Boogie Woogie Santa: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Simms writes novelty pieces that actually work in the choral rehearsal. The boogie-woogie and rock 'n' roll energy here gives students something genuinely fun to sing without sacrificing musicality, and the added movement component keeps ensemble singers engaged through the entire piece. Programming a piece like this signals that your choir takes joy seriously.

From the first measure, this piece swings. The boogie-woogie piano lines and driving rhythms pull singers into a groovy, energetic sound world that feels nothing like traditional holiday fare. It's built for dancing and smiling, with the kind of rhythmic momentum that makes singers want to move.

This piece works for middle school choirs, high school select groups, and community choirs looking for a crowd pleaser with serious fun factor. Any ensemble comfortable with movement and contemporary rhythmic vocabulary will thrive with the boogie-woogie and rock 'n' roll idioms here.

• Lock the rhythm section (bass and drums on the SoundTrax CD) into a tight groove during rehearsals; this piece lives or dies by the pocket, so isolate those parts early.
• Layer the choreography gradually. Once singers know the music, add movement in sections so nobody is juggling both at once.
• Push the energy forward without rushing the tempo. The boogie-woogie feel can flatten if players and singers aren't singing through the phrases with rhythmic clarity.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish the style and keep singers connected to the groove, especially useful in rehearsals before live performance.

Reserve this for a concert that needs an immediate energy shift. It works perfectly as the second half of your holiday show, after a set of more traditional selections, or as a standalone closer when you want to leave the audience grinning. The novelty element and movement component make it ideal for community holiday concerts and school assemblies.

• Singing syncopated rhythms and syncopation in rock and pop contexts
• Maintaining rhythmic precision in a driving groove
• Coordinating singing with choreographed movement
• Stylistic singing in contemporary idioms (boogie-woogie and rock 'n' roll)