Tomorrow Needs Us

by Teresa Jennings

All of the depth of importance of the revue is brought to a peak in this beautiful and emotional rock ballad. It begins gently with an optional solo (performed for us by Missy Schott), and builds to an optional 3-part powerhouse ending, complete with an "a cappella moment" that will send chills through your listeners.

The best way to learn this song is to listen to our full performance version of it on the Performance/Accompaniment recording. We have indicated all of the options for performance on the piano/vocal, such as suggested places to breathe and optional lines. Take a few minutes to look through, listen, and familiarize yourself with these options before working with your singers. For example, in the second measure of the coda, determine whether your part 1 singers will use the notes in their own line, or the notes from part 2, which provide a lower option in that bar.

The opening solo and the addition of part 2 at the D.S. and part 3 at the coda are the most sophisticated aspects of the song. These are all optional, and the song will work very nicely in unison throughout. In fact, if you don't use the parts, they are covered in the instrumental tracks, so the musical lines will not be missed. However, if you wish to use these optional elements, consider adding older students or a few teachers or parents to supplement your choir and cover or reinforce them. To help with the teaching and learning of the variables, we have separated part 2 and part 3 and put them on our web site. We have also included an a cappella version of how all the vocal parts work together from the D.S. to the end. We encourage you to invite your students to find these extras and listen to them on their own as well as in class. Additionally, there is an alternate accompaniment track that includes a quiet piano guide behind the a cappella moment in the coda, in case you want a little help there. Details for finding all of these web extras are in the box below, next to the little computer icon.

One last note: Don't let all of the technical details of performance take away from its content and musicality. It is a lovely, stirring piece and your singers should be allowed to show their feelings when singing, as ours did.

Online extras - The free, downloadable tracks mentioned can be found under the "Graphics and Extras" for Volume 18, No. 3 at MusicK8.com

Text is taken from Music K-8 magazine.