| Comment: Re: Conducting and singing jazz choral pieces | Mary Jane Phillips | May 16, 2012 |
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Veryy funny - made me giggle! :-)
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: 1 month of school left with no concert...what to do? | Mary Jane Phillips | May 8, 2012 |
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In my middle school choirs -
1) Favorite song project - Each kid chooses their favorite song from any genre. You make a worksheet including composer, artist, title, etc of the song that they fill out after they research a little about their song. Once each kid has researched their song, th... |
| Comment: Re: Help finding link to an incredible video | Mary Jane Phillips | March 21, 2012 |
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On Youtube, type "Why an A is not enough" into the search engine and it will send you right to it. We did the same thing for parents at my concert last week and they were AMAZED.
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: Dresses | Mary Jane Phillips | March 6, 2012 |
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Priase Hymn Fashions in Mesquite, Texas. I've used them for years - quality is GREAT (much better than other more expensive brands) and prices are very competitive. They have a website, but i don't know the exact address - just google Praise Hymn Fashions and you'll find them.
Mary Jane P... |
| Comment: Re: Middle School Choir Hot Topics | Mary Jane Phillips | January 18, 2012 |
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Reese,
Off the top of my head......
Male voice change
Female voice change
Sight singing
Tried and proven lierature - SA, SSA, TB, TTB, SAB and SATB
Recruitment (especially with pullouts from electives due to students needing extra help to pass standardaized tests)
Female te... |
| Comment: Re: Seeking two-part repertoire that is dead easy and sounds decent | Mary Jane Phillips | January 11, 2012 |
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Al shlosha d'varim - by Allan Naplan - a beautiful partner song
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: Solfege poster | Mary Jane Phillips | December 11, 2011 |
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I found several at www.musicinmotion.com - type in "solfege posters" to their search engine and they pop right up. You can also get cool ones at www.pattidewitt.com. They are small oval shaped posters for each individual sofege syllable with the handsign on the poster. Then, you can place them... |
| Comment: Re: Peak Choral Experience: NBC's The Sing-Off | Mary Jane Phillips | December 2, 2011 |
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Hello!
A little background on two of the Pentatonix kids. 2 grew up in Arlington, Texas (right down the road from me) and sang in fantastic middle school and high school choral programs. I watched them sing in our Region choirs and watched them grow up.They had excellent "classical" voice... |
| Comment: Re: Questions from young singers during rehearsal? | Mary Jane Phillips | November 23, 2011 |
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Eric,
I have taught MS choir for 23 years now, and this is always a concern. Try this - tell kids that you will ask for questions at a certain time in the rehearsal/explanation. Up until that point, if their hand goes up in the air, I just tell them their arm will get very tired because I... |
| Comment: Re: TB Holiday suggestions? | Mary Jane Phillips | November 14, 2011 |
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Go to Brileemusic.com. They have a great catalog of good TB music with several choices for the holidays. I really like "The Shepherd's Spiritual" - TB - arr. Donald Moore from Brilee.
Mary Jane
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| Comment: Re: Novelty Number for HS Boys | Mary Jane Phillips | October 27, 2011 |
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There are several TBB or TTB arrangements of the old British folk song "I Wish I Was Single Again" - the words are perfect for what you're looking for.
Mary Jane
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| Comment: Re: High School TTB/TBB Literature | Mary Jane Phillips | October 17, 2011 |
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Go to brileemusic.com and check out their men's catalog. Lots of good beginning men's choir muisc there - be very careful of ranges as you choose beginning men's music.
Mary Jane
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| Comment: Re: Women's hair in performance | Mary Jane Phillips | October 17, 2011 |
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I tell my middle school girls to wear hair their hair "half up and half down" - the front pulled out of their face and the back down. I bring bobby pins to each concert in case they don't comply. Works like a charm!
MAry Jane
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| Comment: Re: Teaching kids to sing Harmony | Mary Jane Phillips | October 15, 2011 |
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I would first start with rounds, then move to partner songs. When you begin "real" 2 part harmony, be sure first one you try doesn't do a lot of moving in parallel 3rds or 6ths - untranined ears try and make those into unison! Parts that move mostly in contrary motion are easiest to hear. The b... |
| Comment: Re: Looking for Multimetered Song for Choral recital | Mary Jane Phillips | September 30, 2011 |
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A Jubilant Song - Norman Dello Joio - SATB
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| Comment: Re: middle/high school choral rep advice | Mary Jane Phillips | September 1, 2011 |
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The Violet was written by Mark Patterson - great MS composer.
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| Comment: Re: Classical rep for 2 or 3-part treble | Mary Jane Phillips | August 26, 2011 |
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Regina Angelorum - Sa - Mozart/arr. Catherine Bennett
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| Comment: Re: A "Good" Problem to Have | Mary Jane Phillips | August 23, 2011 |
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At teacher supply stores and places like the Container Stores they have heavy cardboard storage units that can sit on top of a table or bookshelf. They are shaped just like your picture and are usually used for studnets to turn in papers. However, choral folders fit in them just fine. I used one i... |
| Comment: Re: High school student leadership models | Mary Jane Phillips | August 17, 2011 |
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Google Tim Lautzenheiser. He does workshops both teachers and student leaders of music groups and he is AWESOME. I beleive he's written several books on the subject adn also does workshops. I've seen him a couple of times with kids and they adore him and put the concepts to work that he teaches th... |
| Comment: Re: COOL repertoire for middle school boys | Mary Jane Phillips | August 17, 2011 |
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Go to jwpepper.com and find the Texas UIL Grade I Tenor-Bass list. It is located in a tab at the top of the page under state and festival lists. Also, search TB or TTB songs by these composers on the same website - they all do great songs for this age group - Donald Moore, Laura Farnell, Ruth ... |
| Comment: Re: Middle School music to be taught in one day | Mary Jane Phillips | August 13, 2011 |
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I "third" Al shlosha - it is (in my humble opinion) on of the most lovely partner songs ever written, Allan Naplan is a genius!!!
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: Compositions for middle school singers | Mary Jane Phillips | August 12, 2011 |
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I second the motion about Brilee Music - they are a MS choir directors best friend! Two composers also come immediately to mind with the criteria you have set forth. Both Laura Farnell and Mark Patterson were MS choral directors who now compose lovely pieces with MS kids in mind. Both use great... |
| Comment: Re: Who are your favorite Children's music composers? | Mary Jane Phillips | July 26, 2011 |
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Allan Naplan, Mark Patterson and Laura Farnell are all contemporary composers currently writing wonderful children's music. I also love doing folk songs and spirituals with younger students. I agree with John about the Julliard Repertory Library, but it is POP. You might try some school choral l... |
| Comment: Re: 9/11 Children's Choir | Mary Jane Phillips | June 27, 2011 |
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Al Shlosha d'Varim by Naplan (2 part) is a gorgeous partner song and the translation of the Hebrew text (which is not difficult to pronounce) is particularly appropriate for 9-11 remembrances. It is accompanied by piano.
Mary Jane
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| Comment: Re: Story-oriented Musical Theater numbers | Mary Jane Phillips | June 12, 2011 |
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"What isThis Feeling?" from Wicked
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: Classroom Management: Dicipline | Mary Jane Phillips | May 15, 2011 |
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Andrew,
You are a very wise wise young teacher in that you are starting to think about discipline BEFORE you have your first class next year. (Also, thanks Terry for mentioning my article in ChorTeach!) Some very basic, first week of school things I do:
1) We elect class officers qui... |
| Comment: Re: Best Repertoire Ever?!?! | Mary Jane Phillips | May 14, 2011 |
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Durufle Requiem - my favorite piece on earth!
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| Comment: Re: Favorite Ave Marias | Mary Jane Phillips | May 5, 2011 |
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Biebl - I cry every time I hear it sung well.
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: Best settings of quality texts | Mary Jane Phillips | May 2, 2011 |
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Z. Randall Stroope's SATB arrangement of ee cummings "i carry your heart with me" - truly beautiful!
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| Comment: Re: 'gap' in a boys changing voice | Mary Jane Phillips | March 31, 2011 |
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Simon,
This is an extremely common phenomena in boys' changing voices. I've taught middle school boys for 20 years and I almost always have at least one with this hole int heir voice very year. The area you spoke of is the most common place to find the "gap" or hole. Cooksey's research on... |
| Comment: Re: Quips for the Choral Rehearsal | Mary Jane Phillips | March 25, 2011 |
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One of my favorites from the late Ron Shirey when out heads were buried in the score was "Look up - from whence your help cometh!"
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| Comment: Re: 7th & 8th Grade Boys Advice | Mary Jane Phillips | March 5, 2011 |
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Try reading my ChorTeach article "Where the Wild Things Are" - it's also on the ACDA wesite under ChorTeach - Volume I. I've been teaching middle school boys for 22 years, and just about everything I've learned about teaching them is in that article. :-) Good Luck!
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: Middle School solo/small ensemble contest literature | Mary Jane Phillips | March 3, 2011 |
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Malinda,
Go to jwpepper.com and find the state and festival lists. Go to the Texas Class 3 solo literature list - lots of good stuff there! Also, I use the following solo collections books often for middle school solos - Pathways of Song Book 1, 2 and 3; Ready to Sing- Spirituals; Ready to ... |
| Comment: Re: Movies to show in choir | Mary Jane Phillips | March 1, 2011 |
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Newsies, High School Musical 1, 2 or 3, Wizard of Oz, Perfect Harmony and Mr. Hollad's Opus (I recorded it from TV so no "bad" words were in it) all work well for middle school kiddoes. I also recorded (many years ago) the episode of the TV show "The Wonder Years" about the 7th grade boys' choir.... |
| Comment: Re: "cool" and easy men's a capella repertoire | Mary Jane Phillips | February 25, 2011 |
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"The Little Book Spritual" TTB - Brilee Music - I can't remember the arranger, but it's not very difficult and really "sings" well. I second (or third) "Workin' on the Railroad" - I've done it several times with middle school boys and it works every time! It looks (and sounds) harder that it actua... |
| Comment: Re: Personal Resource/Library Design | Mary Jane Phillips | February 21, 2011 |
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Celeste,
I keep my single copies alphabetized in 3 inch 3 ring binders divided by sacred and secular voicings. (Example - One binder of SSA - Sacred and another binder of SSA - Secular.) I currently have about 14 binders - some voicings run over one binder. I'm very picky about what I keep ... |
| Comment: Re: Seeking spirited closer | Mary Jane Phillips | February 5, 2011 |
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"Let Everything That Hath Breath" - SATB - Jeffrey Ames - great modern gospel piece.
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: Repertoire for an All-State TTBB Choir | Mary Jane Phillips | January 27, 2011 |
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Tim,
"The Awakening" by Joseph Martin and Brant Adams - TTBB - stunning! I cry every time i hear a good men's choir sing it! :-)
Mary Jane
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| Comment: Re: Unknown | Mary Jane Phillips | January 9, 2011 |
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I also recognize it as the refrain from "Dormi, Dormi" - that's the only place I've ever heard that melody.
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: 3 part partner songs | Mary Jane Phillips | November 29, 2010 |
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That Dixieland Sound (includes "When the Siants Go Marching In") - 3 part any combination - arr. BEsig and price
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| Comment: Re: Music about angels | Mary Jane Phillips | November 28, 2010 |
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Regina Angelorum - SA - W.A. Mozart/arr. Catherine Bennett - great introduction to Mozart and Calssical repertoire for developing treble choirs. It's LOVELY!
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: Two Words | Mary Jane Phillips | November 11, 2010 |
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Tim
One of my mentors at TCU was the incredible Dr. Ruth Whitlock. She taught Choral Methods, Ear Traning, Chapel Choir, Choral Lab and mostly, about life in her classes. :-) She infuenced countless choir directors who now teach at every level from kindergarten to college and still speak... |
| Comment: Re: choral composers for reading assignments | Mary Jane Phillips | November 2, 2010 |
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Palestrina, Handel, JS Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Stravinsky and for the month of May/end of school John Lennon (they LOVE that one and there is plenty of material on him!)
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| Comment: Re: Choral Dresses from Southeastern Apparel | Mary Jane Phillips | October 13, 2010 |
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I use Praise Hymn Fashions out of Mesquite, TX. Their website is praisehymnfashions.com. GREAT quality, they always have the same fabrics from year to year if you need to order more, and most importantly, they always are cheaper than Southeastern and other companies. I've never ordered from Sout... |
| Comment: Re: Betelehemu alternative | Mary Jane Phillips | October 6, 2010 |
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Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas has an amazing library. They are a fine men's choir and sing COOL literature all the time.
MAry Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: African Noel-2 part | Mary Jane Phillips | October 5, 2010 |
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I've done both, and I found the Johnson to be more historically correct while the Perry is a little easier. Both are well written and very singable.
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| Comment: Re: Middle School Concert Attire | Mary Jane Phillips | October 4, 2010 |
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Matthew,
My 6th graders wear 6 t-shirts and jeans at each concert. 7th and 8th graders wear that at casual concerts - like caroling trips or recruiting trips to sing at elementary schools. My 7th and 8th grade boys' formal uniform is black pants and shoes, white tux shirt, bow tie and a gra... |
| Comment: Re: Concert theme? | Mary Jane Phillips | September 28, 2010 |
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Marie,
I've always thought that W.A. Mozart's life was the original "child star gone bad" story - child prodigy becomes famous, rich, then grows up and no one is impressed anymore and he dies penniless. It could absolutely be a VH1 Behind the Music special, so I'd include Mozart for sure.... |
| Comment: Re: Recommendation of Children's Choir books or other media resources | Mary Jane Phillips | September 27, 2010 |
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Rollo Dilworth's "Choir Builders" warmup book is outstanding.
Mary Jane Phillips
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| Comment: Re: iPad for choir? | Mary Jane Phillips | September 25, 2010 |
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The greatest thing I've seen an iPad used for was by an accompanist. The music for the concert was scanned and downloaded into the iPad (don't ask me how - I'm technologically chanllenged), and all he had to do to "turn" pages was touch the screen. Very Vanna White/ Wheel of Fortune-ish. :-) No ch... |
