Get On Your Feet: SAB Choral Octavo

Kirby Shaw's arrangement respects the original's infectious energy while making it genuinely singable for SAB choirs. The Latin percussion feels essential rather than decorative, and there's enough harmonic sophistication to keep strong singers engaged without alienating singers still building confidence.

Bright, propulsive, and undeniably joyful. The Latin groove sits underneath accessible melodies that settle comfortably in the SAB range, creating an arrangement that feels both familiar and fresh. Your singers will finish this one smiling.

SAB choirs looking for a concert closer that actually lands with audiences. This works for high school choirs with solid intonation and middle school choirs that thrive on contemporary material.

• Lock in the clave rhythm with your rhythm section early. This groove underpins everything, and precision here makes the ensemble sound cohesive immediately.
• Keep the tempo steady but don't let it drag. "Get On Your Feet" lives in momentum; too slow and you lose the infectious quality that makes this work.
• Shape the dynamics to match the arrangement's peaks. The recorded accompaniment gives you clear signposts for when to push and when to pull back.
• Balance the solo moments. Whether a soloist takes a verse or a section gets a featured line, isolate these in rehearsal so they sit properly against the ensemble.

Save this for your spring concert closer when you want your audience leaving energized. It pairs well after more introspective repertoire, offering a sharp tonal and textural contrast that resets the room.

• Latin rhythm patterns and clave fundamentals
• Singing with rhythmic precision against a contemporary groove
• Blend and balance in a pop-influenced harmonic context
• Connecting choreography or movement to specific song sections