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[For Junior High School Chorus] A Curated Selection of Challenging Popular Works and Classic Songs

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Choral performances are showcased at various school events, such as choir competitions and graduation ceremonies.

Why not take on a slightly challenging piece and surprise your audience during this special opportunity to sing together as a class or grade?

In this article, we introduce difficult choral pieces suitable for junior high school students.

Because of the higher level of difficulty, this lineup is especially recommended for 9th graders and choir club members.

Of course, 7th and 8th graders are welcome to try, too!

There are many challenging aspects—like achieving beautiful harmony and keeping precise rhythm—but with solid practice, you can deliver a wonderful, resonant performance.

[For Junior High School Chorus] Carefully Selected Difficult Popular Works & Standard Songs (21–30)

BeginningSakushi: Kudō Naoko / Sakkyoku: Kinoshita Makiko

Choral Piece “The Beginning”

BeginningSakushi: Kudō Naoko / Sakkyoku: Kinoshita Makiko

A “Beginning” that lets you feel the grandeur of the Earth.

Our planet holds many places, and within them, humans and animals live each day thinking and feeling many things—yet the Earth simply keeps turning.

This piece portrays that scene.

The song is sung in a slightly challenging 6/8 meter, so the first priority is to firmly feel the rhythm.

The difficult aspects are not only the time signature, but also the nuances as the music unfolds—how to use dynamics effectively.

While keeping the lyrics’ content in mind, try singing with rich expressiveness, sensing the Earth’s vastness and the many human dramas and lives of creatures that play out upon it.

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determinationSakushi: Kataoka Akira / Sakkyoku: Suzuki Norio

To You Living in the 21st Century — Resolution [Iwate University Choir]

determinationSakushi: Kataoka Akira / Sakkyoku: Suzuki Norio

This song, a message song based on Ryotaro Shiba’s essay “To You Who Will Live in the Twenty-First Century,” is a mixed chorus in four parts, released as the fourth piece of the choral suite “Resolution for the Future.” The fact that it begins a cappella already hints at its high level of difficulty.

A four-part mixed chorus is a challenging piece for junior high school choirs.

Because it has a medium tempo, practice with the goal of aligning firmly and matching precisely, and try singing with a conscious focus on achieving a beautiful unison.

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If I put it into wordsGosuperāzu

If I put it into words

If I put it into wordsGosuperāzu

Gospellers’ “Kotoba ni Sureba” evokes a future that shines on without end.

Released in 2007 as a double A-side single together with “It Still Matters — Ai wa Nemuranai,” the song was composed as the compulsory piece for the 2007 NHK Nationwide School Music Competition, high school division.

Its beautiful melody spans a wide vocal range; in particular, the soprano and other female parts demand quite high notes, which makes that area challenging.

And although the melody is driving and energetic, it’s not enough to simply sing it powerfully—advanced expressiveness is also required.

There are many difficult aspects, but the sense of accomplishment when you finish singing it is immense.

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To You — A Message for Your DepartureSakushi Sakkyoku: Tsutsui Masako

[High Quality Audio] To You: A Message for Your Departure

To You — A Message for Your DepartureSakushi Sakkyoku: Tsutsui Masako

Masako Tsutsui, an elementary school teacher who wrote both the lyrics and music, created “To You — A Message for Your Departure” for her graduating students.

It is one piece from the mixed-chorus suite “Goddess of Time.” The lyrics convey a message that no matter how hard life may become, the experiences gained during school days will surely support you.

From the middle of the piece, the melody advances with syncopation, entering slightly ahead of the previous measure, which makes the rhythmic phrasing a challenging point.

Try singing while staying closely attuned to the flow of the melody.

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fightYUI

YUI　『fight』

fightYUI

“fight” is a song composed by singer-songwriter YUI as the set piece for the Junior High School Division of the 2012 NHK National School Music Competition.

YUI also released it as her 21st single, and it reached No.

5 on the Oricon Singles Chart.

The lyrics, which starkly confront reality, are striking; YUI has said she infused the song with hope that emerges after accepting that reality.

It was also broadcast on NHK’s ‘Minna no Uta’ starting in August 2012.

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Hymn to the EarthSakushi: Oki Atsuo / Sakkyoku: Sato Makoto

Hymn to the Earth (with lyrics)

Hymn to the EarthSakushi: Oki Atsuo / Sakkyoku: Sato Makoto

Celebrating gratitude to the earth and the joy of human life, this work is cherished as an indispensable classic for school events.

Composed in 1962 as the final movement of the cantata “Song of the Land,” it stirs listeners’ hearts with its rich harmonies and powerful lyrics.

It may feel a bit challenging for junior high school students, but if you all work together and practice, it will surely become a wonderful chorus.

If you sing it at a graduation ceremony or a choir competition, it will deeply resonate with the audience.

Please give it a try.

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proofflumpool

Akashi / flumpool [Mixed Chorus, 3 Parts]

proofflumpool

This is a song by flumpool dedicated to junior high school students.

Chosen as the set piece for the Junior High School Division of the NHK Nationwide School Music Competition, it portrays two people parting ways to pursue their dreams.

The lyrics express the loneliness of losing an “ordinary warmth” and lingering feelings for the other person, yet they also convey the importance of having the courage to move forward.

Released in December 2011, the song was also broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” While there are challenging aspects such as the beauty of the harmonies and the rhythmic nuances, practice well and let your wonderful voices ring out!

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