Author Archives: staffnotes-admin

Arranging Pop Tunes for Choir

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For Choral Cache Thursday, here’s an article that was recently written for “Ledger Lines,” an e-newsletter that is produced by Alfred Publishing. It’s written by Michael Spresser, one of Alfred’s choral editors:

Arranging Today’s Pop Chorals
By Michael Spresser
Alfred Pop & Lawson-Gould Editor
In the history of choral music, the arranging of popular music is still a relatively new phenomenon. Some of the earliest arrangements of popular songs of the day were developed in the 1930s, when Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians became one of the first ensembles known for singing ‘pop’ music. As you know, many of today’s current top pop songs are lyrically inappropriate, lack a strong melody, or the melody simply isn’t conducive to choral harmony.What does Alfred look for in a current pop choral arrangement? Many of the same things that are found in any successful choral composition:

– Does the melody stay within an appropriate range and tessitura for developing voices?

– Does the arranger use the best voice-leading possible? In other words, do the parts move in a way that help a singer experience success?

– Does the arrangement allow for proper and healthy vocal technique?

– Does the arrangement replicate the sound of the original while allowing for solid choral harmony?

– Does the arrangement encourage the building of listening skills and the teaching of basic musical concepts?

– Does the accompaniment enhance, while still supporting, the choral parts?

– Is the arrangement rhythmically accurate (true to the original), without being difficult to read?

– Does the arrangement allow solo opportunities where appropriate?

All of these questions, and more, are considered when we select our current pop arrangements. Arrangements that maintain choral integrity while also maintaining the style of the original are [some of the hallmarks] of Alfred publications.

Check out some of their newest releases that were featured at our recent choral reading session event, Sing-a-bration!

Alfred Choral Titles: Sampling from 2011


*Content used by permission of Alfred Publishing Company.

John Favicchia interview

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Alfred Publishing recently had a great chat with John Favicchia, drummer extraordinaire and author of Elements, a Comprehensive Guide to Improving Your Drumset Vocabulary! In addition to his role as a private drum teacher, John spends a lot of time recording and has worked with such greats as Steve Khan, Tony Levin, Chieli Minucci, Lonnie Plaxico, John Benitez, just to name a few. John maintains a very busy schedule presenting clinics and touring throughout the nation and around the world, so they were very appreciative of the time he took to share his thoughts with them. Here is  the interview:
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Texas UIL | PML & You

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The University Interscholastic League was created by The University of Texas at  Austin in 1910. It facilitates educational extracurricular academic, athletic, and music contests, and has grown into the largest inter-school organization of its kind in the world. In particular, the Music Program of the UIL is designed to support and enrich the teaching of music as an integral component of the public school curriculum in the state of Texas.

And while your area may or may not have its own version of the UIL, there’s no doubt that the resources available from them can and are helpful to most educators, whether from the state of Texas or not. The TX UIL has been in the process of revising its Prescribed Music List, and recently, more than 100 titles were added to the band division of the list. Scroll through the slideshow below to review the latest additions, as well as to click through to audio files and pdf sample scores (where available).

Band PML | New Selections for 2011 | Texas UIL

Tipster: Teaching Young String Groups

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We came accross this article on the web, and thought it would be a good one to pass along, especially since school will be starting up again in just a few weeks. It’s by Jacquelyn Dillon-Krass from Wichita State University.

Tips for Teaching Young String Groups to Play “In Tune”

by Jacquelyn Dillon-Krass

Music students learn more than music – they learn of life and self-worth. You are a valuable person in the lives of your students. “Don’t under-estimate the importance of your work or the responsibility that your job demands; enjoy it.”

Without a doubt, the most important and most difficult task facing the string teacher is teaching students to play “in tune.” Orchestral educators need to understand that (1) Good pitch never just happens; it is very carefully taught; (2) Poor pitch never gets better on its own; in fact, it usually gets worse; and (3) Concern for playing with good pitch is a never-ending quest, that has to be stressed daily with every group.

A beginner group, playing even the simplest music, should be expected to play with good pitch (first fingers in correct place, whole steps and half-steps obvious, etc.). “All purpose” second fingers (neither high enough nor low enough), so often heard, are simply unacceptable. In other words, there is absolutely no excuse for groups at any level to play out of tune.

If students are trained to be concerned about pitch from the very beginning, and then never allowed to play out of tune in rehearsals, they will play in tune under pressure at concerts. My beliefs and ideas on teaching young students to play in tune follow:

Follow the link below for the tips and the rest of the article from Conn-Selmer‘s Keynotes Magazine…

via Keynotes Magazine – Now Viewing Classroom Technique : Strings : Tips for Teaching Young String Groups to Play “In Tune” by Jacquelyn Dillon.

Elementary Music Resources

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Dr. Vicky V. Johnson, Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator at Tarleton State University (Stephenville, TX), has compiled a comprehensive website of music resources, including some valuable elementary music links. Here is one of them, which is sourced from the TMEA website, on tips for new teachers:

Teaching Resources

As part of our commitment to excellence in music education for all students, TMEA supports its members through a myriad of professional development opportunities. TMEA sponsors Region workshops with grant funding, hosts the annual clinic/convention that offers hundreds of hours of professional development opportunities, partners in a mentoring network for teachers, provides pedagogical resources through its monthly magazine, and offers additional resources through this website.

Teaching the Fine Arts TEKS

The backbone of fine arts instruction in Texas, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills TEKS, help educators structure instruction around what students should know and be able to do by the end of each grade level in art, dance, music, and theatre. The Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts CEDFA supports fine arts teachers in implementing the Fine Arts TEKS. This network began as a cadre of educators and administrators trained by CEDFA to provide professional development workshops specifically targeted on TEKS implementation. CEDFA offers resources through its website and hosts statewide fine arts summits that focus on teaching strategies aligned with the TEKS. The CEDFA Summits serve as the only venue for educators from all four fine arts disciplines to meet and discuss relevant issues such as assessment and integration of the arts with other academic disciplines.

Fine Arts TEKS

TAC Chapter 117

Sing-a-bration 2011 Wrap-Up

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Greetings from Texas!

Were you able to attend Sing-a-bration in Lewisville, and want to make sure that you got the best-of-the-best for the upcoming school year? Or, were you unable to join us, and you’d like know what you missed?

Either way, here are some visuals from our recent event! First, check out our photo gallery (which is posted on Flickr, YouTube and Facebook, too). It’s always fun to see people in their element…!

Next, here are some resources posted just for you! Below are the 2011 Sing-a-bration titles that were highlighted at our recent workshop event at the Lewisville Convention Center (aka Hilton Garden Inn) in Lewisville, TX.

They’re presented as slide shows, session by session (Sing-a-bration Elementary, Sing-a-bration Secondary, Joy of Singing Elementay, Joy of Singing Middle School/High School, Joy of Worship w/ Multi-Pub Sacred Music Reading Session, and John Jacobson Choregraphy Workshop).

Simply browse through the slide shows (through www.slideshare.net/pendersmusicco). View each of the titles, and if you see one that you are interested in, click on the sheet music/cover image of it: You’ll then go directly to more information about it on our website.

(www.penders.com)

To make a purchase, Add quantities to your Pender’s Online Shopping Cart, etc.

Don’t miss out! Now’s the time to stock up for FALL! And don’t forget to use the coupon code — Singabration — to get a 10% discount on your order

(through September 1st, 2011)

Choral Students: Submit Text for an Upcoming Choral Arrangement!

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Heritage Music Press continues to celebrate the value of music education and quality music for ensembles everywhere, and they’re inviting students to become part of the compositional process.

Through June 30, 2011, Heritage Music Press will accept submissions from students enrolled in any choral ensemble to be considered as a text for a future choral publication. The winning submission will be used by one of their composers to create a new composition for their Fall 2012 release. The student who submits this text will receive a $100 prize, and his or her choral ensemble may be given the opportunity to premiere the piece. Good Luck!!!

AGO Region VII Convention

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Meeting and helping our customers, one-on-one, is one of the things that we enjoy doing most, and while it would be great if all of our customers had a chance to visit with us in our stores, we know that it’s just not always possible. Therefore, we rely on conventions and workshops to provide us with the opportunity to “be there for you” in person when we can.

Next month is the American Guild of Organists Region VII Convention in Oklahoma City. It’s being held downtown at the Skirvin Hilton, and includes concerts, workshops, a hymn festival, recitals and more.  Here is a Convention Program. Join Us!

Title: AGO Region VII Convention
Location: Skirvin Hilton Hotel – Oklahoma City
Description: More than 200 organists, choir directors and church musicians from Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas and Louisiana are expected to attend this regional event.

Exhibits:

Sunday, June 12: 2pm – 6pm/10pm – Midnight
Monday, June 13: 5pm – 6:30pm/9:30pm – Midnight
Tuesday, June 14: 4:30pm – 6:45pm/9pm – Midnight
Wednesday, June 15: 10:30am – 1pm

Pender’s Music Co. will be displaying at this event. The Exhibits will be located in the Centennial Ballroom on the 2nd floor of the Skirvin Hotel. See you there!
Start Date: 2011-06-12
End Date: 2011-06-15

New for YOU! Joy of Singing in two tracks!

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New for YOU!

Joy of Singing ELEMENTARY -and- MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL @ Sing-a-bration 2011!

For the first time ever, Hal Leonard’s very popular Joy of Singing session will be offered in two tracks during our Sing-a-bration weekend of choral workshops. By popular demand, we worked closely with our publisher partner in creating a schedule that allows us to have two Joy of Singing sessions running concurrently with each other. The sessions are scheduled for Friday, July 15th, from 9am to 4pm @ the Lewisville Convention Center.

The Elementary session will be led by clinicians Roger Emerson, John Jacobson, Mac Huff, and Cristi Cary Miller. Hal Leonard’s Classroom Reading material, which in the past has been scheduled as a separate event, will be incorporated throughout the day. In addition to the classroom reading, Joy of Singing Elementary will feature musicals, collections, classroom resources, octavos and more.

Joy of Singing for Middle School/High School will include octavos, medleys, large works and other choral resources. Clinicians scheduled are Roger Emerson, Mac Huff, John Jacobson, and Denise Eaton (Spring, TX).

Online registrations for all of our Sing-a-bration choral reading workshops has begun, and the full schedule, pricing information, lodging options and more are available by clicking on the Sing-a-bration logo, located here, or on our main website, http://www.penders.com/.

Spend your weekend with us!

Sing-a-bration 2011

July 14th through 16th

Lewisville Convention Center – Lewisville, TX.

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Sing-a-bration Elementary – Thursday, July 14th – 9am to 4pm

Sing-a-bration Secondary – Thursday, July 14th – 9am to 4pm

Joy of Singing Elementary – Friday, July 15th – 9am to 4pm

Joy of Singing Middle School/High School – Friday, July 15th – 9am to 4pm

John Jacobson Choreography Workshop – Saturday, July 16th – 9am to 4pm

Joy of Worship – Saturday, July 16th, 9am to 4pm

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Choral Cache Thursdays, the series, will post to www.pendersbuzz.com a couple of times a month, with information from our staff, our publisher partners, guest bloggers and more. Come back to this site, or access it from our main Home Page, to find out the latest buzz!