My Caterpillar: Unison Choral Octavo

Gentle and observational, with the kind of quiet charm that comes from noticing something small in nature. The unison texture creates an intimate, almost meditative quality that invites the listener in without dramatic gestures.

Elementary and middle school choirs, community choruses with newer singers, and any ensemble looking for a unison piece that is genuinely singable without being simplistic. Works well when you need accessible repertoire that doesn't feel diminished.

• Keep the melodic line warm and connected. Unison can sound thin if singers are thinking about notes rather than phrasing.
• Let the text drive the rhythm. Setting words about a caterpillar gives you natural lift and character if you follow the natural speech pattern.
• Balance tone across the section so that even at softer dynamics, the melody carries without strain.

Pair this with other nature or science-themed texts for an elementary school concert, or use it as a warm-up piece in rehearsal to focus on sustained legit singing. At four pages, it fits neatly into a longer program without weighing it down.

• Sustaining long phrases with steady breath support
• Maintaining intonation in unison without harmonic support
• Shaping melodic contour and understanding phrasing across an entire short piece
• Building confidence in ensemble blend and unified vowel production