Gotta Put Your Foot Down: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Words and music by Pepper Choplin
Item: 00-PO-0007832
$2.50
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Description
Teach good citizenship through repertoire. Crisp, syncopated lines reinforce the theme of integrity through a variety of easy-to-learn textures, including unison singing, independent lines, and full harmonies. This engaging piece kicks off with rhythmic stomp/clap body percussion, before launching into a gritty shuffle. Stomps return in a dynamic middle section that builds momentum to the powerful vocal stack and eventually culminates in a fortissimo "stand up for what is right" conclusion.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007832
More about this title
About the Composer: Pepper Choplin
Pepper Choplin holds degrees in music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, where he studied composition. His catalog now includes over two hundred anthems and seven choral musicals, written across genres ranging from rock and bluegrass to classical. His work spans both the sacred and secular worlds, and his experience as a church musician, clinician, conductor, and theme park entertainer informs his gift for writing music that connects audiences emotionally and viscerally.
Choplin serves as Minister of Music at Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, where many of his compositions originate from the congregation's actual worship needs. He travels nationally conducting workshops and leading musical events, and has recorded several albums including his humorous collection Pepper Is My Real Name and the inspirational solo album Hold On. His creative mission centers on crafting music that invites people into worship through dramatic, memorable arrangements.
Why we love this
Choplin writes with genuine understanding of what middle and high school singers can execute and enjoy. The syncopated lines sit naturally in young voices, and the body percussion opening gives students an immediate kinesthetic entry point into the groove. The piece builds from that playful foundation into something with real emotional weight, that final "stand up for what is right" moment lands because the musical architecture earns it.
What to expect
Gotta Put Your Foot Down lands somewhere between a pop-influenced pep rally and a genuine call to courage. Stomp patterns and clap rhythms create immediate physical energy, while the shuffle groove feels contemporary and propulsive. The piece builds from playful rhythmic fun into a sincere, powerful statement about standing up for integrity, ending with a fortissimo voice stack that feels earned and stirring.
Who it's for
Middle school and high school choirs seeking repertoire that teaches character values without preaching. The SAB voicing works for developing ensembles with mixed voice maturity, and the rhythmic accessibility invites students who are still building sight-reading confidence to participate fully.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the stomp/clap pattern in your first rehearsal and return to it often. Once students own the body percussion, the rest of the piece clicks into place faster.
- Emphasize the shuffle rhythm during early runs. Exaggerate the groove in rehearsal, then dial back to find the sweet spot between rhythmic precision and natural swing.
- Keep the dynamic arch transparent in your conducting. The build from the middle section through the final "stand up for what is right" refrain requires clear gesture language so singers don't anticipate or rush the climax.
- Use the recorded accompaniment as a pacing reference in early rehearsals, but rehearse frequently without it. Your singers need confidence carrying the syncopated lines independently.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener to set an energetic, youth-centered tone for your event. It also works powerfully in a citizenship or character education context (school assemblies, honor society events) where the message lands naturally alongside the music. The piece's relatively brief length and high engagement factor make it an excellent choice for festival competition where you want judges to remember your choir's energy and ensemble blend.
Skills your students will build
- Reading syncopated rhythms in a pop-influenced shuffle style
- Executing body percussion (stomp and clap) in rhythmic unison
- Singing independent melodic lines within a three-part texture
- Controlling dynamic growth and intensity through a building arch
- Blending voices in a final harmonic stack for choral impact