Anthem Feature | Treble Voices All God’s Children

USES & TIPS

BY KATIE HOUTS

When it comes to inclusion and diversity, youth often have the courage to say what adults cannot (or will not). This new anthem from Baker Lawrimore gives children the chance to offer a message of unconditional welcome and love. “All God’s Children” highlights the beauty and power of unison voices, yet provides a quality option for emerging part-singers in verse 2’s echo. A dynamic piano accompaniment creates both urgency and warmth, a dichotomy which many children experience daily.

This piece is an excellent selection for teaching these important choral skills: Resonant, unified vowels: use the first phrase (4 notes: do do sol sol) to experiment with the spectrum of dark- to-bright vowel colors. Use the fourth note (“all”) to assess: where on the spectrum do your choristers sing this note most beautifully? Where do they feel they sing their very best? Create a visual for the vowel spectrum or indicate vowel colors by referencing head placement - and then have student volunteers lead the choir in vowel exploration.

Diction: phrases in this piece should be connected, but need energy and crispness. Incorporate articulator exercises in warmups to prepare your singers.

Solfege practice: the melody stays within an 8-note range (no accidentals), which makes it a perfect song to practice solfege, sight reading, or music literacy.

Use this piece any time of year! It makes an especially good complement to themes of inclusion, hospitality, and outreach - and would be an excellent anthem to pair with a specific service project effort.