Movin' On Up (arr. Wendy Sergeant): SATB Choral Octavo

Wendy Sergeant's arrangement captures the infectious groove and optimistic energy of the original without sacrificing singability across four parts. The piece gives your choir a contemporary pop vehicle that audiences genuinely recognize, making it ideal for concerts where you want to bridge classical programming with modern repertoire.

Optimistic and propulsive, with the warm funk undertone of the original. Singing it feels like being part of something current and energetic, a reminder that pop music can carry real conviction and joy.

This arrangement works for intermediate to advanced high school and collegiate choirs looking to expand beyond traditional repertoire. It's equally valuable for community choirs and show choirs seeking contemporary material with genuine rock and soul credibility.

• Find the pocket by locking into the rhythmic pulse early in rehearsal. This arrangement thrives on rhythmic precision and a relaxed, confident delivery rather than tight articulation.
• Balance the part writing so soprano and alto lines sit comfortably without dominating; the arrangement likely distributes the melody across voices, so blend matters as much as clarity.
• Shape the piece with forward momentum. Resist the urge to slow down emotionally; let the groove propel the singing through phrase endings.

Pair this with similar contemporary arrangements to create a pop-focused set within a larger concert, or use it as a closer when you want to send audiences out energized. It works well sandwiched between more traditional repertoire as a stylistic palette cleanser.

• Rhythmic precision in syncopated pop grooves
• Blending and balancing when melody is distributed across multiple voice parts
• Sustaining forward momentum and groove orientation in choral singing
• Reading and executing contemporary pop/soul chord structures and voicings