Bad Habits (arr. Mark Brymer): 2-Part Choral Octavo

Mark Brymer's arrangement respects the song's infectious simplicity while opening it up for young singers. The 2-part voicing stays true to what makes the original work: clear melodic writing and rhythm that feels natural rather than forced, giving choirs immediate engagement with material their audiences genuinely know.

The energy of current pop music filtered through choral writing. Sheeran's reflective lyrics paired with an insistent rhythm create a piece that feels both urgent and contemplative, the kind of song that builds momentum through repetition without ever feeling heavy.

Middle school and high school choirs looking to program contemporary repertoire that connects with student singers and audiences alike. This works equally well for concert settings, pep assemblies, or any context where modern pop belongs.

• Build awareness of the song's groove by listening to Sheeran's original recording as an ensemble before learning music notation. Let singers feel where the pulse sits naturally rather than imposing it from external counts.
• Balance the harmonic parts so neither voice dominates; 2-part arrangements succeed when both lines carry equal weight and independence.
• Shape the phrasing in phrases rather than individual measures. This arrangement likely follows speech rhythm, so encourage singers to breathe where words naturally pause rather than at notated bar lines.
• Nail the diction in any rap or rhythmically rapid sections; clarity here sells the contemporary style and keeps the arrangement feeling current.

Open a concert with this to immediately capture attention, or pair it with other contemporary arrangements to build a thematic block around modern songwriting. It also serves as a confidence builder for singers new to pop repertoire or uncertain about their musicianship.

• Singing contemporary pop phrasing and diction
• Part independence in 2-part texture
• Rhythmic precision in groove-based music
• Interpreting melodic contour and lyrical storytelling