The choral world is drifting and in need of solutions in relation to one of its most enduring problems - the shortage of male singers. Contemporary Choral Work with Boys offers a radical re-appraisal of the situation based on a unique combination of scholarly work on the sociocultural aspects of young male singing with similar cutting edge work on the physiological. The book provides clear, lucid information on the nature of puberty and later adolescence and the impact these times have upon both the vocal mechanism and the social self. New data answer many questions about whether or not trends in the timing of puberty are causing voices to "break" earlier and how choir directors and singing teachers need to respond. The book contains a significant amount clinical reference material, but the text and presentation is designed to serve primarily as a practical handbook. Thus, readers will be able to access the practical advice readily, whilst having access to more detailed scientific information as and when they need it. Pitched at a level that will appeal to those who have some experience of working with choirs that include young male singers (or would like to include such singers), it should answer questions that such readers will inevitably have through their experience. While Professor Ashley's book will stimulate much debate and no little soul searching, it will encourage organizations associated with choral singing to explore exciting new initiatives to break the deadlock of the "missing males" in choral singing.

This is the Black and White interior version. The Colour version is ISBN 978-0956954725.

Guitar for Kids is a fun guide on the first steps of learning to play Guitar with over 70 photographic examples, purpose-made diagrams and cartoons. Starting with advice on buying your first guitar, how to hold the guitar and how to tune it, the music then begins with easy-to-play melodies using only open strings (open strings means only the plucking hand is used), before moving to simple pieces in which the fretting hand is also used. The book goes into detail for some basic techniques because you're better off getting it right from the start rather than develop bad habits.

Tablature Based: Guitar for Kids uses mostly guitar tablature making this popular instrument more easily accessible for beginners (as do most adult guitar method books). The rhythmical aspect of Sight-reading is covered within the Chords section which eases-in the later Sight-reading section because the only new thing to learn will be reading different notes from the musical staff.

Audio Tracks: Guitar for Kids comes with 47 downloadable audio tracks with musical pieces in styles such as Rock, Blues, Pop, Flamenco, Jazz and Reggae. Each piece has a full band demo track and accompanying backing track with guitar part removed for you to play over.

What Else?: EZ chords are covered (easy chords with less notes) and are accompanied with diagrams of the full versions for later on, or if you feel like a challenge. There's an introduction to Power chords with Rock pieces to play named after healthy greens "Broccolli Rockilly" and "Rocket Salad." There's a Blues and Rock duet with backing band tracks to play with a friend, and at the end there is a Quiz, no cheating!

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Giving pupils the inspiration and support they need at 11-14. The Opus Pupil Books form part of the new Opus music scheme for 11-14 year olds. Opus fulfils a recognized need for music resources at this level, giving pupils and teachers thorough support for the curriculum whilst providing an engaging environment for pupils? learning. There is an Opus Pupil Book for each of the three years covered by this scheme. The scheme develops pupils confidence - carefully differentiated activities build composing, performing and listening skills. It has a pupil-friendly approach ? clearly written learning objectives show children what they?re learning and why they?re learning it and it enriches pupils learning with opportunities to explore rhythm, pitch, structure and texture of music through a variety of musical genres.

All people respond to music through listening. Since this music behavior is such a universal part of life, and the skills fostered through critical listening to music can transfer to many other areas, emphasizing listening in a given music curriculum is logical. Children learn actively through direct experience with given concepts. Because of this, it makes sense to approach listening instruction actively by using other music behaviors (singing, moving, chanting, creating) and aural, visual, and kinesthetic learning modes as a way to develop a deeper connection with musical material while fostering music skills and introducing or reinforcing music concepts. Listen Up! includes sample experiences that provide an opportunity for children to listen to musical selections while also fostering music skills and reinforcing given music concepts (rhythm, melody, form) that are prominent in those selections. In addition to providing an overview of the planning process for developing these types of lessons, and including sample experiences for 23 specific pieces, the collection also contains PowerPoint presentations to accompany each experience that provide material students can view and respond to as they listen.

Maylyn Murphy's Beginning Easy Singing Lessons Level 3 Grades 5+ is the third in a fun and practical 3 book series. It is one of the few books intended to teach children the mechanics of music and singing. This series goes well beyond simply encouraging kids to parrot popular songs. In a simple building block type format it covers all the basics. Included are voice exercises, music theory, music notation, ear-training and sight singing. In the final chapters, this volume combines all of the lessons covered and applies them to popular children's songs. By learning basic concepts in Level 3, and then applying them, the student will be able to actually read the notes and sing many other popular children's songs. Maylyn Murphy's Beginning Easy Singing Lesson Level 3 could be the start of something beautiful for your child.