Away from the Mistletoe: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

Beck has a gift for writing novelty pieces that singers actually enjoy performing rather than merely tolerating. The movement and staging built into this piece give your choir a physical anchor for the humor, making it memorable for both performers and audiences during the winter concert season.

A playful retreat from the earnestness of traditional holiday fare, this piece delivers humor through its title alone. The novelty approach invites singers to enjoy themselves while delivering a polished, well-crafted arrangement.

This piece engages choirs of mixed ages and abilities who are comfortable with lighter, comedic material and have space in their winter concerts for seasonal fun. Directors seeking a secular Christmas option with built-in staging elements will find this especially useful for engaging younger singers or mixed ensembles.

• Nail the comedic timing by establishing a consistent tempo in rehearsal; the accompaniment download will lock this in for everyone.
• Stage the piece during early rehearsals rather than treating blocking as a last-minute addition. Singers need time to build confidence with both the music and the movement.
• Consider your ensemble's comfort level with novelty material and adjust the staging energy accordingly. Some groups thrive on big, theatrical moments; others need subtler choreography.

Position this in the lighter half of your winter concert to give audiences a tonal shift after more reverent selections. It works particularly well as a palate cleanser between two solemn pieces or as a closing number that sends the audience out smiling.

• Understanding comedic timing and character in choral performance
• Coordinating singing with movement and staging cues
• Memorizing blocking and ensemble choreography