Book excerpt: Designed for use in choral methods courses for undergraduate music education majors, Choral Music Methods and Materials provides a well-organized and concise introduction to directing choirs and managing choral programs at the middle-school/junior-high and high-school levels. Choral Music Methods and Materials offers an important balance between the practical and the artistic components of successful choral music programs. Topics covered include developing a philosophy of music education; singer recruitment and retention; auditions; curriculum planning and evaluation; repertoire selection; concert programming; rehearsal planning and techniques; score study; classroom management; vocal techniques and musicianship skills; the changing voice; and pop ensembles and musical theatre productions. The new National Standards for Arts Education are addressed, as well as fund-raising, choral parent organizations, budgets, managing the choral library, choosing performance attire, avoiding teacher burnout, and using computer technology in the classroom.