A Child of Song: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Music by Andy Beck and Derryl Herring
Item: 00-PO-0002225
$2.50
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Description
Don't be fooled by the five-four meter of this original canon for 2-part voices, because it's amazingly simple to learn! Perhaps it's the lilting jazzy groove, the supportive piano part, or the well-crafted melody that make "A Child of Song" a cinch to sing and a pleasure to perform. Students will love this song about the music inside of them, and teachers will take pride in the sophisticated accomplishments of their young musicians! A jazzy flute and saxophone duet shines on the SoundTrax CD. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, A Child of Song: 2-Part Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0002225
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs the choral publications division at Alfred Music, where he shapes a catalog of vocal resources used by music educators nationwide. His compositional output exceeds 450 published works across choral music, children's musicals, and vocal pedagogy materials, including the widely adopted sight-singing and warm-up resources Sing at First Sight, Foundations in Choral Sight Singing, and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique.
A trained tenor with degrees from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University, Beck balances administrative work with active musicianship. He guest conducts honor choirs throughout the Southeast, adjudicates festivals, leads clinics for teachers and students, and performs with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and in musical theatre. His YouTube presence confirms the reach of his compositions across school choirs worldwide.
Why we love this
Beck's instinct for what makes a piece singable without sacrificing musical substance shines here. The 5/4 meter could derail young singers, but the jazzy pulse and accessible melody make it feel natural rather than awkward. Your students will finish this piece confident they've conquered something genuinely sophisticated.
What to expect
The piece moves with an easy jazz swagger, lilting and contemporary without losing its songful character. Singers feel the satisfaction of navigating 5/4 while the groove carries them forward, making rhythm feel like a conversation rather than a constraint.
Who it's for
Middle school and early high school choirs looking for accessible repertoire that introduces non-traditional meters without overwhelm. Works beautifully for singers new to 2-part writing or those building confidence in ensemble singing.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock in the groove first by having singers feel the jazz pulse in 5/4 before adding text. Counting "1-2-3, 1-2" helps establish the meter without overthinking it.
- Layer in the melody against the piano part during early rehearsals so students hear how their line sits within the harmonic foundation.
- Use the recorded accompaniment strategically: begin without it while building independence, then add it to hear the jazzy flute and saxophone duet that frames the piece.
- Balance the text delivery with the rhythmic ease of the melody. The song's message about inner music deserves clarity without sacrificing the buoyant feel.
How to use it
Program this as a first-half opener to establish energy and accessibility, or position it midway through a concert to offer stylistic variety. It pairs well with traditional choral literature and signals to audiences that your singers command modern musical language. The uplifting text about discovering one's musical voice makes it particularly effective for school assemblies, community performances, or concerts celebrating student accomplishment.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing in 5/4 meter with confidence
- Singing 2-part harmony with independence from the ensemble
- Maintaining rhythmic clarity while executing jazz-inflected phrasing
- Responding to and balancing with a piano accompaniment
- Connecting lyrical content to musical expression