When working with early adolescent male voices, choral music teachers are confronted with two primary musical challenges: The first challenge is identifying the vocal range of each student. The second challenge is connecting the students’ vocal ranges with the selection of appropriate repertoire. Asking middle school boys to rehearse music outside their comfort range is similar to asking them to wear shoes that are two sizes too big or two sizes too small.
Selecting the Repertoire. When selecting repertoire, teachers are encouraged to choose literature that requires the boys to work in the middle (the most comfortable pitches) of the following ranges. By examining musical works that fit, musical works that fail to fit, and musical works that require a bit of editing, the connection between the students’ musical range, the music selected for classroom use, and the success achieved in the choral music classroom become evident.
2—Part Voicing: Applicable to a single gender choir for middle school boys (grades 7-8) or a SACB mixed gender choir (SACB) that included boys in grades 7-8.
Cambiata full range = [F#-f#] most comfortable range = [G-e]
Baritone full range = [AA-c] most comfortable range = [D-A]
3—Part Voicing: Applicable to a single gender choir for middle school boys (grades 7-8)
Cambiata I full range = [F#-g] most comfortable range = [A-f]
Cambiata II full range = [E-e] most comfortable range = [G-d]
Baritone full range = [AA-c] most comfortable range = [D-A]
Additional information related to Finding the Shoe that Fits, the Cambiata Composition Initiative, and the 2014 ACDA MS/JH National Conference for Choral Music will be posted at www.music.unt.edu/cambiata.
(The ACDA National Conference is just one of the many benefits of membership in the American Choral Directors Association. Join ACDA today.)
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