Kids In America: SATB Choral Octavo

Deke Sharon's arrangement transforms a high-energy new wave classic into a vehicle for collegiate and advanced high school choirs. The a cappella setting strips the song down to pure vocal energy, creating an arrangement that demands precision rhythm section work from your singers while giving them permission to have genuine fun with familiar material.

Propulsive and infectious. The a cappella treatment gives the song an almost hypnotic quality, with the vocal lines driving forward in lockstep energy. There's a lightness underneath the rhythm that makes the arrangement feel more playful than the original, inviting the listener into the joy of pure vocal execution.

This arrangement suits choirs with solid intonation and rhythmic confidence who want to engage audiences with contemporary repertoire. Advanced high school choirs and college groups will find the stylistic demands rewarding without requiring extensive classical technique.

• Lock the pulse between your sections before adding any stylistic choices; the rhythmic drive of new wave collapses without rock solid timing across SATB.
• Layer in vocal percussion or body percussion gradually during rehearsals to anchor the groove and give your singers a physical reference for staying locked.
• Shape the dynamics cumulatively rather than statically; resist the urge to sing at full volume from the beginning. Build excitement by adding intensity and thickness as the piece unfolds.
• Emphasize the crisp articulation of consonants, particularly in the unison or homophonic passages. New wave thrives on clarity and forward momentum.

Position this as a concert centerpiece or finale where you want to shift audience energy and showcase your choir's rhythmic sophistication and contemporary sensibility. It pairs effectively alongside other new wave or post-punk arrangements, or it can serve as a stylistic bridge between classical repertoire and modern pop on a concert program designed to illustrate vocal range across genres.

• Maintaining steady pulse and groove in a cappella settings
• Articulation and diction in rhythmic, text-driven passages
• Listening and locking with other sections in complex rhythmic textures
• Stylistic flexibility and singing contemporary popular music with vocal sophistication
• Balancing rhythmic precision with musical expression and energy