It's Alright: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Words and Music by Sherry Blevins
Item: 00-PO-0007428
$2.40
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Composer Sherry Blevins offers an uplifting contemporary original that teaches persistence. "Though you might fall down, you still must try." The lightly syncopated melody is easy to learn and brings the meaningful text to life. Feature two optional soloists in the slower middle section before the catchy theme returns with distinct counterlines layered over an optional piano bassline. Add handclaps on two and four to lock in the groove!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
16
SKU:
00-PO-0007428
More about this title
About the Composer: Sherry Blevins
Sherry Blevins has established herself as a prolific composer whose works span choral, operatic, and educational contexts. Since 2018, she has published over 27 compositions through Alfred Music, Hinshaw, Fred Bock, Jocelyn Hagen Music, Colla Voce, and BriLee Music, while conducting ensembles and premiering works at venues including Carnegie Hall through her residencies with National Concerts and MidAmerica Productions.
Blevins has worked extensively across the United States and internationally, collaborating with honor choirs, all-state ensembles, professional opera companies, and university programs. As a former ACDA Southern Region President and Artistic Director of the Chattanooga Boys Choir, she has become known for her accessible, melodically rich writing that serves both singers and texts with equal care. In recent years, she has expanded her practice to include collaborative composing projects with school choirs, resulting in pieces that reflect the voices and experiences of the young musicians who help create them.
Why we love this
Blevins crafts a piece that works precisely for young choirs while delivering a genuinely uplifting message about resilience. The syncopated melody sits comfortably in the two-part range, the optional middle soloists provide a natural showcase moment without requiring virtuosity, and the groove-based final section gives your ensemble something tangible to lock into with handclaps and optional piano accompaniment.
What to expect
Bright and conversational, with a lightly swinging quality that keeps the piece from feeling heavy despite its serious subject matter. The middle section softens into something introspective before the energy returns, creating a satisfying arc that mirrors the text's message about falling and rising again.
Who it's for
Middle and high school choirs working in two-part voicing, whether mixed treble or lower voices. The straightforward range and rhythmic clarity make it accessible for less experienced ensembles while the contemporary style and message appeal to singers looking for modern repertoire with purpose.
How to get the most out of it
- Anchor the handclaps on beats two and four before rehearsing the final section; once your singers feel the rhythmic pocket, layer in the melody and counterline.
- Work the two optional soloists in the middle section separately, then bring them into the full group gradually so the ensemble hears how they sit within the texture.
- Keep the syncopated phrases loose and conversational in the opening; overhauling them leads to stiffness that erases the contemporary feel.
- If using the recorded accompaniment, have your singers rehearse unaccompanied first to secure their own rhythmic independence and tuning.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to set an optimistic, engaging tone, or program it alongside other contemporary works for a modern set. Its length (16 pages) and accessibility make it an excellent choice for festival or contest entries where you want impact without overextending younger singers.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and performing light syncopation in a contemporary style
- Blending two independent lines while maintaining rhythmic integrity
- Internalizing groove through body percussion and pulse awareness
- Balancing solo and ensemble textures in a single piece