PianoTrax 3: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

From the spiritual depth of 'Dies Irae' and 'On My Way to Jordan' to the bright energy of 'Skip to My Lou' and 'Sail On!', this collection captures a range of emotional landscapes. You'll move between intimate art songs and rousing folk celebrations, all anchored by accompaniments that support rather than overshadow the voices.

Directors of community choirs, school choirs, and smaller ensemble programs who need reliable accompaniment support without the expense or scheduling complexity of hiring live pianists. Any choir working through the Alfred Choral Designs catalog will find this resource indispensable for rehearsal preparation and occasional performance use.

• Set the CD to loop during sectional rehearsals so singers can drill their parts independently while you work with other sections; the continuous playback keeps everyone anchored to tempo.
• Adjust the volume to slightly below the level where singers naturally blend; this trains your ensemble to listen inward rather than relying on the accompaniment to carry them.
• Preview each track before rehearsal to confirm the key and tempo match your preferred interpretation, then cue singers to the exact starting point during full ensemble runs.

Use these recordings during early-season rehearsals to accelerate music learning and confidence before bringing in a live accompanist or pianist for polishing and performance. The variety also makes this collection ideal for informal concerts or community performances where hiring an accompanist isn't feasible.

• Maintaining pitch independence against harmonic accompaniment
• Singing with consistent tempo and ensemble precision
• Blending voice parts in relation to sustained harmonic textures