Two-Gether We Sing: Spirituals: 2-Part Choral Teacher's Handbook (100% Reproducible)

Albrecht and her co-arrangers have crafted ten spirituals that sound mature and earned without overwhelming beginning singers. Each piece features independent, singable counterlines that teach genuine part-singing skills rather than simple unison harmonies, making this collection invaluable for directors building choral literacy in grades 2-7.

These spirituals carry the weight and beauty of tradition while remaining accessible and joyful. The melodies are familiar enough to feel authentic, yet the arrangement details reveal new harmonic colors and countermelodic interest that reward careful listening and singing.

Beginning and developing choirs in grades 2-7 who are ready to move beyond unison singing into genuine two-part work. Directors seeking rich, culturally grounded repertoire that teaches part independence without sacrificing the joy and meaning of the spirituals themselves will find this handbook essential.

• Record a performance of the complete program early in the rehearsal process to help singers internalize the individual parts and hear how the spirituals sound as a connected set.
• Isolate the counterline in sectional rehearsals first, establishing it as a fully independent melody before combining parts; this prevents younger singers from defaulting to the melody.
• Layer the spirituals into your concert by pairing them thematically (for instance, water songs together, or songs about witness and testimony) to build momentum and give the program shape.
• Use the accompaniment tracks to reinforce singers' confidence in learning their parts, especially with the younger end of your grade range, but phase them out gradually as singers gain security.

Build a full concert program by selecting several pieces from this collection as your core repertoire, creating a spirituals-focused concert or weaving individual selections throughout a season of mixed programming. The 100% reproducible format and variety of ten titles makes it easy to customize a program that fits your group's developing abilities and your concert timeline.

• Reading and maintaining independent melodic lines in two-part texture
• Distinguishing between melody and counterline by ear and on the page
• Sustaining pitch accuracy while other voices move in a different direction
• Balancing blend and independence within an ensemble
• Understanding the spiritual as a musical and cultural form