PianoTrax 12: Choral SoundTrax CD

The breadth here is striking: from light, children's fare like "Clap Your Hands!" and "The Bicycle" to sacred works like "Dixit Dominus" and "Gloria in Excelsis Deo," each track tailors itself to the piece's character. You get consistent, reliable support across widely different moods and styles.

Choir directors teaching across elementary through high school who work regularly with Alfred Choral Designs octavos. It's equally useful for small ensembles, larger concert choirs, and programs without consistent access to accompaniment musicians.

• Balance the recorded accompaniment level during rehearsal so singers must still commit to their own parts; use it as a reference tool, not a crutch.
• Record your choir singing over these tracks several weeks before performance to identify any rhythmic or intonation issues that need sectional work.
• Layer the accompaniment with live piano for performances when possible; the recorded track can serve as a safety net while a pianist adds warmth and responsiveness.

Use these tracks during the school year to support learning of pieces you're preparing for winter or spring concerts. They're invaluable during rehearsal blocks when your pianist is unavailable, allowing singers to maintain forward progress on multiple pieces simultaneously.

• Singing independently while tracking a recorded accompaniment
• Maintaining intonation against a fixed harmonic foundation
• Responding to rhythmic precision in ensemble contexts
• Recognizing harmonic support and adjusting blend accordingly