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I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing: 2-Part Choral Octavo

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I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing Cover Image
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing: 2-Part Choral Octavo

I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Words and music by Bill Backer, Roquel Davis, Roger Cook, and Roger Greenaway / arr. Mark Hayes

Item: 00-49769
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Description
A blast from the past with a message built to last! This song of hope and love originated as the 1970s Coca-Cola jingle, considered one of the best-loved and most influential ads in TV history. It's a catchy anthem with a rock-side-to-side hook, a bubbly tune, and a few delightful counterlines. Universal themes of music and world harmony fit well on many programs---school, community, winter, spring, pop, pyramid, and more. SoundTrax and SoundPax accompaniment options are available.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing: 2-Part Choral Octavo comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 16
UPC: 038081568560
SKU: 00-49769

More about this title

About the Composer: Bill Backer

Bill Backer wrote "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" during the early 1970s as part of a Coca-Cola advertising campaign that became a cultural touchstone. The jingle transcended its commercial origins to become a genuine anthem, earning widespread recognition and eventually charting as a pop single. Backer's gift for crafting memorable, singable melodies with universal appeal made this composition one of the most enduring pieces of pop music from the decade.

As a songwriter and creative strategist, Backer understood how to embed emotional resonance into accessible music. His work on this piece demonstrates the power of simplicity paired with authentic sentiment, qualities that made it relevant across generations and continue to make it a natural fit for choral programs seeking contemporary material with genuine substance.

Why we love this

This arrangement captures everything that made the original a phenomenon without relying on novelty. Mark Hayes strips away nothing essential while crafting voicing that feels fresh for young and community choirs, with counterlines that add harmonic interest without overwhelming singers. Programming it signals confidence that your choir can own a piece of pop history.

What to expect

Optimistic and infectious. The tune bounces with genuine warmth rather than saccharine sentiment, and the rock-forward groove gives it swagger. There's something both nostalgic and timeless about singing these words, as if you're part of something bigger than the moment.

Who it's for

Beginning to intermediate 2-part choirs in school, community, or church settings will find accessible voicing and immediately recognizable material that builds confidence. Singers who grew up hearing this piece, or know it from popular culture, experience the satisfaction of bringing something familiar into fuller artistic expression.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the melody against the counterlines; the hook should remain clear even when both parts move together. Have singers mark where they're carrying the main line versus supporting it.
  • Lean into the rock sensibility. This isn't a ballad. Keep the energy upbeat and the rhythm crisp, even during the gentler sections.
  • Use the recorded accompaniment to lock in the groove early in rehearsal. Once the rhythm feels secure, singers can focus on blend and expression rather than fighting to stay with the track.
  • Shape the dynamics to let the text shine. The lyrics about teaching the world to sing carry weight; resist flattening the phrase into a single dynamic level.

How to use it

This works beautifully as a spring or winter concert closer, or anywhere you want an uplifting finale that connects with audiences of all ages. It pairs well with other contemporary pop arrangements and also stands out effectively when programmed alongside more classical repertoire, serving as a bridge that reminds listeners why they love singing together.

Skills your students will build

  • Maintaining melody integrity while singing counterlines
  • Rhythmic security in contemporary groove-based music
  • Balancing pop style with choral blend
  • Sustaining energy and intent through a message-driven text
  • Switching between leading and supporting voice roles within the same piece

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