'Brilliant! At last. Thanks be. Choir leaders charged with motivating young singers will echo these sentiments when they see Voiceworks, a superb resource for leaders of choral groups at all levels. Peter Hunt has poured his years of experience as a choir trainer in the secondary classroom, as an animateur in the primary classroom and as conductor of the Oxfordshire Youth Chamber Choir into this book, collecting songs that will delight, educate and entertain.' Christopher Bell, Music Teacher, Sept 2001

'Choir directors will be delighted with Voiceworks, a superb resource for leaders of choral groups aged 11 to 14 . . . This handbook covers all the areas a leader needs to know about. A detailed introduction is followed by sections on how to warm up the voice and rehearse. The section on boys' changing voices is particularly useful. The undoubted triumph of the publication is the very approachable material: 60 songs, from unison to four-part harmony.' Christopher Bell, TES, 29 June 01

* Lively and simple ideas for key stage 3 (Scottish levels D and E) * Ideal for youth choirs, school groups, county youth choirs, and choral groups of all ages and experience * 66 songs, from simple unison to four-part harmony * Vast range of repertoire and styles from around the world * Songs for warm ups, rehearsal use, and concert repertoire * Most songs unaccompanied, or with simple accompaniments for keyboard or guitar * A complete lesson or rehearsal plan for each song * Vocal warm ups and general advice included * Double CD contains performances plus support material * Photocopiable pages

* Lively and simple ideas for key stage 3 (Scottish levels D and E) * Ideal for youth choirs, school groups, county youth choirs, and choral groups of all ages and experience * 66 songs, from simple unison to four-part harmony * Vast range of repertoire and styles from around the world * Songs for warm ups, rehearsal use, and concert repertoire * Most songs unaccompanied, or with simple accompaniments for keyboard or guitar * A complete lesson or rehearsal plan for each song * Vocal warm ups and general advice included * Double CD contains performances plus support material * Photocopiable pages

2001-09-08 Excellent from start to finish!

This book with CD's is a wonderful resouce for the choral director. It is useful for those with little experience in working with a choir/vocal ensemble, for those with years of experience, and for those of us who are somewhere in between!

Peter Hunt first addresses the notion of singing. There is just enough information here to be useful without becoming bogged down in technicalities. The section on rehearsing has sub-headings which clearly identify things to consider before and in rehearsal. It is right to the point, easy to understand and makes you want to keep turning the pages.

The warm-up section contains a great number of suggestions, beginning with physical warm ups, posture, controlling the air flow and lots of experimenting with what the voice will do. We then move on to creating the vowel and consonant sounds, and the vocal warm ups. These are progressive and are laid out very well. The latter part of this section focuses on singing rounds, most of them in Latin. The newcomer to choral music should not despair here! There is even a pronunciation guide!

'Voiceworks' then has three main sections entitled 1. Unison 2. Into parts 3. Harmony. This comprises the bulk of the book. It is extremely well graded with no great leaps between any of the pieces.

The selected repertoire in 'Voiceworks' is drawn largely from traditional/folk music from Africa, Jamaica, Spain, America, Malaysia, Macedonian, Caribbean, even Australian Aboriginal. There are plenty of spirituals and gospel songs, one or two Christmas carols and in the latter section some arrangements of popular songs.

For every new piece there is a CD track number guide as well as suggested warm ups. There are so many ideas for teaching, rehearsing and performing that you begin to realise there is not just one way to perform and enjoy music. 'Voiceworks' really gives you the confidence to try your own ideas as well.

There are limited piano accompaniements in this book which is a good thing for the developing choir.

I especially liked vocal graphics, dynamics etc. Sections 15 through 19; something a little different which was received very well by my choir.

Here is a particularly fine vocal resource. It is clearly laid out and so, so usable. This book combines the best bits of several I have on my shelf, none of which are as usable in their entirety as this one. I can highly recommend it!