A Lot of Livin' to Do Cover Image

A Lot of Livin' to Do: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

$27.99 USD
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A Lot of Livin' to Do Cover Image

A Lot of Livin' to Do: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

From the Musical Bye, Bye, Birdie

Music by Charles Strouse, lyric by Lee Adams / arr. Greg Gilpin

Item: 00-A-00015583

$27.99
Digital Download
Description

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-A-00015583

More about this title

About the Composer: Charles Strouse

Charles Strouse composed the music for some of Broadway's most enduring musicals, including Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, and Applause. His melodies balance accessibility with sophistication, making his work equally at home in professional theaters and high school auditoriums. Strouse's gift for writing singable, memorable lines that still contain genuine harmonic interest has made him a cornerstone of the choral pop repertoire.

Why we love this

Greg Gilpin's arrangement captures the infectious optimism of this Bye Bye Birdie classic while keeping the part writing clean and achievable. The SoundTrax download gives singers the exact recorded accompaniment they'll hear at contest or concert, eliminating guesswork about tempo and style. This is the kind of showstopper that reminds students why they joined choir.

What to expect

Pure optimism and youthful swagger. The melody bounces with infectious joy, and the harmony sits in a place that's bright and accessible without feeling empty. Singing it should feel like celebrating, not working.

Who it's for

High school and college choirs looking for a crowd-pleasing pop standard with real musical substance. The piece works for both concert choirs wanting to lighten their program and show choirs seeking Broadway repertoire that audiences recognize and love.

How to get the most out of it

  • Keep the energy lifted and bright from start to finish; this song lives or dies on its rhythmic vitality and forward momentum.
  • Balance the soloist carefully against the choir so the lead vocal lands clearly without drowning out the harmonic support underneath.
  • Use the recorded accompaniment in sectionals to lock in rhythmic accuracy, then practice without it to build ensemble independence.
  • Shape the dynamics to build through the form; resist singing at full volume for the entire piece, or there's nowhere to go in climactic moments.

How to use it

Program this as a feel-good closer or as a bridge between a classical set and contemporary material. It works equally well as a standalone feature with piano or as part of a Broadway or pop medley that showcases your ensemble's versatility.

Skills your students will build

  • Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop idioms
  • Blend and balance with a prominent solo line
  • Phrasing and breath management in a fast-moving pop melody
  • Stylistic control of articulation and dynamics in a Broadway context

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