Skip to content
Alisha Gabriel's Website
Alisha Gabriel's Website

Free music education resources for teachers

  • Blog
  • About Me
    • MEDIA KIT
  • Resources for Music Teachers
  • School Visits
  • About Alisha’s Books
  • Contact Me!
Alisha Gabriel's Website

Free music education resources for teachers

Choosing Elementary Choir Repertoire

Posted on July 11, 2015 By admin

Each Fall semester, my after-school choir performs six pieces, give or take. The choir is made up of fourth and fifth graders and meets for approximately fifty minutes once a week. Students have the opportunity to perform a variety of pieces and experience musical training beyond the classroom.

Program selections usually include unison or two-part octavos from the following categories: Patriotic, Foreign Language, Musical, Classical, Folk Song Medley, Round or Canon, and Novelty. It’s likely that one or more will be lyrical, but there should be variety in tempo and style. Once I’ve made the selections, it’s time to consider program order.

When programming the concert order, I always decide on the final piece first. It’s the last thing the audience will hear, and will leave a lasting impression. Therefore, the choir must know it and sing it with confidence!

Next, I choose the opening piece, usually an upbeat selection. Sometimes it is a foreign language pick if my choir loves to sing it and it showcases them well. In every case, I try to choose a song that will grab the audience from the opening notes.

The pieces between the opening and closing are carefully planned as well. I consider tempo, key signature, choreography, and style. If the classical selection is not in English, I may place a song between the classical and foreign language selections.

Finally, the students become stakeholders in the choir with opportunities to shine. Choir members  introduce each piece and give opening and closing remarks. (I write the speaking parts.) Others bring out flowers for the accompanist, fold programs, and various other tasks throughout the semester.

How do you plan your programs? Do you have a winning octavo to share?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Choir choiroctavorepertoire

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search within my website

If you make a purchase through my Bookshop, NEED2READ, I might receive a small commission, which will help to keep this site going!

 

Recent Posts

  • Interview with author Rebecca E. Hirsch on Wonder Wings
  • Author Interview with Stephanie Gibeault, Dogs vs. Humans: A Showdown of the Senses
  • Interview with debut author Teri Roche Drobnick
  • Hand-Lettered Inspiration for Writers and Illustrators
  • Cover Reveal for Fungi are…More Than Mushrooms

Archives

  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • January 2025
  • October 2024
  • July 2022
  • January 2021
  • July 2019
  • December 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • November 2017
  • January 2017
  • August 2016
  • June 2016
  • March 2016
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • July 2014
  • October 2013
  • June 2013
  • January 2013
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011

Categories

  • Author Interview
  • Book news
  • Book Review
  • Choir
  • Composers
  • Differentiation
  • Folk Songs
  • Form
  • Game
  • General
  • Improvisation
  • Instruments
  • Listening
  • Melody
  • Meter
  • Movement
  • Recorder
  • Resources
  • Rhythm
  • Solfege
  • Steady Beat
  • Substitute Lessons
  • Technology
  • Tribes
  • Uncategorized
  • Visual Aids
  • Writing Prompt

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
©2025 Alisha Gabriel's Website | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes
%d