Octavo of the Month (December 2004)
Mike Walag, Iowa High School R&S Chair

Sing a New Song

A Comprehensive Warm-Up Book Designed to Improve Sight Reading

Roger Maxwell
Maxwell Music Publishing
Unison (Treble or Bass book) with Keyboard Accompaniment

This sight reading book incorporates a rhythmic approach to music reading, learning, and comprehension for singers.  It focuses on one specific rhythmic figure in each lesson, with exercises and short songs presented to reinforce the learning.

The first section of the book starts with basic “on the beat” rhythms.  The second section introduces contemporary rhythms employing syncopation derived from jazz, popular, and gospel music.  Melodic examples in each lesson range from humorous or inspirational to familiar tunes and lyrics.

This book represents a colloboration  of Roger Maxwell (author of a band series) and Roger Weast and David Liljedahl (accompaniments). The accompaniments in the contemporary section are especially “cool”, for instance “Gospel, I will Sing” (#21d).  The book comes with a CD recorded by Brad Barrett and members of the UNI Chamber Singers.

This book was written to help singers of all ages and settings (school, community, and church) improve their music reading skills, especially in regard to rhythmic reading, and employs a wide variety of musical examples that will stimulate singers’ interest.  I think you will find this book different from any other sight-reading book on the market.