Make Your Own Kind of Music (arr. Val Regan): SATB Choral Octavo

Val Regan's arrangement captures the confident, conversational warmth of the original while giving your SATB choir real independence. The two-page length makes it accessible without sacrificing the song's personality, and the straightforward voicing lets singers focus on nailing the groove and phrasing that makes this tune work.

There's an ease and self-assurance to this tune that comes through in the harmony. The song invites singers and listeners alike to embrace their own voice, delivering its message with warmth rather than proclamation.

This arrangement works for mixed choirs of any ability level looking to program something contemporary with genuine crossover appeal. It's ideal for community ensembles, educational settings, and concert programs seeking a piece that feels current without demanding extreme range or technical demands.

• Treat the rhythm section implied in the harmony as your foundation; lock the syllables and articulation across all four parts so the chords sit with clarity rather than blur.
• Shape the melodic line with the kind of ease you'd hear in casual conversation, resisting the urge to over-dramatize; let the lyrics do the emotional work.
• Check balance between the soprano line and inner voices, especially where alto or tenor might carry supporting melodies that shouldn't disappear into the texture.
• Experiment with subtle dynamic shaping across sections to reveal how the harmony evolves without needing obvious key changes or tempo shifts.

Pair this with other contemporary pop or soul arrangements to build a modern set, or place it as a lighter moment in a mixed concert that includes standards and classical work. Its accessible style and positive message make it a strong closing number or a bridge piece between heavier material.

• Managing rhythmic flexibility within a steady pulse
• Balancing harmonic independence across four voices
• Conveying conversational phrasing and lyrical intent
• Reading and executing contemporary pop-influenced voicing