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Series:
for your
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Collected Boust( ire library
Thoughts of Leaders in
Twentieth Century Music
* Sound Advice: Becoming a Better She alerts the reader to particular
Education e{ .
Children's Choir Conductor. By Jean challenges for young choirs in per-
(;'s '\l .,I \' I i, Ashworth Bartle. Oxford University forming classics such as Mahler's
Offers the insights I ! xI s: ~ , Press (2001 Evans Road, Cary, NC Third Symphony and Orff's Carmina
and personal history i.' 27513; 800-451-7556; fax, 919-677- Burana. For directors of choirs at the
of a variety of music . :' ..
I
1303; www.oup.com), 2003. 271 pp. novice level, the author outlines step-
educators who wrote I -.
.

Index, bibliography, appendices, by-step instructions for moving choirs

articles for the Music music examples, black-and-white from unison to harmony
EducatorsJournalGrand Masters Series, photographs, repertoire lists, sample Approximately a dozen photo-
edited by MarkFonder,which appeared programs. Hardback,$35.00. graphs are included in SoundAdviceto
in the magazine over the past several Jean Ashworth Bartle has had not illustrate particular concepts or tech-
years. Readers learn more about the one but two extraordinary lifetime niques. Since the demonstrated topics
special individuals who have distin- achievements: founding and nurtur- are difficult to capture in still pictures,
guished themselves during their music ing the world-renowned Toronto they add little to the text. Further-
careers. 2003. 79 pages. Children's Choir and writing Sound more, the photos have a snapshot qual-
#1681. $22.00/$16.50 Advice: Becoming a Better Children's ity that detracts from the professional
MENC members Choir Director, a comprehensive re- tone of the book. Readerswould have
source for leaders of children'schoirs. been better served if the author had
To order, use the MENC Resources The book is a well-organized collec- used the photo space to share even
order form on page 72. tion of strategies, advice (both person- more of her knowledge. Contrary to
al and professional), and examples the well-known adage, a thousand
gleaned from her extensive experience words would be worth more than a
with school, church, and community dozen pictures in this case.
children'schoirs. Two chapters in Sound Advice
The first chapter addresses the deserve highlighting. In chapter
challenges of teaching six- and seven- eight, titled "Things They Didn't
Teacher year-olds to sing. Succeeding chapters Teach You at Music School," the
Success Kit: Boostore include such universal topics as tech- author offers practical strategies for
niques for planning rehearsals, main- working successfully within the
How to Succeed in taining discipline, and developing lit- school and community choir environ-
Music Education eracy. Issues unique to community ment and tips on personal grooming,
choir management such as recording, health, and well-being. Chapter
A CD-ROMloaded commissioning, and touring are dis- twelve is a collection of letters from
with information cussed in the final chapters. The last children who express their feelings
lit
to help music one hundred pages of the text are about singing in a choir. Both chap-
teachers succeed made up of thirteen appendices. ters reveal Jean Ashworth Bartle's
-
r""~NIl is $no"
in the classroom. These contain repertoire lists, hand- unique insights and sense of humor.
=p^^' outs and programs from the Toronto There is something in each that could
Tips and informa- Children's Choir, and sample vocal enlighten and inspire both the first-
GettingOrganized,First
tion including: exercises. An extensive bibliography year teacher and the jaded choir direc-
Day of Class, Successful Practices, and a functional index conclude the tor.
Motivation & Discipline, How to book.
Lobby Guide, Literature Lists, and Teacher/directors will be disap- -Roberta Volkmann,a freelance
more. HTMLformatfor use with your pointed if they are seeking scores and arts educationconsultantin
Web browser on IBM/Macintosh detailed lesson plans for teaching spe- Springfield,IL, can be reachedat
computers.2002. cific songs as found in Bartle's first ArtsEducation@aol. com.
book, Lifeline for Children's Choir
#3101. $11.00/$8.25
Directors(Toronto:Thompson, 1993). * Music Education:SourceReadings
MENC members
However, in Sound Advice the author from Ancient Greece to Today,2nd ed.
To order,use the MENCResources presents instructional specifics by Ed. by Michael L. Mark. Routledge
order form on page 72. examining the text and background of Publications (29 W. 35th Street, New
six major orchestral/choristerworks. York, NY 10001; 800-634-7064; fax,

60 MUSIC EDUCATORS JOURNAL

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