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Mi Vida, Mi Canción: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

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Mi Vida, Mi Canción Cover Image

Mi Vida, Mi Canción: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

(My Life, My Song)

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-A-00014847

$22.95
Digital Download
Description

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-A-00014847

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned the Distinguished Alumni award. His eight-year tenure as a rights and licenses administrator at a major educational music publisher gave him deep insight into choral publishing and music licensing; during this time, he served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. As a composer, he has written over 800 choral works performed widely across the English-speaking world and holds membership in ASCAP, a regular recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for his compositions.

Beyond composing, Althouse has collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on several children's musicals and co-authored influential classroom resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. He compiled and arranged numerous vocal solo collections and authored reproducible music education materials for teachers. His choral work I Hear America Singing, co-written with Albrecht, was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. He serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America and has contributed articles to the Folk Art Messenger.

Why we love this

Althouse crafts this piece with movement and staging built into the musical DNA, giving directors a complete package that feels natural to perform rather than tacked on. The Latin and multicultural idiom connects authentically to repertoire your students actually want to sing, and the Spanish text deepens cultural engagement without requiring your choir to be fluent. With recorded accompaniment and available instrumental parts, you have maximum flexibility for how your ensemble takes it on.

What to expect

Vibrant and alive, with the rhythmic ease of a song that feels lived-in rather than learned. The Spanish text carries warmth and immediacy, and the Latin harmonic language unfolds with natural forward motion that draws singers and audiences into the music's movement and joy.

Who it's for

Choral directors seeking accessible yet musically substantial Latin repertoire that engages singers in singing, movement, and cultural awareness simultaneously. This works for intermediate to advanced high school choirs, community choirs, and select middle school groups with strong vocal control and coordination.

How to get the most out of it

  • Work the movement sequences early and separately from the vocal line; once students own both independently, layer them together to find the pocket where music and motion feel integrated rather than competing for attention.
  • Let the recorded accompaniment guide initial learning, but encourage your singers to listen for the harmonic color and rhythmic feel rather than leaning on it passively; this trains them to understand how their voices fit the Latin texture.
  • If you add instrumental players using the available parts, rehearse with them before full ensemble runs; the rhythmic swing of Latin percussion and Latin-inflected instrumentation requires lock and trust that develops fastest with targeted sectional time.

How to use it

Slot this into a concert exploring global voices, contemporary choral expression, or cultural fusion; it stands out as a centerpiece number that showcases both musicality and production value without overwhelming rehearsal resources. The movement component makes it particularly effective as a closing number that leaves the audience energized, or as a bridge piece that shifts the concert's mood and engagement level.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing with correct Spanish pronunciation and natural diction in a Latin musical style
  • Coordinating simultaneous singing and purposeful stage movement
  • Understanding and performing Latin rhythmic patterns and syncopation
  • Blending voices within a culturally specific harmonic language
  • Responding to recorded accompaniment with ensemble awareness and precision

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