My Girl (arr. Roger Emerson): TB Choral Octavo

Roger Emerson's arrangement captures the signature smooth sophistication of this Motown classic while making it accessible for treble and baritone voices. The flexible voicing options (TB, TTB, TBB, TTBB) mean you can use it with nearly any male choir configuration. Audiences recognize it instantly, which gives your singers the confidence boost that comes from performing a genuine hit.

Smooth, warm, and instantly approachable. This arrangement channels the easy confidence of 1960s soul while keeping enough harmonic interest to challenge young singers. It feels less like work and more like playing with something you already know by heart.

Any male choir director looking for a high-engagement piece that works across skill levels. The flexible voicing makes it suitable for groups ranging from beginning singers to experienced performers.

• Lock the rhythmic pocket early in rehearsals. This song lives or dies by groove, so establish a steady tempo and keep the rhythm section tight from day one.
• Shape the melody line with gentle dynamics rather than dramatic changes. The Temptations' vocal style relies on restraint and control; let the harmonic richness speak for itself.
• Balance the parts so the bass line anchors the harmony without overwhelming the upper voices. A clear bottom end will make your whole chord structure shine.
• Record a rehearsal track with just one singer per part so students can hear their line against the others. Hearing how their part fits into the whole picture accelerates learning.

Ideal for spring concerts, variety shows, or any program where you want to shift the mood into something contemporary and celebratory. It pairs well alongside barbershop or jazz selections, or stands alone as a crowd-pleasing finale that leaves audiences smiling.

• Controlling vibrato in a smooth, retro vocal style
• Balancing harmonies in close chord voicings
• Maintaining rhythmic precision while singing with rubato
• Interpreting stylistic flexibility within a structured arrangement
• Blending in vocal lines that sit at varying registers