Educating Young Singers: A Choral Resource for Teacher-Conductors

by Mary Goetze, Angela Broeker, Ruth Boshkoff

This book is filled with ideas, processes, demonstrations, and activities to give the choral teacher-conductor a multifaceted tool for nurturing the developing choir. The book is organized in three units. Unit 1: First Things First addresses selection of repertoire, multicultural music, learning the score and healthy conducting technique. Unit 2: The Toolbox discusses vocal development, reading, part singing and kindling creativity. Unit 3: Putting It All Together offers suggestions on rehearsal planning and focuses on vocal production: vowels and consonants, intonation, ensemble singing, expression and memorization. Musical examples are used throughout, as well as tables, photographs, and "Extensions and Application" assignments to help students internalize and remember the points covered in each of the eleven chapters.

Genres: Music, Education

240 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Tandava Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best single resource I’ve found for someone leading young choirs. It doesn’t give a specific age range, but it’s for kids who are getting into part singing, so not for the super-young. (In my case, it’s for 4th-8th graders. Probably useful for high school, too.) It assumes some musical background (e.g. familiarity with solfege, basic conducting patterns, etc.) but gives a clear introduction and practical tips for pretty much every aspect of running a class or choir. It even comes with a DVD demonstrating various exercises and things that may be a bit hard to pick up just from the text. Very good all around.

[Justin Hartsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING book!