Get Ready/Dancing In The Street (from Motown The Musical): SATB Choral Octavo

Emerson captures the infectious energy of these Motown classics while keeping the vocal lines idiomatic and fun. The arrangement honors the source material without asking more than SATB voices can deliver, and the seven-page length works perfectly for a program climax that audiences actually want to hear.

Pure joy and movement. These are songs written to make people want to get up and dance, and Emerson's arrangement preserves that irresistible pull. You'll hear your singers finding the groove naturally, and the room will feel alive.

High school and community choirs looking to program recognizable pop music with built-in audience appeal. This works equally well for choirs that specialize in pop and show repertoire or those seeking a palate cleanser in a more classical concert.

• Nail the precision of the rhythmic hits in both pieces; these songs live and die by groove, so lock the ensemble on syncopated figures before worrying about finesse.
• Use contrast between the two songs as a tool. Let "Get Ready" have a tighter, more focused energy, then open up "Dancing In The Street" for a fuller, looser feel.
• Keep the arrangement's pop identity in the articulation and phrasing. Avoid letting the choral blend override the conversational, modern quality of the original songs.

Save this for the second half of a concert, ideally as your high-energy set piece before or after slower material. The back-to-back pairing gives you two hits in quick succession, making an impact without requiring multiple rehearsals of unrelated songs.

• Singing syncopated rhythms with precision and swagger
• Maintaining groove while singing in parts
• Balancing blend with character and personality in pop/rock idioms
• Quick stylistic shifts between related but distinct songs