It's Ragtime!: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Shaw writes choral music that sounds both accessible and sophisticated, which is exactly what you need when teaching singers who are still building confidence. The ragtime energy here gives your students an immediate sense of style and sophistication without requiring advanced technique or complex harmony, making it genuinely rewarding to rehearse and perform.

Upbeat, swinging, and packed with forward momentum. The syncopated rhythms and driving accompaniment create an infectious energy that lifts singers out of their seats and reminds audiences why live choral singing matters. It's the kind of piece that gets stuck in people's heads long after the concert ends.

Grade 3 choirs ready to sing something with personality and historical style. This works beautifully for singers aged 12 and up who have solid ensemble basics but may still be building musicianship skills. It's an ideal choice when you want to program something that audiences recognize as genuinely fun without sacrificing musical substance.

• Nail the rhythmic precision early in rehearsal. Ragtime lives and dies by crisp, syncopated articulation, so lock down the driving eighth-note feel before adding dynamic shaping.
• Layer in the recorded accompaniment during sectional rehearsals so singers can internalize the groove without relying on a piano to keep them steady in performance.
• Let the syncopation breathe during softer moments rather than pushing tempo. The contrast between driving sections and gentler passages makes the piece memorable.
• If you're adding the instrumental parts, run at least two full rehearsals with the ensemble together so singers adapt to the live energy without losing their ensemble balance.

Schedule this after intermission or as a show-closer when you need your audience energized. It pairs especially well with traditional spirituals or art songs; the contrast in style makes both repertoire stand out. Early in the school year, this piece also serves as an excellent tool for teaching rhythm reading and syncopation in a highly musical context.

• Reading and performing syncopated rhythms in a 2-part texture
• Maintaining steady tempo against a driving rhythmic accompaniment
• Balancing ensemble blend while articulating syncopated entries clearly
• Understanding ragtime style and its rhythmic characteristics
• Confidence singing in parallel motion and simple harmonic contexts