Life Is Precious

Life Is Precious

Life is precious, Life is Beautiful,
Everyday a gift, Every person a treasure.
Life is fleeting, Life is fragile,
So live each day as the gift that it is.

Life is Precious, Life is Beautiful,
Everyday a chance to show someone you love them
Life is fleeting, Life is fragile,
So live each day as the gift that it is.

Even when the raindrops fall,
beyond the clouds the sun is rising
Even when the trees are bare,
the bud is there prepare to bloom.

Life is precious, Life is Beautiful,
Everyday a gift, Every person a treasure.
Life is fleeting, Life is fragile,
So live each day as the gift that it is.
So live each day as the gift that it is (Life is Precious)

by Ruth Elaine Schram

Nothing can bring a tear to my eyes faster than the combination of a great song sung by the pure voices of a middle school choir. "Life is Precious" is a piece I have done before with my middle school choir and I pulled it out over the winter break thinking it would be a piece we could use for sight reading when we came back in January. I did not realize how much the students would fall in love with it this year or because of some life circumstances how much the words would speak to me.

Since we have started working on this piece a good friends husband has died in a helicopter crash, another friend has lost her mother, and a third friends dad has had his leg amputated and is still in the hospital.

I learned how precious and fleeting life is 22 years ago after having lunch with my dad not realizing that would be the last time I would see him alive as he was murder in his office a few hours later. I have learned to live each day as a gift and not take people for granted especially family.

Today I was thankful for a wonderful group of middle school students and a composer that gave us such a wonderful piece of music to sing.

I'd encourage you to Check out Ruth Elaine Schram's Web Site to see more music she has to offer

Middle School Choral Gems Part II

A Few Recommended Middle School Choral Gems Part II...

Yesterday I posted a few unison gems for Middle School choir and today I listing a few two-part gems. These are pieces I have done with my young middle school choir in the last few years and they have all worked very well.

Title	Composer/Arranger	Publisher
All Things Bright and Beautiful	John Rutter	Hinshaw
Angels Watchin' Over Me	Julie Wheeler	BriLee
Ave Verum	Mozart/Eilers	Jenson
Erie Canal, The	DeCormier	Lawson-Gould
Fairest Lord Jesus	Gilbert Martin	Hinshaw
Follow the Drinking Gourd	Valerie Crescenz	BriLee
Music Alone Shall Live	Carlos Lopez	BriLee
Song of Peace/Dona Nobis Pacem	Donnelly/Strid	Alfred Choral
The Gospel Train	Vicki Tucker Courtney	BriLee

Middle School Choral Gems

A Few Recommended Middle School Choral Gems

This list is intended as a starting place of a few gems that work. I have used these with my own choirs so I know they work. Tonight I'm going to list a few unison works that I have used with beginning groups that are not ready for part work. Often I use these at the beginning of the school year or with my 6th grade choir.

Unison

1. Agnus De by Mozart/Telfer Published by Kjos


2. Art Thou Troubled by Handel/Bartell Published by Hinshaw


3. All the Pretty Little Horses arr. by Earlene Rentz Published by BriLee


4. Danny Boy arr. by Ruth Elaine Schram Published by BriLee


5. For the Beauty of the Earth by Ruth Elaine Schram Published by BriLee


6. Kyrie Eleison by S. Poorman Published by BriLee


7. Let There Be Song by Dave and Jean Perry Published by BriLee


8. Life Is Precious by Ruth Elaine Schram Published by BriLee


9. Oh Shenandoah arr. by Ruth Elaine Schram Published by BriLee
   


10. Sleep My Baby by Alec Rowley Published by Boosey & Hawkes