Teach Your Children Sheet Music Preview

Teach Your Children: SATB Choral Octavo

As performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash Young / Arranged by Philip Lawson

Item: 35-DS00257080

Digital Download
$2.99
Description

Teach Your Children: SATB Choral Octavo isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 5
SKU: 35-DS00257080

More about this title

About the Artist: Crosby, Stills, Nash Young

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young emerged from the late 1960s folk-rock scene with a gift for crafting songs built on sophisticated vocal harmonies and socially conscious lyrics. David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young created some of the era's most enduring music, often working in smaller ensemble configurations that made their four-part writing instantly recognizable. Their songs remain staples in music education because they balance accessibility with genuine harmonic complexity.

The band's catalog offers choir directors a rich resource for teaching students how rock compositions can contain the same harmonic depth and vocal sophistication as classical traditions. Their emphasis on tight ensemble singing and meaningful lyrics makes their arrangements natural gateways for choirs exploring contemporary secular repertoire.

Why we love this

Philip Lawson's arrangement captures the song's signature four-part texture in a way that honors the original while remaining genuinely singable for high school and college choirs. The five-page format is perfectly scaled to fit concert programs without dominating rehearsal schedules, and the anthem's message about teaching children kindness lands with particular resonance in today's classrooms.

What to expect

Warm and reflective, with an underlying current of earnest sincerity. The song carries the spirit of 1970s idealism without feeling dated; instead, it feels timeless in its simplicity and heart. Singing it leaves an ensemble feeling connected to something larger than the technical work.

Who it's for

This works beautifully for mixed choirs at the high school level and above who want to include contemporary repertoire with real substance. Directors seeking a piece that bridges rock and choral traditions, and that students will genuinely care about performing, will find this instantly appealing.

How to get the most out of it

  • Pay close attention to blend in the upper voices; this song lives in the harmonic interplay between soprano and alto lines rather than in volume.
  • Shape the melody through phrase arcs rather than strict dynamic markings. Let the text inform where the song naturally breathes and swells.
  • Ensure rhythmic precision in the rhythm section or accompaniment; the song's folk-rock underpinnings require a steady, confident foundation to avoid dragging.
  • Bring out the lyrical intention in the unison sections. These moments are most effective when the choir sings with genuine conviction about the text's meaning.

How to use it

This sits naturally in a concert exploring songs of social consciousness, or as a closing number in a program that mixes genres. It also serves as an excellent choice for community events and ceremonies where you want contemporary music that audiences of all ages will recognize and appreciate.

Skills your students will build

  • Four-part harmonic balance and blend in SATB texture
  • Singing folk-influenced melodies with rhythmic precision
  • Text-driven expression and lyrical phrasing in popular music contexts
  • Listening to and reinforcing inner vocal lines

You May Also Like