Cindy, Get On Board!: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Cindy, Get On Board! Sheet Music Preview

Cindy, Get On Board!: 2-Part Choral Octavo

By Mary Donnelly / Arranged by George L.O. Strid

Item: 35-DS00263704
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 9
SKU: 35-DS00263704

More about this title

About the Composer: Mary Donnelly

Mary Donnelly

Mary Donnelly grew up in Reno, Nevada, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and French from the University of Nevada, Reno. While still an undergraduate, she founded two children's choruses, an experience that redirected her career toward music education. She completed a Master's Degree in Education at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a focus on arts integration across the curriculum.

Donnelly taught general music and choir in the Washoe County School District for three decades, working primarily with elementary and middle school students. In 1985, she began a prolific collaboration with arranger George L.O. Strid while co-teaching a sixth grade music class. Together they have created over two hundred songs and twenty-five theatrical works. She holds memberships in ACDA, NEA, and ASCAP and continues to live in Reno with her husband, Rich.

Why we love this

Donnelly and Strid understand the voice of a young choir. This arrangement takes a familiar folk melody and voices it in a way that sounds effortless to sing while maintaining genuine musical substance. The 2-part texture is accessible without feeling juvenile, making it ideal for building ensemble confidence and blend.

What to expect

The spiritual carries warmth and invitation, a melody that feels like it's been passed hand to hand across generations. The two-part writing creates openness and light rather than density, giving singers room to find their voices while being held by the ensemble.

Who it's for

This arrangement works beautifully for elementary and middle school choirs, especially ensembles still building foundational skills in two-part singing. It's equally at home in a concert setting, a school assembly, or a thematic program exploring American folk traditions.

How to get the most out of it

  • Keep the articulation conversational rather than rigid; the spiritual comes alive when singers treat it as storytelling, not recitation.
  • Balance the two parts by listening for moments where melody and harmony swap roles. Don't let one voice dominate throughout.
  • Establish a moderate tempo that allows syllables to land clearly without feeling rushed. This piece benefits from space to breathe between phrases.
  • Encourage singers to commit to the rhythm section's pocket. When young singers feel the pulse supporting them, confidence follows.

How to use it

Pair this with other American folk arrangements to create a focused set on cultural heritage and musical storytelling. It also serves as an excellent confidence-builder early in the rehearsal season, offering a piece that students can master quickly and perform with genuine pride.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing in two-part harmony with independent melodic lines
  • Balancing blend and clarity between vocal parts
  • Interpreting rhythmic content in spirituals with appropriate phrasing
  • Sustaining longer phrases with proper breath management
  • Understanding the cultural context and historical significance of folk spirituals

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