'Twas the Night Before Christmas: Choral SoundTrax CD

This production seamlessly weaves six original songs into the actual text of Moore's poem, which means your students are performing literature and music together rather than watching one interrupt the other. The instrumentation is approachable for elementary ensembles, the six pieces vary enough in style and energy that every singer finds something to sink their teeth into, and the accompanying theatrical framework gives even the smallest roles meaningful stage time.

A spirited Christmas celebration that honors the beloved poem while injecting contemporary musical energy. The mix of styles—from the bright optimism of 'Christmas Is Coming' to the whimsical charm of Tchaikovsky's familiar 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies'—keeps performers and audiences engaged and smiling from start to finish.

Elementary school choirs and mixed-age ensembles in grades K-6, as well as classroom teachers and music specialists looking for a complete, manageable holiday program that requires minimal staging and technical support. This works equally well for single-class performances or all-school assemblies where students at varying skill levels participate together.

• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish consistent tempos and style across all six songs, especially important when multiple classes or grade levels are performing together.
• Experiment with the staging notes provided in the handbook before rehearsals begin; knowing sightlines and entrance cues early prevents last-minute blocking confusion.
• Balance spoken recitation of the poem with sung passages by varying microphone placement and microphone technique; the narration should feel like storytelling, not a separate musical event.
• Build in extra rehearsal time for transitions between sung and spoken sections; these moments often expose timing issues that smooth out with repetition.

This is an ideal solution for winter concerts when you want a full performance rather than a single song or medley, and it works beautifully as either a standalone 20-25 minute presentation or as the centerpiece of a longer holiday program. It also serves well as a spring or fall family event if your school celebrates the season outside the traditional December window.

• Sight-reading mixed meters and rhythmic patterns across six contrasting melodic styles
• Synchronizing sung and spoken text with consistent phrasing and timing
• Basic theatrical awareness (stage positioning, blocking, audience connection)
• Part independence when multiple melody lines and harmony voices occur simultaneously
• Breath control and legit singing technique through sustained phrases in songs like 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies'