Music Plays: Choral Book & 2 CDs

Charming and whimsical. These stories trade in familiar childhood narratives (The Little Gingerbread Man, The Princess Who Couldn't Make Up Her Mind) but give them musical life through simple, singable melodies and easy harmonic textures. There's a gentleness to the collection that invites young performers to inhabit characters without self-consciousness.

Elementary and middle school choir directors who need accessible, short theatrical pieces that don't require elaborate sets, large orchestras, or complex staging. Teachers and music leaders working with mixed-ability groups will appreciate the flexibility to scale parts up or down without losing the integrity of each play.

• Use the backing tracks during rehearsal to establish tempos and harmonic references before transitioning to live accompaniment or a cappella sections.
• Cast flexibly: the scripts note which parts can be sung by soloists, small groups, or full choir, so you can adapt to your roster rather than the reverse.
• Rehearse the spoken dialogue sections separately from the musical ones, then integrate them gradually so actors and singers coordinate their timing and pacing.
• Audition the performance tracks in full with your space before the first rehearsal to hear how they'll project and whether you'll need to balance live voices against them.

These work beautifully as spring concert offerings or as part of a year-end variety show, since each play stands alone and doesn't demand extensive rehearsal time. You might also use one or two as a rehearsal break during fall concert season to keep singers engaged with different repertoire demands while maintaining ensemble musicianship.

• Performing scripted dialogue in time with musical accompaniment
• Ensemble singing in unison and simple harmonies
• Character interpretation and storytelling through music
• Following instrumental backing tracks and maintaining ensemble balance
• Sight-reading from photocopiable scores