Put a Little Love in Your Heart: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the infectious groove of the original while keeping the voicing accessible for developing choirs. The funky, soulful energy feels fresh in a choral context, and the positive message never becomes preachy, making it equally effective for concert closers, community events, or service learning programs. Your singers will genuinely enjoy performing something this rhythmically engaging.

The piece swings with a soulful confidence, built on a groove that makes you want to move. There's warmth beneath the funk, and the melody sits naturally in the voice, inviting singers to deliver the uplifting message with genuine heart rather than sentiment.

This octavo works for middle school and high school choirs with basic ensemble skills and comfort with contemporary popular music. The 2-part voicing makes it accessible to younger singers or mixed groups with variable experience levels, while the funky arrangement keeps more experienced singers engaged through the rhythmic and stylistic demands.

• Lock the rhythm section (piano and rhythm parts if available) before adding the voices. The groove only works when the foundation sits solidly in time.
• Encourage singers to feel the backbeat in their bodies rather than just singing it. This piece demands rhythmic commitment, not just pitch accuracy.
• Shape phrases with the lyrical content in mind. The text about helping one another should feel warm and genuine, not mechanical, even when the rhythm is driving.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to find the groove early in rehearsal. Hearing the full arrangement helps singers understand the style and placement they're aiming for.

This arrangement shines as a concert closer or standalone number at community events where an uplifting, contemporary vibe fits the mood. It also works well paired with other pop or soul-influenced pieces in a set that celebrates joy and connection, or as a standalone piece for assemblies and service learning contexts where the message matters as much as the music.

• Singing steady rhythms in a contemporary/funk style
• Maintaining groove and backbeat feel
• Balancing part independence with ensemble cohesion in 2-part texture
• Articulation and phrasing in popular music idiom
• Connecting lyrical meaning to expressive choice