Cheap Thrills (from Pitch Perfect 3) (arr. Deke Sharon): SSAA Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon's arrangement captures the infectious energy and rhythmic drive of the original while keeping the vocal writing accessible for developing SSAA ensembles. The piece sits perfectly in that sweet spot where students tackle contemporary pop without wrestling with excessive range demands, making it ideal for building confidence and ensemble cohesion around material they actually care about.

Upbeat and effervescent, with the kind of groove that makes singers want to move. There's a lightness to the material that still demands precision and attention to blend, creating the satisfying combination of fun and craftsmanship that keeps rehearsals energized.

High school and mixed college choirs seeking contemporary pop repertoire that engages students without oversimplifying the musical task. Directors building concert programs that speak to student interest while maintaining vocal development standards will find this arrangement strikes the right balance.

• Lock the rhythmic precision in the opening bars. The syncopation that makes this song fun will fall flat if the ensemble isn't together, so isolate those sections in rehearsal and drill them as a unit.
• Shape the dynamics intentionally around the melody line. This arrangement has personality when soloists or semi-solo moments pop out of the texture, so mark your cut offs and crescendos clearly.
• Nail the vowel consistency across all four parts, especially in tight homophonic sections. Clean articulation on the lyrics separates a polished performance from a muddled one.
• Record a rehearsal and listen together. This repertoire connects when students hear their own blend improve week to week; let them own the progress.

Slot this into a concert segment devoted to contemporary hits or pop standards, where it can anchor a set of recognizable songs that showcase your ensemble's versatility. It also works beautifully as a morale booster mid-concert, offering a musical palate cleanser between heavier classical or art song selections.

• Syncopated rhythm reading and execution
• Maintaining ensemble cohesion in rhythmically active passages
• Blending and balancing in four-part voicing
• Articulation clarity in pop idiom
• Sustaining engagement with contemporary melodic material