Beat It: Choral Instrumental Pak

Mark Brymer's arrangement captures the iconic guitar riff and driving rhythm that made this track a cultural phenomenon, translating it for choir with the energy intact. Your students will recognize the song immediately, but the arrangement itself demands real musicianship in executing the syncopated rhythms and locked ensemble work that define the original.

The arrangement pulses with attitude and swagger. Hard-driving rhythms and a vocal texture that echoes the original's defiance create a performance moment that feels contemporary and electric, even decades after release.

Directors programming pop and rock repertoire for concert or show settings will find this accessible and engaging for mixed or upper-level choirs. Students already know this music, which removes a major barrier to buy-in and lets you focus on the real work of arrangement and performance.

• Lock the syncopated rhythmic patterns between voices before adding the accompaniment tracks; the precision here directly impacts how tight the arrangement sounds.
• Balance the solo line against background vocals so the lead voice cuts through without drowning out the essential rhythmic support underneath.
• Let the accompaniment track set the tempo and groove in early rehearsals, then gradually build independence so singers own the pocket rather than follow passively.

This works perfectly as a show opener or closer, especially if you're building a program around popular music, film soundtracks, or a retrospective of 1980s cultural impact. It also serves as a teaching tool for understanding how classic pop arranging translates to choral voices.

• Syncopated rhythmic accuracy in ensemble
• Maintaining pocket and groove against a recorded accompaniment
• Balancing solo and background vocal lines
• Performing contemporary pop repertoire with stylistic authenticity