Gotta Put Your Foot Down: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and music by Pepper Choplin
Item: 00-PO-0007833
$2.50
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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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-0007833
More about this title
About the Composer: Pepper Choplin
Pepper Choplin holds degrees in music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Bachelor of Music) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (Master of Music in composition). Over two centuries of anthems and seven choral musicals bear his name, all shaped by his work as a church musician, clinician, conductor, and entertainer across the country.
Choplin's creative range spans rock, classical, and bluegrass idioms, and his compositions balance inspiration with humor in equal measure. As Minister of Music at Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, he channels his gift for dramatic worship into music that moves audiences to both laughter and tears. Many of his pieces emerge directly from the liturgical and educational needs of his own congregation.
Why we love this
Choplin writes choral music that teaches without preaching. The syncopated shuffle and body percussion hook students immediately, while the narrative arc from rhythmic fun to a powerful stand-up-for-what's-right finale feels genuinely earned rather than forced. Two-part voicing keeps the focus on what makes this piece tick: the rhythm, the attitude, and the message.
What to expect
Energetic and purposeful, with a gritty shuffle that carries swagger. The body percussion opening invites physical engagement before the piece builds into layered harmonies that feel powerful without being complicated. You finish exhilarated, having sung something both fun and meaningful.
Who it's for
Young singers in grades 4-7 who respond to contemporary rhythm and real-world messages. This piece works equally well for ensembles developing confidence in syncopation or singers ready to tackle ensemble independence within accessible two-part writing.
How to get the most out of it
- Nail the stomp and clap pattern in the opening section before adding voices; once the body percussion sits solidly, the vocal entries will lock naturally into the groove.
- Shape the middle section by gradually increasing dynamics measure by measure rather than jumping straight to forte; this builds the momentum Choplin designed for the vocal stack climax.
- Keep the shuffle swing consistent throughout; slight drag or rush will muddy the gritty character and weaken the rhythmic integrity that anchors the piece.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to set an upbeat, contemporary tone that engages audiences immediately. It also works as a standalone statement on character education at school assemblies or as part of a thematic program exploring citizenship and integrity in elementary or middle school settings.
Skills your students will build
- Syncopated rhythm reading and execution in a shuffle feel
- Layering independent melodic lines over a rhythmic foundation
- Body percussion coordination and ensemble control
- Transitioning between unison, two-part, and stacked harmony textures
- Dynamic shaping and momentum building over longer phrases