Pender’s Picks: Christmas cantatas 2011
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Our Cantata Picks for Christmas 2011!
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Tag Archives: choral cache thursdays
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 |
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| 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
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*Content used by permission of Alfred Publishing Company. |
Sing-a-bration 2011 Wrap-Up
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.
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)
New for YOU! Joy of Singing in two tracks!
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!
The Choir & the Community
Is your choir in a community that supports the arts, and supports your music program? If so, you might want to fill out a nationwide survey that searches for communities whose [music] programs exemplify commitment to music education.
Once analyzed, your school or school district might be listed as an official NAMM Best Community for Music Education.
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What you need to know:
NAMM: The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry.
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The NAMM Foundation: A non-profit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.
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Best Communities for Music Education (BCME): Amid a backdrop of arts education budget cuts, the NAMM Foundation continues its effort to recognize schools across the U.S. that support music education and provide opportunities for children and young people to learn and grow with music. Their survey has been conducted annually since 1998.
The List: The projected announcement of the BCME final roster is Monday, May 2, 2011.
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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!
The Texas Original Score Contest Wants You!
How would you like to win up to $25,000 for your choir? Wouldn’t that be something? $25,000, to put toward important supplies and resources for your school’s music program.
Well, as the well-known slogan says…State Farm is there [to give you a chance to win money for your choir]. That’s right. All you have to do is enter the Texas Original Score Contest, a combined initiative courtesy of TMEA and State Farm Insurance.
With a commitment of $100,000 from State Farm, a Texas high school music program has the potential to win up to $25,000! All you and your students have to do is create and perform an original score that reflects something great about the state of Texas. One of the beauties of this particular contest is that schools of all sizes can get involved, and be judged appropriately. 1A-3A high schools will compete in one pool; 4A-5A in another. Additionally, you can use just one part of your fine arts program (i.e. the choir), or combine the efforts of everyone, and produce a collaborative project among multiple music groups (choir, band, orchestra, etc) from your school.
What do you need to do? In a nutshell:
- compose an original score that reflects something great about Texas,
- bring together an ensemble of high school student musicians to perform the composition
Winning ensembles will be determined based on their composite score comprising three components: (1) the number of votes received in relation to the total possible number of votes in the contest (500 points), (2) score received from Texas Original Score Contest Adjudication panel based on standard TMEA/UIL competition criteria and integration of TEKS in the collaboration and creation process (250 points), and (3) score received from music industry adjudication panel, including members of Los Lonely Boys and other music industry professionals.
Go to the contest website to download the teacher handbook, review the rules, and learn more about how you and your students can participate.
(information courtesy of TMEA & OriginalScoreContest.com)
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!