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Thread: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

  1. #1
    In training... KristinEliza's Avatar
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    Default "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    I'm looking for some 'simple' Choro melodies that I can teach my orchestra students.

    Our school's International Festival is featuring Brazil this year and I'd love to have my orchestra students perform some Choro during the fair. These are middle school aged children (11-13 years old) and have only been playing for 2-3 years.

    I have some Choro music myself, but the rhythms and some of the pitches are too advanced for them right now. So I am wondering if anyone knows of some simpler Choro tunes that would be more attainable for my young students to learn.

    What does simpler mean to me? Sharp keys are better than flat (I can transpose keys for the students if I need to...as long as the Choro police don't come after me), and less accidentals are better (I know there will be some). Rhythmically...not as many syncopated rhythms if possible (I know, I know...that's a tough one).

    If any of you good folk can direct me in the right direction..that would be awesome...and Mike Marshall...if you catch this post and have any ideas...that would be awesome as well!

    Thanks!
    KristinEliza

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    Registered User Bruce Clausen's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    Sounds like fun. In workshops for students with no choro background I used to use tunes like Vou vivendo, Doce de coco, and Pacoca (by Celso Machado). In your case, creating a medley using the A sections of several tunes might be a good way of avoiding some of the trickier bits. Hope you'll have some percussion in the group!

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    Registered User Amy Burcham's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    Hey, Kristen! Here are a few that might be fun and not too hard, especially if arranged. Check for a PM.

    Apanhei-te, cavaquinho
    Não me toques
    Naquele tempo
    Carinhoso
    Brejeiro
    *mandolin mind, beginner mind*

  4. #4
    In training... KristinEliza's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    Great! Thanks guys...I'll look those tunes up.

    As far as percussion...I may select a few students with some good rhythmic sensibilities that lack the effort on their main instrument!
    KristinEliza

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    Registered User Justin Carvitto's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    gaucho/corta-jaca

    This one is pretty simple and very catchy.
    dunno

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    Registered User DSDarr's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    Quote Originally Posted by Justin Carvitto View Post
    gaucho/corta-jaca

    This one is pretty simple and very catchy.
    I second Justin's recommendation. That's a good one. There's a nice version in Don Julin's book as well.

    David

  7. #7

    Default Re: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    There are easier ones, but not well know and not that good.
    Here are some that I use with my students. They are mostly choros but also some similar genres.

    Chorinho - Maria Heron
    Urubu Malandro - Loro
    Biribinha nos States - Pepeu Gomes
    Iara - Anacleto de Medeiros
    Gente humilde - Garoto
    Trenzinho do caipira - Villa-Lobos
    De mais ninguém - Marisa Monte
    As rosas não falam - Cartola
    Naquela mesa - Sérgio Bittencourt

    If you need I may send some sheet music.

  8. #8
    Registered User Doug Hoople's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    Quote Originally Posted by Fernando Duarte View Post
    Here are some that I use with my students. They are mostly choros but also some similar genres.

    Chorinho - Maria Heron
    Urubu Malandro - Loro
    Biribinha nos States - Pepeu Gomes
    Iara - Anacleto de Medeiros
    Gente humilde - Garoto
    Trenzinho do caipira - Villa-Lobos
    De mais ninguém - Marisa Monte
    As rosas não falam - Cartola
    Naquela mesa - Sérgio Bittencourt

    If you need I may send some sheet music.
    Some very nice 'under-the-radar' pieces in here, Fernando.

    'Iara' is really beautiful, but doesn't get played much, for some reason. Some of us know it from a lead sheet that's been kicking around that comes from one of Marilynn Mair's choro sessions on the east coast.

    A bit of mandolin content here, too, with 'Naquela mesa,' written by Jacob do Bandolim's son, lamenting the loss of his father and the stories he'd tell around 'That table.' Very sad.

    And I'm especially glad to see 'De mais ninguém' on your list. It doesn't sound that special on first hearing, but it grows on you and then just knocks you out. The arrangement on this recording is pretty perfect.

    Marisa Monte 'De mais ninguém'
    Doug Hoople
    Adult-onset Instrumentalist (or was that addled-onset?)

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  10. #9

    Default Re: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Hoople View Post
    Some very nice 'under-the-radar' pieces in here, Fernando.
    And I'm especially glad to see 'De mais ninguém' on your list. It doesn't sound that special on first hearing, but it grows on you and then just knocks you out. The arrangement on this recording is pretty perfect.
    Marisa Monte 'De mais ninguém'
    Yes, Doug! It is a great arrangement. The group that plays in this recording is Época de Ouro, the same that played with Jacob do Bandolim himself. Ronaldo Souza plays the mandolin.

    And it is an easy choro with a beautiful melody. It's good for begginers because it has a well known lyric (in Brazil, at least) and it is not very long.

  11. #10
    In training... KristinEliza's Avatar
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    Default Re: "Easy" Choro Melodies for young students

    It looks like I'm going to start off with Gaucho/corta-jaca. I played a few youtube videos for the students today and they are excited! We're going to start in two weeks!
    KristinEliza

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