Of Thee I Sing!: 2-Part Teacher's Handbook

This handbook takes the risk of treating American music history as something young singers can authentically engage with, not just learn about. The arc from Native American chants through Motown gives students a real sense of musical progression and cultural expression, and the 30-minute length makes it substantial enough to feel like a genuine performance project, not a quick assembly. Albrecht and Althouse understand how to write 2-part music that doesn't talk down to elementary voices while still being accessible to singers at that level.

The piece is a conversation across centuries of American sound, moving from the intimate, spiritual depth of Native American and African American traditions to the infectious energy of ragtime, swing, and Motown. You'll hear the roots and branches of American music growing side by side, creating a journey that feels both celebratory and reflective.

This handbook is designed for elementary and middle school choral directors working with grades 3 and up. It works equally well for general music teachers looking to build a full concert program or for choir directors wanting a thematic songbook that teaches American musical history through singing.

• Use the staging suggestions in the handbook to help students understand how each musical style reflects its historical moment. Movement and positioning can make the cultural narrative concrete.
• Split rehearsal time proportionally across the styles represented. Spirituals and ragtime may need more work on rhythmic feel than traditional folk songs.
• Consider recording the accompaniment track during sectional rehearsals so students can practice independently and internalize the stylistic differences between sections.
• Invite students to research the origins of at least one style before rehearsals begin. Personal connection to the music's history deepens both engagement and performance quality.

Program this as a summer or patriotic concert centerpiece, where its 30-minute span allows you to create a complete performance without additional selections, or excerpt individual sections for shorter programs. Its themes work especially well for concerts marking American holidays or celebrating school heritage and community identity.

• Recognition of historical and cultural styles within American music (Native American, spirituals, folk, ragtime, swing, Broadway, country, Motown)
• Singing with stylistically appropriate rhythm and phrasing across multiple genres
• Expression of cultural meaning and emotional content within vocal performance
• Stage presence and synchronized movement as part of storytelling
• Ensemble cohesion in 2-part voicing across an extended musical work