I've Gotta Be Me: Score: Choral SoundPax
Music and lyrics by Walter Marks / arr. Larry Shackley
Item: 00-PR-0003700
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Description
This popular song has been covered by singers from Ella and Sammy Davis Jr. to Michael Jackson and, most recently, Finn on Glee! Our chart starts in the traditional 6/8 time, then swings into the hot ending.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, I've Gotta Be Me: Score: Choral SoundPax 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:
36
SKU:
00-PR-0003700
Instrumentation:
SoundPax
More about this title
About the Composer: Walter Marks
Walter Marks composed for theater, film, and popular music across several decades. He won a Tony Award for his work on the musical Barbarella and contributed to numerous stage productions, bringing a gift for memorable melody and accessible songwriting to everything he touched.
Marks understood how to write songs that connect with audiences instantly while maintaining genuine musical substance. His compositions have endured across generations, covered by artists spanning jazz, pop, and musical theater traditions.
Why we love this
This chart captures what makes the original so durable: a soaring melody that sits perfectly for mixed voices and an arrangement that respects the song's emotional core while delivering real textural variety. The shift from 6/8 into a hot, energetic ending gives your singers something dynamic to sink their teeth into, and the recorded accompaniment means you can rehearse confidently whether you're working with a full ensemble or a smaller group.
What to expect
The opening moves with a fluid, unhurried quality in 6/8, allowing the melody room to breathe and the lyric to land clearly. When the chart shifts into the hot, swinging ending, the energy becomes infectious and the texture tightens, creating a satisfying arc from introspection to celebration.
Who it's for
Choirs working at intermediate to advanced levels who want a piece with genuine popular appeal and real musical substance. The SoundPax format makes this work for groups of varying sizes, and the recorded accompaniment removes barriers for programs with limited accompanist availability.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the lyrical quality of the opening 6/8 section by keeping voices unified in tone; this isn't a place for overly bright articulation, but rather a warm, cohesive blend.
- Mark the transition into the swinging ending clearly in rehearsal so singers understand the rhythmic shift and can lock in confidently.
- Use the recorded accompaniment during rehearsals to establish the groove, but plan at least some runs with live piano or instrumental support so singers aren't dependent on the recording in performance.
- Balance the accessibility of the melody against the emotional maturity of the text; Marks' writing rewards singers who find both the confidence and vulnerability in the line.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a concert closer or second-to-last selection, particularly in a program featuring other popular music or musical theater repertoire. Its accessibility and proven appeal make it an excellent choice for spring concerts or community performances where you want work that connects immediately with your audience.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in compound meter (6/8 time)
- Transitioning between contrasting rhythmic feels (6/8 to swing rhythm)
- Balancing emotional expressiveness with textural cohesion
- Following an arrangement that uses textural layering and voicing changes