Middle Schooled

Three-Part Treble with Optional Hand Percussion-When I Sing is a new ChroalQuest work by Rosephanye Powell that expresses the joys of choral singing! The text written in collaboration with the girls chorus of Auburn Junior High School in Alabama moves from I to We in this rhythmic soulful piece and gives young singers the opportunity to experiment with circle song structure. ChoralQuest« an exciting series of new music and accompanying curricula for middle-level choir is a program published by the American Composers Forum. The series is designed to breathe new life into the available repertoire for choral students in middle school and junior high. At the heart of this program are new works written by a diverse group ofleading American composers who have created challenging pieces that are a true departure from standard middle school repertoire. Based on the success of ACF's decade-long BandQuest« program ChoralQuest has a residency component in which the composer works collaboratively with a middle school as they create their new piece. Visit www.choralquest.org to learn more about this innovative series and emailchoralquest@composersforum.org to request a free downloadable audio catalog.

TTB-With its limited ranges and the vocal line supported by the accompaniment this is the ideal TTB work for the Middle and High School male choir. With references to Walt Whitman's Song of the Open Road the text encourages the young spirit to explore the journey of life. Featured in the 2001 National ACDA Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir this is a fine selection for festival or competition use. 

I wrote The Nonantum Bulgar in response to a request for a klezmer-style piece for middle school band. Since my local middle school (F. A. Day) is located in close proximity to Nonantum the oldest area of Newton MA I decided to imagine the dedication of the Adams St. Shul our city's oldest synagogue which took place around a hundred years ago (December 15 1912). According to the Yiddish and English poster announcing the dedication the event featured the a prominent Boston cantor and choir and a klezmer orchestra leading a 'Grand March' down Adams St. The piece tries to re-create what the klezmer band might have played on that occasion. A Bulgar is a Romanian Jewish Dance thatwas very popular among Jewish immigrants at the beginning of the twentieth century. The trumpet solo that opens the piece is a typical rubato prelude with the trumpet playing 'cantorial-style' Jewish ornaments and phrasing in the manner of Eastern-European Jewish prayer leaders. Once the dance starts the piece is underscored with a Romanian Jewish 'Bulgaresca' rhythm heard in the trombone snare drum and tympani. The 'bulgar' section of the piece begins with a typical klezmer band orchestration of the time featuring solo clarinet (played with a somewhat nasal tone) trumpet (or even more ideally cornet) trombone saxophone tuba and percussion. The percussion section is prominently featured in the third strain. In the final round of the opening melody the band slows down in the manner of a Russian 'Grand March ' bringing the piece to a proud and majestic conclusion. --Hankus Netsky

“I wrote The Nonantum Bulgar in response to a request for a klezmer-style piece for middle school band. Since my local middle school (F. A. Day) is located in close proximity to Nonantum the oldest area of Newton MA Idecided to imagine the dedication of the Adams St. Shul our city's oldest synagogue which took place around a hundred years ago (December 15 1912). According to the Yiddish and English poster announcing the dedication theevent featured the a prominent Boston cantor and choir and a klezmer orchestra leading a 'Grand March' down Adams St. The piece tries to re-create what the klezmer band might have played on that occasion.A Bulgar is aRomanian Jewish Dance that was very popular among Jewish immigrants at the beginning of the twentieth century. The trumpet solo that opens the piece is a typical rubato prelude with the trumpet playing 'cantorial-style' Jewishornaments and phrasing in the manner of Eastern-European Jewish prayer leaders. Once the dance starts the piece is underscored with a Romanian Jewish 'Bulgaresca' rhythm heard in the trombone snare drum and tympani. The'bulgar' section of the piece begins with a typical klezmer band orchestration of the time featuring solo clarinet (played with a somewhat nasal tone) trumpet (or even more ideally cornet) trombone saxophone tuba andpercussion. The percussion section is prominently featured in the third strain. In the final round of the opening melody the band slows down in the manner of a Russian 'Grand March ' bringing the piece to a proud and majesticconclusion.” --Hankus Netsky

MusicWorks - Grade 3 Commissioned for the All Iowa Middle School Honor Band here is an exuberant work that features dynamic ensemble passages layering effects and extensive percussion scoring. Richard's masterful development of repetitive rhythmic motives makes this sound more difficult than it really is. A contrasting middle section uses brief solos for alto sax and flute over a rich harmonic texture. A powerful statement for band. (5:10)

Experience Music History through Articles Dramatizations Active Listening Puzzles and more!-Why do people always stand when they hear Handel's Hallelujah Chorus? Did you know that Bach's music was forgotten by the public for many years before being rediscovered and that Beethoven wrote his famous Ninth Symphony after helost his hearing? Experience classical music like never before with captivating composer stories active listening dramas interviews puzzles and a whole lot more! Drop into the lives of famous composers from the Middle Agesthrough the Twentieth Century. Sharpen your listening skills with the music of Bach Mozart Beethoven Strauss Tchaikovsky and others. Act out your own fictional television interview with Bach. Decode fascinating fun factsthrough musical word spelling. Discover the flashy music of the Baroque era in contrast to the dignified music of the Classical era. Learn about symphonies concertos operas arias chamber music and program music. Identify tonecolors of different instruments with challenging listening activities and much more! This engaging resource for upper elementary and middle school features 40 reproducible activities and a listening CD with quality orchestralrecordings - a “must” for every general music library! Get ready for some classic fun! Available: Book/CD. Suggested for grades 4-8.

Uses: ChristmasScripture: Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-12This masterful setting of the traditional French carol is an ideal choice for older elementary choirs and middle school choirs alike. A creative accessible piano part provides a superb accompaniment to the carol's dance-like melody while optional finger cymbals add an additional layer of charm to the presentation. The song's middle section introduces an easy countermelodythat later serves as an optional descant for two-part choirs. Available separately: Unison/opt. 2-Part Treble CelebrationTrax CD. Duration: ca. 1:50

Matching folio to the album that debuted just below High School Musical 2 on the Billboard Top 200 charts including all 10 tracks: The Altar and the Door * East to West * Every Man * Prayer for a Friend * Slow Fade * Somewhere inthe Middle * What This World Needs * The Word Is Alive.

This tried-and-true collection by Rubank includes easy arrangements of 16 marches written with the young band in mind. There's no more economical way to introduce middle school and early high school bands to the great marches ofSousa and others as well as some well-known college fight songs. Includes: American Patrol • Bay State March • Black Jack March • College Life • Father of Victory • High School Cadets • Indiana StateBand • Joyce's 71st Regiment • March Gloria • Salutation March • Second Connecticut March • Semper Fidelis • Steel King • The Thunderer • Washington Post.

A Musical for Young Voices-Can't get enough of this ?way out? school where everybody sings and everything's cool! It's the first day of school and new students Michael Michele and Junior are about to discover what the singing is all about. Theprincipal is quite cheery and loves to vocalize!? Everyone's a winner in Jim the Gym teacher's gym and those classical cooks of the cafeteria are always ready to dine. Even the students in detention are singing . . . the blues and the whacky Science class is really rockin'! Upper elementary and middle school performers will rock to ?Harmony High.? Clever original songs zany antics and creative script writing combine for a truly spectacularmoment on stage that will have everyone singing including the audience! Teacher Edition includes piano/vocal arrangements script choreography and helpful production guide. The script with over 20 speaking parts is adaptable togroups of varying sizes and teaching objectives linked to the National Standards are provided for each song. Singer book offers vocal lines and script parts and the performance/accompaniment CD features the highest qualityrecordings. The expanded Performance Kit provides all you need in one convenient package for extra cost-saving value. Available separately: Teacher Edition Singer 5-Pak Preview CD (with vocals) Preview Pak (1 Singer book 1Preview CD) Performance/Accompaniment CD Performance Kit/CD (Teacher 20 Singer books P/A CD). Duration: ca. 40 minutes. Suggested for grades 4-8.

A Musical for Young Voices-Can't get enough of this ?way out? school where everybody sings and everything's cool! It's the first day of school and new students Michael Michele and Junior are about to discover what the singing is all about. Theprincipal is quite cheery and loves to vocalize!? Everyone's a winner in Jim the Gym teacher's gym and those classical cooks of the cafeteria are always ready to dine. Even the students in detention are singing . . . the blues and the whacky Science class is really rockin'! Upper elementary and middle school performers will rock to ?Harmony High.? Clever original songs zany antics and creative script writing combine for a truly spectacularmoment on stage that will have everyone singing including the audience! Teacher Edition includes piano/vocal arrangements script choreography and helpful production guide. The script with over 20 speaking parts is adaptable togroups of varying sizes and teaching objectives linked to the National Standards are provided for each song. Singer book offers vocal lines and script parts and the performance/accompaniment CD features the highest qualityrecordings. The expanded Performance Kit provides all you need in one convenient package for extra cost-saving value. Available separately: Teacher Edition Singer 5-Pak Preview CD (with vocals) Preview Pak (1 Singer book 1Preview CD) Performance/Accompaniment CD Performance Kit/CD (Teacher 20 Singer books P/A CD). Duration: ca. 40 minutes. Suggested for grades 4-8.

A Musical for Young Voices-Can't get enough of this “way out” school where everybody sings and everything's cool! It's the first day of school and new students Michael Michele and Junior are about to discover what the singing is all about. Theprincipal is quite cheery and loves to vocalize!? Everyone's a winner in Jim the Gym teacher's gym and those classical cooks of the cafeteria are always ready to dine. Even the students in detention are singing . . . the blues and the whacky Science class is really rockin'! Upper elementary and middle school performers will rock to “Harmony High.” Clever original songs zany antics and creative script writing combine for a truly spectacularmoment on stage that will have everyone singing including the audience! Teacher Edition includes piano/vocal arrangements script choreography and helpful production guide. The script with over 20 speaking parts is adaptable togroups of varying sizes and teaching objectives linked to the National Standards are provided for each song. Singer book offers vocal lines and script parts and the performance/accompaniment CD features the highest qualityrecordings. The expanded Performance Kit provides all you need in one convenient package for extra cost-saving value. Available separately: Teacher Edition Singer 5-Pak Preview CD (with vocals) Preview Pak (1 Singer book 1Preview CD) Performance/Accompaniment CD Performance Kit/CD (Teacher 20 Singer books P/A CD). Duration: ca. 40 minutes. Suggested for grades 4-8.

Unison Singer 5-Pak-If it is to be it is up to me! Young people are bombarded with choices every day ... at school at home at play. Promote positive choice-making with this high-energy 30-minute revue developed by youth service organizationsPrimary Focus and the Character Counts coalition. Through music and drama your singers can explore the six pillars of character: trustworthiness respect responsibility fairness caring and citizenship. The Unison Young Choiredition is an adapted version with unison vocals and short connecting dialog. The SAB edition can be used by middle and high school ensembles. It's your choice ... and it counts!

3rd Bb Clarinet-This tried-and-true collection by Rubank includes easy arrangements of 16 marches written with the young band in mind. There's no more economical way to introduce middle school and early high school bands to the great marches of Sousa and others as well as some well-known college fight songs.