It's Ragtime! Cover Image

It's Ragtime!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

$21.95 USD
$21.95 USD
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It's Ragtime! Cover Image
It's Ragtime!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

It's Ragtime!: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Words and music by Kirby Shaw

Item: 00-SVM04036CD
$21.95
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Description
The title says it all. It's an upbeat, driving ragtime choral extravaganza that's fun to sing and will add some real style to any concert. Use of the pre-recorded track or live instruments with the Instrumental Pak will enhance your performance greatly!

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Additional Details
Publisher: Alfred Music
UPC: 654979080435
SKU: 00-SVM04036CD

More about this title

About the Composer: Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw

Kirby Shaw stands among the most performed choral composers in American music education, with over 2,500 arrangements and compositions currently in print and nearly 20 million copies sold worldwide. His work has reached choirs across 45 states and six continents, reflecting his commitment to writing music that excites both singers and audiences. Shaw earned degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and holds a doctorate in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington.

Beyond composition, Shaw has built an exceptional career as a conductor and vocal educator. He founded and directed the acclaimed COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble at College of the Siskiyous and later led similar programs at Colorado State University and the University of Missouri at Kansas City. His approach to teaching blends technical rigor with infectious enthusiasm and humor. Shaw also performs as a member of Just 4 Kicks, a professional a cappella quartet, and has studied jazz vocal performance with legendary singers including Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks. His extensive experience in recording production has resulted in hundreds of educational projects and multiple albums. Recent honors include commissions from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and an original musical adaptation of A Christmas Carol co-written with his wife, Markita.

Why we love this

Shaw's ragtime writing captures all the rhythmic snap and syncopated joy of the style without requiring your singers to navigate complex notation or impossible rhythmic demands. The piece energizes a concert program immediately, and the availability of both recorded and live instrumental accompaniment options means you can shape the performance to match your resources and venue.

What to expect

Bouncy, propulsive, and thoroughly joyful. The ragtime idiom brings a vintage theatrical flair to the choral setting, with syncopated rhythms that make singers sit forward in their chairs and feel the groove.

Who it's for

Directors seeking a high-energy piece that energizes singers and audiences alike without excessive difficulty. This works for high school and college choirs looking to program something stylistically distinct that still sits well in the voices.

How to get the most out of it

  • Anchor the rhythm section with confidence. The syncopation drives everything, so your basses and baritones need to lock into the ragtime pulse from the start of rehearsals.
  • Lean into articulation and diction to bring out the character of the style. Clear consonants and bouncy vowels make the ragtime idiom sparkle.
  • If using the pre-recorded track, rehearse with it early and often so singers develop independence within the accompaniment rather than chasing it.
  • Balance the parts so that the ragtime figures stay visible without overwhelming the melody line, especially if you layer in live instrumental accompaniment.

How to use it

Program this as an encore or a second-half opener when you want to shift the mood from reverent to celebratory. It pairs well with a more traditional selection earlier in the concert, giving audiences a stylistic contrast that keeps them engaged.

Skills your students will build

  • Singing syncopated rhythms accurately and musically
  • Maintaining rhythmic independence while blending with a recorded or live accompaniment
  • Executing style-specific articulation and diction for the ragtime idiom
  • Balancing part independence in a rhythmically complex ensemble texture

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