Voice Collectors is a vibrant collection of the many different musical traditions that come from the country of China. In this book, thirty-two Chinese men and women—representing a variety of ages, occupations, geographic regions, and ethnicities—joyfully recall their musical experiences and share popular or significant songs from their home provinces.

Each chapter includes a biographical sketch and photograph of its Culture Bearer, followed by a vocal or instrumental selection of their choosing. Beautiful field recordings featuring authentic musical performances by each Culture Bearer are included for all songs, along with notation (when applicable), background and translations, pinyin, and audio pronunciation guides.

Each chapter also conveniently includes ideas for classroom use—pedagogical extensions, activities, and discussion questions—as well as ideas for at-home use with families. Especially noteworthy are the short, imaginative children’s stories and vibrant full-color illustrations that conclude each chapter, offering yet another entry point for young learners.

Equally suited for the elementary and middle school music classrooms or for at-home use, Voice Collectors is the perfect source for exploring the diversity of musical sounds, textures, instruments, and timbres of Chinese music in a meaningful and culturally connected way.

Le Zhang (author) is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Hainan Normal University in Hainan, China, and is a specialist in international education and elementary general music education.

Sarah H. Watts (author) is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at The Pennsylvania State University and is a specialist in early childhood and elementary general music education.

Shiqi Liu (illustrator) is the A Level and International Baccalaureate Art Teacher of the International Curriculum Center affiliated with Renmin University of China.

Karen Howard (series editor) is Associate Professor of Music at the University of St. Thomas. Her research and teaching interests include diversification of educational strategies, dispositions, and repertoire to create a more equitable learning environment for students of all ages.

CLICK HERE to download the Online Resources.