Reviewing Repertoire: See the Score, Hear the Music

Every music educator has their own way of reviewing music. Some directors peruse music catalogs, while others go straight to the web. Some attend conference reading sessions, while others browse the shelves at their favorite local music store. It’s imperative that directors have the tools necessary to find the right music for their ensembles. Seeing the score while listening to the recording is both beneficial for evaluating new music and a practical way to find new music and learn the piece. Alfred Music’s Score & Sound videos provide a resource for directors to listen and follow along with the music.

Benefits for Music Educators

• Review quickly : Score & Sound shows the full score and plays the recording which means a director can easily and efficiently answer general questions about a piece—Does the mood of the piece fit into the concert program? Is the piece the right length? Is the difficulty level appropriate for my ensemble? and so on. Play the video below to see how it works!

• Review pedagogically : It is important that performance music be an extension of classroom learning to reinforce the skills being taught. Using Score & Sound , directors can take a more in-depth approach to know if a piece will do just that—Does the piece incorporate technique currently being taught? Does the instrumentation work for my ensemble? Are the vocal ranges suitable for my choir?

• Review critically : Every ensemble is different and only the director can truly understand what his/her students are (or are not) capable of. As the videos plays, examine the piece through the lens of your ensemble’s strengths and weaknesses—Is there enough time for my ensemble to learn this by the concert date? Does the piece feature a solo? Will my students be excited to learn this piece?

The expression “there just isn’t enough time in the day” perfectly describes a teacher’s life. Finding time to discover new repertoire can be a struggle, but having quick access to the full recording and score can cut down review time significantly. Score & Sound is a fast and simple resource available to all music educators and students that not only helps directors find new repertoire, but also allows teachers a way to critically analyze a piece and choose repertoire with confidence!