The Skies Can't Keep Their Secret Cover Image

The Skies Can't Keep Their Secret: PianoTrax Digital Audio Download

$9.99 USD
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The Skies Can't Keep Their Secret Cover Image

The Skies Can't Keep Their Secret: PianoTrax Digital Audio Download

Words based on the poem by Emily Dickinson, music and additional words by Mary Donnelly and George L. O. Strid

Item: 00-A-00016025

$9.99
Digital Download
Description

The Skies Can't Keep Their Secret: PianoTrax Digital Audio Download 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.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-A-00016025

More about this title

About the Composer: Mary Donnelly

Mary Donnelly

Mary Donnelly grew up in Reno, Nevada, and studied English and French at the University of Nevada, Reno. While still an undergraduate, she founded two children's choruses, an experience that redirected her toward music education. She went on to earn a Master's Degree in Education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she focused on integrating arts across the curriculum.

In 1985, Donnelly began collaborating with George L. O. Strid when they team-taught a sixth grade general music class. Their principal challenged them to write a musical for Reading Week, launching a partnership that has now produced over two hundred songs and twenty-five musicals. Donnelly taught general music and choir in the Washoe County School District for thirty years before retiring. She holds membership in ACDA, NEA, and ASCAP.

Why we love this

Donnelly and Strid have spent decades writing for young singers, and it shows in the accessibility and genuine musicality of this piece. The recorded accompaniment track gives your singers a secure foundation and makes learning efficient, whether you're rehearsing with a pianist or running through independently.

What to expect

The text invites singers into a moment of reflection and wonder. The music unfolds with lyrical grace, creating an intimate atmosphere that draws the listener in rather than demanding attention.

Who it's for

This piece works beautifully for middle school and high school choirs seeking accessible yet musically substantial repertoire. It's equally suited for community choruses and church choirs looking for contemporary choral literature with recorded support.

How to get the most out of it

  • Have singers listen to the recorded accompaniment once before rehearsing with it, so they can absorb the harmonic context and phrasing cues without the cognitive load of sight-reading.
  • Use the digital download format to loop challenging sections during independent practice, allowing students to build confidence at their own pace.
  • Pay attention to the recorded tempo and articulation choices as interpretive models; they're designed to support your singers' intonation and ensemble blend.

How to use it

Pair this with other contemporary or seasonal pieces to create a program that balances familiar comfort with fresh repertoire. The recorded accompaniment makes it ideal for ensemble concerts where consistent, polished backing is essential, or for school assemblies where rehearsal flexibility is limited.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining pure, connected tone across phrase lines
  • Balancing individual voice parts within ensemble texture
  • Tracking melodic shape and lyrical expression with accompaniment support
  • Singing with confidence using recorded musical backing

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