A Better World: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Sonja Poorman
Item: 00-PO-0003228
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Teach your students that by working together, we can build a brighter tomorrow. This gently flowing piece is well-designed for younger groups with plenty of unison singing, independent counterlines, and contrary motion harmonies. "If you reach out, you can make this place a better world."
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0003228
More about this title
About the Composer: Sonja Poorman
Sonja Poorman brings three decades of hands-on choral experience to her compositions. She holds degrees in music education from Ball State University and the University of Miami, and has spent her career directing choirs across church and school environments, translating her deep understanding of how ensembles learn and grow into music that serves real teaching moments.
Her output spans sacred and educational repertoire, each piece shaped by her direct knowledge of what works in the rehearsal room. Poorman writes for the groups and singers she knows best: young choristers discovering their voices, intermediate ensembles building confidence, and singers of all ages seeking music with purpose.
Why we love this
Poorman has written a piece that trusts younger singers without condescending to them. The unison passages give everyone a foothold, but the independent counterlines and contrary motion harmonies keep the musical fabric alive and engaging, making rehearsal feel like actual part-singing rather than accompaniment.
What to expect
The gentle flow invites rather than demands. A gently flowing piece with genuine harmonic interest, it carries an optimistic tone without sentimentality, letting the message about collective action emerge naturally from the music itself.
Who it's for
This piece fits young choirs ready to move beyond unison singing but still developing part-independence. It works equally well for middle school singers discovering how harmony feels or for community youth ensembles seeking meaningful repertoire with a message that resonates.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the unison and 2-part sections during early rehearsals so singers understand where their part stands on its own versus where it blends. Mark these shifts in scores with a highlighter if needed.
- Shape the contrary motion passages with clear, independent phrasing in each part; resist letting one line shadow the other even though the parts move in opposite directions.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to anchor tempo and harmonic context while your group builds independence, then gradually reduce reliance on it as confidence grows.
How to use it
Program this as a standalone concert piece with genuine thematic weight, or pair it with other community-focused repertoire to build a concert section around themes of cooperation and hope. Its accessible difficulty makes it a strong choice for festival competitions where judges reward both musicality and age-appropriate programming.
Skills your students will build
- Singing independent lines while maintaining awareness of harmonic context
- Reading and performing contrary motion
- Blending unison and 2-part textures within a single piece
- Sustaining pitch and line through longer phrases