Music Lists
Current FVA Music Lists
- Choral Online Music List revised 2022 (Google Sheets)
- Vocal Solos (2011)
- Special Category Solos (2023)
- Vocal Solos Musical Theatre/ Jazz FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) (2009)
- Special Category Vocal Solos have been replaced by Musical Theatre/Vocal Jazz solos at all Solo & Ensemble MPAs.
- Musical Theater Resource (2016)
Older FVA Music Lists
The 1998 FVA music list is provided here as a reference. Directors should note that it contains piano solos which have not been updated or replaced since 1998.
- FVA Music List (1998)
- Choral
- Vocal Solos & Duets
- Piano Solos
MPA & Vocal Solo literature selection
July 20, 2020
FVA publishes a Music List for the purpose of encouraging the use of quality choral/vocal repertoire. It is designed to be a resource for our teachers — not a “required” list of pieces. The pieces are graded by level of difficulty as a guide to help teachers with their search for appropriate music.
Our current list, and the “old” 1998 list are both found on this site. The current list is a Google Sheets spreadsheet that can be sorted, searched, and printed. The list is updated by the Music Committee on a regular basis, to add quality repertoire.
Regulations for MPA stipulate that one selection be from the list. Directors are encouraged to use the current list, but may use pieces from the 1998 list — though many are out of print.
If a director wishes to use pieces not found on the list, the District Chair must give approval prior to the MPA performance.
Vocal Solos: A list of vocal solo collections is also available. Any piece from these books is appropriate for use. One piece should be from this list, but if a teacher desires to use literature not on the list, approval must be given by the District Chair prior to the Solo & Ensemble MPA.
Soloists must have an original copy of music for both the adjudicator and the pianist.
Updates to the list
FVA values and celebrates the diversity of our state. FVA will continually update the list to promote cultural sensitivity.
Levels of Difficulty
- Level One: Easy
- Level Two: Moderately Easy
- Level Three: Moderate
- Level Four: Moderately Difficult
- Five: Difficult
These levels are by no means definitive. The levels are simply tools to help you in researching literature. The levels are very broad, and some pieces could fit into more than one level, depending on the voicing and/or language.
FVA members are invited to make suggestions for the list by doing the following:
Go to the publisher’s website and check to see if the piece can be viewed online. If it is available online, simply e-mail the music committee chair, and make the suggestion.
Labels used in the music list
SAB
Denotes music not suitable for middle school boys with changing voices. These SAB pieces are ideal for a high school choir where all the boys are changed voices and where the ratio of B to to SA warrants using SAB literature.
2 pt, 3 pt, 4 pt
These labels denote music where you can mix the voices to suit a middle school choir or high school choir. The changing voices can be put on the part that best suits their range.
SAT
These pieces are suited for a middle school choir with unchanged boys or boys just beginning the change. The pieces are not suitable for a choir with young baritones.
Instru avail.
Many pieces have instrumental parts available. If the parts are included in the octavo a notation is made by the title. The word “optional” is used with an instrumental part when it is not absolutely necessary for performance of the piece. If the word optional is not used, the piece doesn’t work without the instrument.
SATB DIV
Indicates the parts split, but not uniformly. If the piece is mostly SSAATTBB, then that voicing is notated.
Publishers
You will notice that the vast majority of our literature is now published by five or six major publishers. Many publishing houses have sold recently and while maintaining their own library, they are now published by a larger house such as Hal Leonard, Emerson, Alfred, Lorenz, etc. In notating the publishing numbers you will find LG (Lawson Gould) or BH (Boosey and Hawkes) before the Alfred or Hal Leonard number. That was simply a sign of respect by the author.
The websites of our publishers have become very friendly and usable and you are encouraged to look up pieces and browse. Many are available to peruse and many audio files are online. Again, these are tools for you to use. However, we encourage you to help keep our local businesses in business by placing orders for music with your music store!