A Whale of a Tale: 2-Part Choral Teacher's Guide

Donnelly and Strid understand what makes children want to sing. A Whale of a Tale uses humor, memorable characters, and six original songs to keep young voices engaged throughout the entire show. The 2-part voicing keeps the arranging accessible while allowing genuine harmonic interest, and the circus narrative gives every performer a personality to inhabit, not just a part to read.

Imagine an underwater carnival where every creature is auditioning for stardom and nothing goes quite as planned. The music bounces with childlike energy and comedy; singers move from solos to ensemble moments, each character more ridiculous and lovable than the last. The whole show has the warmth of a community celebration where even the least confident singer finds a moment to shine.

Elementary music teachers directing school choirs want material that balances genuine musicianship with genuine fun. This guide serves teachers working with mixed-ability singers ages 8-11 who benefit from the motivation that comes with character roles, narrative momentum, and humor.

• Build character voices during rehearsals before polishing pitch and rhythm. Have singers speak their lines as Terry Tuna, Monty Mussel, and Waylon J. Whale to find authenticity in the performance.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish tempos and harmonic foundation early; this frees your rehearsal time for theatrical work and ensemble blend.
• Coach the younger singers to enunciate clearly during the comedy moments. Humor lands only when the audience understands the words.
• Create simple movement and staging that matches the circus setting. Even basic choreography for the ensemble songs transforms the performance from concert reading to full theatrical experience.

This works beautifully as a spring concert feature or end-of-year celebration. The 64-page guide supports a full theatrical production with modest staging needs, making it ideal for schools without elaborate theater programs. You can also extract individual songs for holiday programs or assembly performances if a full production isn't feasible.

• singing in 2-part harmony with independent vocal lines
• connecting lyrics to character motivation and emotional expression
• maintaining ensemble blend while executing simple choreography or staging
• sight-reading notation within a performance context
• responding to theatrical cues and dynamic changes within a narrative arc