is amazing how jazz has permeated nearly every style of music worldwide. This set of books demonstrates how jazz has influenced several musical styles, including bop, blues, tango, and boogie.
Like the Jazzabilities books, there is an option to buy each book with or without a CD or MIDI disk. The recordings let the student  improvise, sharpening the ear training skills,  and allowing for the exploration of possibilities. If your youngster is especially creative, you may be in for a treat at practice time as he/she continues through this course!

For more information on these or other products available at Stanton’s Sheet Music, please contact us at 1-800-42-MUSIC.

Memorial Day!

What are you doing stuck at the computer today?! You should be out observing the holiday in whatever manner you choose–just like the Stanton’s staff is doing. That’s right, Memorial Day is one of the handful of days each year that Stanton’s Sheet Music is closed…but we’ll be back and ready to serve you first thing tomorrow morning!

Feedback Friday: Music for the Weekend!

Jazzabilities, Books 1-3

Jazzabilities 1-3 is a set of logical jazz studies by Eric Baumgartner. This series of three books helps teachers to introduce students to the world of jazz, using the basic rhythms of jazz as building blocks. Improvisation is taught beginning in the first book, opening up the world of jazz even further.
Written by Eric Baumgartner, composer/performer, this is a logical and delightful series to introduce jazz to students.

Related to the Jazzabilities books is  another set of  three solo books by Baumgartner, Jazz  Connection Books 1-3.

For information on these or other products, please contact us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, or email us .

It’s Vacation Time!

Summer is fast approaching and that means vacations for many of your students.  A good end of the year consideration is a collection of songs by Greg Gilpin titled “For Which It Stands.” This is a very well done collection of songs that describe some of our nation’s most outstanding landmarks.  From the Liberty Bell to the Golden Gate Bridge and everything in between.  Greg has managed to include the history of these landmarks and how and why they are what they are in a brief, optional narration that precedes each song. The one that stands out the most for me is “Mount Rushmore: The Original Rock Hall of Fame.”
As your students depart for their summertime activities, some may get the chance to tell their parents, “Hey, we sang about that in our music class at school!”  For futher information or if you have any questions please call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC or visit our website.

It Don’t Mean a Thing…

…if it Ain’t Got That Swing! Do wah, do wah… you know the rest! Swing was the thing on Saturday, May 16 at Stanton’s Sheet Music for the Essential Elements Jazz Improvisation Clinic. Author Mike Steinel, from the North Texas State University, was here for a daylong how-to session about using his wonderful Essential Elements Jazz Method in the classroom.

As things happen in jazz though, the session was all encompassing and participants who had never improvised before were laying down some pretty nice riffs. The morning session laid the groundwork for some hands-on improvisation before lunch and then drummer Jeremy Bradstreet stopped by to give some timely pointers on working with beginning jazz drummers. A jam session wrapped up the day with Jeremy on drums and “Stanton’s own” Dan Clark on bass.

After the clinic session Mike, Jim Strouse and Ben Huntoon of Stanton’s Sheet Music, as well as a small group of clinic attendees were treated to a tour of the new Jazz Arts Group Jazz Academy by Academy Director, Carol Argiro. The Jazz Academy is due to open next week in conjunction with the reopening of the renovated Lincoln Theatre. This state-of-the-art facility will fast become the hub of community music education in Columbus.

The day wrapped up for Mike with a great dinner at the French restaurant L’Antibes in the Short North and a concert by the Columbus Jazz Orchestra at the Southern Theatre.

Great Choices for Summer Church Choirs

With summer fast approaching, many churches are nearing the end of the traditional “choir year.”  Keep your choristers active during the summer by featuring them on a few services throughout the season – your congregation will thank you!  Cancel your mid-week rehearsal and meet before the Sunday service to work up an easily-prepared anthem from one of these choral collections:

Small But Mighty, arranged by Craig Courtney, contains 10 popular Beckenhorst Press anthems carefully adapted for 2-part and SAB choirs.  Check out Volume II for further options.

Jack Schrader’s Easy Choir series from Hope Publishing has been a long-time best-seller.  The latest edition is Easy Choir Volume 7, which includes 10 anthems.  Don’t miss the first six volumes for more programming ideas.

One Rehearsal Wonders contains everything from contemporary chorals for worship to expressive songs of devotion and praise, all in high-quality 2-part, SAB and simple SATB arrangements.  These 8 anthems (and a bonus benediction) are easily learned, and this collection is a valuable budget-stretcher.  Volume 2 continues the series with even more possibilities!

Summertime is also a great opportunity to feature your women’s and men’s sections separately (essentially giving half of your choir a week off).  For ladies’ groups try Women in Song, and Singing Men for your gentlemen.  Both are available in three volumes, so you’re sure to find the perfect anthem for any liturgical occasion.

For more summertime suggestions for your church choir, call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, or email us.