Umbrella: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Andy Beck
Item: 00-PO-0006691
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
Pickup currently not available
Description
Celebrate that essential rainy day accessory with this humorous ode to the umbrella! You might want to take cover from the steady downpour of clever rhymes designed to tickle the funny bone of performers and listeners alike. Working with younger singers? We've got you covered with plenty of unison, echo, contrary motion, and counterline phrases to ensure success. Plus, we've just got to mention the hummed "umm's" that increase in length as the song unfurls. Fun! Consider a gentle sway with colorful umbrellas in hand to add a visual element to the lilting waltz tempo. This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Umbrella: 2-Part 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.
Request This Title
Tell us you want it.
Start Your Free Trial
Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
1 / 2
Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006691
More about this title
About the Composer: Andy Beck
Andy Beck directs choral publications at Alfred Music and has composed and arranged over 450 choral works, vocal resources, and children's musicals now in widespread use. His pedagogical resources, including Sing at First Sight, Foundations in Choral Sight Singing, and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm-Ups That Teach Technique, have shaped how singers develop foundational skills across the country.
Beyond his publishing work, Beck is an accomplished tenor who performs with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir and has sung as an Alfred Music studio artist since 1992. He holds degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College and Northwest Missouri State University, and regularly serves as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for honor choirs and all-state ensembles throughout the United States. His work as a commissioned composer reflects his deep commitment to choral artistry and music literacy.
Why we love this
Andy Beck knows exactly what young choristers need to sound polished and feel successful, and this piece proves it. The structural variety keeps singers engaged through unison passages, echo phrases, and counterlines that challenge without overwhelming, while the hummed "umm's" that grow in length add a delightful touch of surprise. The novelty humor lands with both singers and audiences, making it an ideal confidence builder for ensembles working on blend and musicality.
What to expect
Playful and lighthearted, with a bouncy waltz swing that feels almost whimsical. The humor bubbles up through clever wordplay and unexpected vocal moments, while the lilting tempo and optional visual staging create an atmosphere of joy and performance fun that performers and audiences alike will enjoy.
Who it's for
This octavo works beautifully for younger singers, middle school choirs, and community ensembles seeking repertoire that builds musicianship without heavy technical demands. Directors looking for novelty material that doesn't sacrifice musical substance will find Beck's balance of accessibility and craft particularly rewarding.
How to get the most out of it
- Isolate the hummed "umm" sections in rehearsal to ensure the ensemble enters together and sustains with matched vowel quality as the lengths increase.
- Shape the waltz tempo with a gentle lilt rather than rigidity; let the triple meter feel natural and conversational so the humor lands without feeling forced.
- Coordinate the sway and umbrella movements during early rehearsals so singers can focus on intonation and blend rather than choreography during performance.
- Emphasize the clever rhymes through clear diction, especially in the faster passages, so the audience catches every joke.
How to use it
Position this as a concert opener or closer to establish an energetic, engaging mood, or use it alongside other novelty or seasonal repertoire to create a themed set. The piece works equally well as a standalone showcase of your choir's musicality or as part of a program demonstrating ensemble growth on lighter material.
Skills your students will build
- Listening and matching blend across unison and 2-part textures
- Following contrary motion and counterlines while maintaining pitch security
- Managing sustained vowel sounds during the extended hummed passages
- Executing echo phrases with accurate rhythmic and melodic placement
- Shaping phrasing and dynamics within a waltz tempo