Elementary R & R Easy Fall List

At the beginning of the school year, we peruse and look for the perfect and best literature for our choirs. This process can be overwhelming as there is a vast amount of music available. We are all looking for pieces that are well arranged for treble voices, enjoyable, engaging and create success for our students. I have created a repertoire list of literature of tried-and-true standards, as well as newer octavos, that have worked well and have been successful for the fall semester. The list includes songs for the beginning of the year or first semester festival or concerts. This list is just the tip of the iceberg!

Some of my favorite go-to composers that write wonderfully for elementary voices are Andrea Ramsey, Earlene Rentz, Amy Bernon, Audrey Snyder, Neil Ginsberg and Mary Lynn Lightfoot. They compose songs with ranges that are suitable for the young voice that have enjoyable and engaging melodies for young singers, as well as harmonies that are achievable and allow students to feel successful.

Other composers include, but not limited to, Emily Crocker, Rollo Dilworth, Mary Donelly and George Strid, Ruth Dwyer, Roger Emerson, Jill Gallina, Greg Gilpin, Mary Goetze, Cynthia Gray, Victor C. Johnson, Daniel Kallman, Becki Mayo, Cristi Cary Miller, Mark Patterson, Doreen Rao, Ruth Elaine Schram, Michael Scott and more!

Start-of-the-Year Songs with movement/body percussion:

Yonder Come Day – arr Judith Cook Tucker, 3 part [add body percussion] (World Music Press WMP-0101)
Shake the Papaya Down – arr Ruth Dwyer and Judith Waller, 3 part (Colla Voce Music 21-20222)
Jingle at the Window – Ruth E. Dwyer/ ed. Henry Leck, 3 part (Colla Voce Music Henry Leck Choral Series 21-20210)

Countermelodies:

I See the Moon – Douglas Beam, 2 part (Colla Voce Music 24-96630)
Alleluia! I Will Sing – David Waggoner, 2 part (Alfred Publisher 38072)
Obwisana (Goin’ to Ghana) – arr Mary Donnelly & George L.O. Strid, 2 part (Alfred Music Publishing 18655)
Canoe Song – arr Ruth Morris Gray, 2 part (Shawnee Press 35028820)

Festival or Concert:

Sing to Me – Andrea Ramsey, 2 part (Santa Barbara Music Publishing SBMP1003)
Grow, Little Tree – Andrea Ramsey 2 part (Santa Barbara Music Publishing SBMP1170)
Fly, Fly, Fly – Kelsey Hohnstein-Reinhart, 2 part (Hal Leonard 00368501)
Dream Keeper – Rollo Dilworth, 2 part (Hal Leonard HL 08745611)
Clap Your Hands and Sing! – Mary Lynn Lightfoot, 2 part (Shawnee Press 35030032)
Fly Away Home – Pinkzebra, 2 part (Pinkzebra Publishing 1610014)
La Loo, La Low – Sandra Howard, 2 part (BriLee Music Publishing BL232)
Out in the Fields – Andrea Ramsey, 2 part (Santa Barbara Music Publishing SBMP744)
Sarasponda – arr Ruth Boshkoff, 2 part (Santa Barbara Music Publishing SBMP303)
Some One – Cristi Cary Miller, 2 part (Hal Leonard Corporation 01135760)
The Spider – Greg Gilpin, 2 part (Choristers Guild CGE492)
Wangolo – arr Ruth Morris Gray, 2 part (Alfred Music Publishing 48806)
The Water Is Wide – arr Rollo Dilworth, 2 part (Hal Leonard Corporation 00114462)
Pasture – Daniel Kallman, Unison (Shawnee Press 35016736)
All Things Bright and Beautiful – Philip E. Silvey, 2 part (Santa Barbara Music Publishing SBMP749)
Three Dominican Folksongs – arr. Francisco J. Nunez, 2 part (Boosey & Hawkes, Inc 48004491)
Tres Canciones de Los Elementos (Three Songs About the Elements) – Victor C. Johnson, 2 part (Heritage Music Press 15/2744H)
Wind on the Hill – Victoria Ebel-Sabo, Unison (Boosey & Hawkes 48004289)

Winter:

In Winter – Victor C. Johnson, 2 part (Heritage Music Press 15/2994H)
Cooroo Cooroo – Steve Kupferschmid, 2 part (Carl Fischer LLC CM8983)
Snow Song – Christina Whitten Thomas, 2 part (Hal Leonard Corporation 00114537)
Something Told the Wild Geese – Greg Gilpin, 2 part (Shawnee Press 35032587)
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening – Audrey Snyder, 2 part (Hal Leonard Corporation 00327740)
The Wonder of the Snow – Earlene Rentz, 2 part (Choristers Guild CGE17)
When Sweet Winter Comes Again – Cynthia Gray, 2 part+ (Choristers Guild/CGE50)
Winter’s Waking – Amy F. Bernon, 2 part (Heritage Music Press 15/2858H)
Winterlight – Amy F. Bernon, 2 part (Heritage Music Press 15/1884H)
Wintersong – Audrey Snyder, 2/3 part (Alfred Music Publishing SV9332)
With the Earth, I Am One – Judith Herrington, 2 part (Hal Leonard Corporation 08752511)

Christmas:

He is Born with Pat-a-pan – arr Greg Gilpin, 2 part (Heritage Music Press 15/2810H)
Hush My Babe – arr Cynthia Gray, 2 part (Heritage Music Press 15/2040H)
Carol of the Angels – Jill Gallina, 2 part (Shawee Press EA-162)
Cuckoo Flew Out of the Woods – Slovak Carol, arr B. Wayne Bisbee, Unison (Santa Barbara Music Publishing SBMP239)
Lullay Alleluia – Ruth Elaine Schram, 2 part (Heritage Music Press 15/2418H)
On This Still, Silent Night (Still, Still, Still and Silent Night) – arr Laura Farnell, 2 part (Heritage Music Press 15/2004H)
Pat-A-Pan – arr. Andy Beck, 2 part (Alfred Music Publishing 23992)
Snow Lay on the Ground, The – arr Audrey Snyder, 2 part (Hal Leonard Corporation 08751351)
Dormi Dormi arr. Goetze, Unison (Boosey Hawkes 6128)

Download a PDF of this list here: Elementary R & R Easy Fall List

The use of folksongs, partner songs, singing games, warm-ups, and activities are fun ways to achieve successful part singing, as well as great resources for vocal development and active listening. A sequence of songs to teach part singing that is successful with younger singers is: Unison, Ostinato (rhythmic and melodic), Descants, Canon, Partner Songs, Easy two-part harmony. There are many books available for voice building, canons and part singing, and listed are just a few.

Quick Starts for Young Choirs-Activities and Ideas to Focus Your Singers – Cristi Cary Miller and Angela K. McKenna (Hal Leonard HL 00119268) Harmony Handbook – ed. Katie O’Connor-Ballantyne (Alfred Music Publishing 47906)
Counterpoint (Partner Songs and Canons for Singers of Any Age) – Anna Wentlent (Alfred Music Publishing 49856)
Where in the World (Folksong Warmups from Many Lands) – Helen Kemp (Augsburg Publishing 0800648005)

Warming Up with Rounds (Teaching Music Literacy Using Rounds in the Classroom) – Catherine Delanoy (Shawnee Press 35028168)
Vocalize! – Andy Beck (Alfred Publishing 40024); Vocalize! 2 (36 More Accompanied Exercises that Teach Technique) – Andy Beck (Alfred Music Publishing 49864)
Choir Builders-Fundamental Vocal Techniques for Classroom and General Use – Rollo Dilworth (Hal Leonard HL 09970913)

As you start your vocal development at the beginning of the year, remember time management and pacing! Plan and vary activities and literature throughout rehearsals including engaging breathing activities; tone development through voice building exercises; ear training and sight reading; activities and harmonies using ostinatos, canons and partner songs; listening activities and audiation; brain breaks; movement; and literature for up to 10-12 minutes each song.

I hope this helps you as you jump into the start of the 2024-25 school year, and may it be a successful and exciting one for you! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. ()