Around the World in a Thousand Years: Choral Book & 2 CDs

Imagine stepping into a time capsule that spins in every direction at once. One moment you're in a Victorian parlor, the next you're singing calypso rhythms and beatboxing harmonies. The energy shifts constantly, keeping the stage and audience alert.

This is built for children ages 7 to 14 in school or community choir settings who can handle an ensemble show with multiple short pieces rather than a linear plot. Directors seeking a multimedia concert or assembly program will find the website quest premise engaging for intermediate singers.

• Use the two included CDs to establish the sound of each style before drilling parts. Students learn faster when they hear the target sound first.
• Isolate the rock numbers and barbershop sections for separate sectional rehearsals; these styles demand different vocal technique than the ballads.
• Build choreography that honors the cultural contexts of each piece. Movement becomes a learning tool, not an afterthought.
• Let ensemble sections shine in the beatbox and ragtime numbers. These styles work best when the whole group commits to rhythmic precision together.

Program this as a spring concert centerpiece, a winter festival showcase, or an assembly that combines music with a light technology theme. The 172 pages give you substantial material for a full-length performance without requiring dramatic sets or complicated staging.

• Singing in multiple contemporary and historical styles (rock, ballad, barbershop, ragtime, calypso, rock and roll)
• Rhythmic precision in beat-boxing and syncopated patterns
• Part independence in ensemble textures
• Cultural awareness through musical tradition
• Blend and balance across changing vocal arrangements