Give Me a Kite: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0001284
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This charming, musical selection was composed especially for 2-part voices and achieves basic harmony with simple parallel thirds and a soaring countermelody. Andy's imaginative text has great appeal for young singers and serves as a metaphor for developing self-confidence. Truly uplifting. Accompaniment available on PianoTrax 4 CD (00-35870).
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001284
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has composed and arranged more than 450 choral works now in active repertoire. His output spans secular and sacred music, vocal resources, and children's musicals; he also created the influential sight-singing and vocal technique resources Sing at First Sight, Foundations in Choral Sight Singing, and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique. His compositions reach singers across the globe, as evidenced by countless YouTube performances.
Beyond the page, Beck works regularly as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in schools and all-state honor choirs throughout the United States and beyond. He holds degrees in music education from Ithaca College (Bachelor's) and Northwest Missouri State University (Master's). A trained tenor, he performs with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and has worked as a studio singer for Alfred Music since 1992, bringing his conducting and performing experience directly into the music he publishes.
Why we love this
Beck writes with deep understanding of what junior singers need to succeed: accessible ranges, clear harmonic movement, and texts that matter to them. The parallel thirds and soaring countermelody give young choirs genuine musical satisfaction without technical overwhelm, and the metaphor for self-confidence resonates with the age group singing it. This is the kind of piece that builds singers' confidence and makes them want to sing more.
What to expect
Soaring and optimistic, with a gentle lift that mirrors the kite in flight. The simple parallel motion creates warmth and blend while the countermelody adds sophistication, giving the piece a sense of possibility without heaviness.
Who it's for
Young singers in middle school through early high school who are ready for 2-part harmony but benefit from straightforward voice-leading. The accessible text and uplifting message appeal to developing singers at the moment when they're building confidence in their own musicianship.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the countermelody carefully so it enhances rather than competes with the main melodic line; this requires your upper voices to listen across parts.
- Explore what the kite metaphor means to your singers before you begin rehearsing; when they understand the emotional arc, the text delivery becomes more expressive and unified.
- Work the parallel thirds first without the countermelody to lock in intonation and harmonic stability, then layer in the independent line.
How to use it
Pair this with other uplifting 2-part selections to build a program around themes of growth and encouragement. It works especially well in spring concerts or student achievement events where repertoire should celebrate how far singers have come.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in parallel thirds with secure intonation
- Balancing independent melodic lines within a 2-part texture
- Applying music as a vehicle for emotional expression and metaphor
- Blending voices while maintaining individual part independence