Anything Goes! (A '20s Medley): SATB Choral Octavo

Sparkling and nostalgic, like stepping into a speakeasy where every song is designed to make you smile. The arrangement bounces with period charm, but Schmutte's writing keeps the texture light enough that the choreography can shine without overwhelming the singers.

Directors programming a concert that needs something joyful, visually engaging, and achievable within a typical rehearsal calendar. Mixed choirs at the middle school and early high school level will find the vocal demands reasonable and the entertainment value immediate.

• Establish clear sections for boy-girl exchange before blocking begins. Mark who sings which phrase in rehearsal so the narrative arc builds naturally alongside the movement.
• Lean into the rhythmic precision of the accompaniment recording. The 1920s groove depends on tight ensemble attacks, so use the recorded track to lock section timing early.
• Layer staging gradually. Get the vocal parts secure first, then introduce movement section by section so singers aren't managing both simultaneously from day one.
• Keep the tempo dancing rather than plodding. A medley of this length needs forward motion to maintain energy through all the song changes.

This works beautifully as a second-half opener or closer, offering relief and laughter after heavier repertoire. It's equally effective as the anchor of a themed concert celebrating early 20th-century American music or as the finale that leaves the audience energized as they leave.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated, jazz-influenced material
• Maintaining vocal line clarity within busy ensemble textures
• Coordination of singing with choreography and blocking
• Phrasing and style interpretation specific to 1920s popular idiom
• Sectional independence in SATB texture with frequent voice exchange