Snow Day!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Name: Snow Day!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-21072
Price: 27.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-21072

$27.99

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"What's in the forecast? Could it be snow?" Yes!! And not just a flurry, but a blizzard enough to make it a Snow Day! "I've been waiting since September, even though I must remember, we'll make it up in June." Sure to be a favorite with your singers. We'll bet they'll even want to sing it long after the last snow has melted. Fully arranged SoundTrax.

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

UPC: 038081199948

SKU: 00-21072

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus. His career spans both the publishing world, where he spent eight years managing rights and licenses and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America, and composition, where he has established himself as a prolific voice in choral music with more than 800 published works performed internationally.

Althouse's contributions extend beyond composition into music education resources. He has co-written children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled respected vocal solo collections, and authored or co-authored several classroom staples including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. His collaborative work with Albrecht on I Hear America Singing was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's 2009 Inauguration. A writer member of ASCAP and frequent recipient of the ASCAP Special Award, Althouse has also contributed to the Folk Art Society of America and currently resides in North Carolina.

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Why we love this

Althouse captures something singers genuinely love about winter without veering into saccharine territory. The conversational opening and the specific detail about "making it up in June" give the piece real personality, and the SoundTrax accompaniment keeps rehearsals moving while your singers focus on nailing their parts. This is the kind of novelty number that actually sticks with students long after the season passes.

What to expect

Anticipatory and genuinely fun. The piece captures that specific childhood excitement of checking the forecast and imagining a day off school, then pivots to the bittersweet acknowledgment that snow days come with a cost (making up the days in June). It's lighthearted without being silly, energetic without being exhausting.

Who it's for

This piece energizes singers in grades 4 and up who respond to music with personality and humor. It works equally well in schools preparing winter concerts or in community choirs looking for seasonal repertoire that doesn't rely on the same handful of standards.

How to get the most out of it

Lean into the conversational tone during the opening question; treat it like singers are chatting with the audience rather than performing at them.
Use the SoundTrax accompaniment during sectional rehearsals to help parts lock in independently before bringing the full choir together.
Keep the energy bouncy and conversational rather than overly precious; let the excitement about a snow day speak for itself.
Balance the playful lyrics with clear diction so the humor and specificity (September, June, waiting) land with the audience.

How to use it

Program this as a winter concert opener to establish an upbeat mood, or pair it with other novelty or secular pieces to create a block that showcases your singers' ability to handle material with character. It also works well in informal performances or pops concerts where audience engagement and enjoyment matter more than technical showmanship.