Ready, Set, Christmas!: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Music by Jay Althouse / arr. Steve Herold
Item: 00-PO-0006503
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Are you ready for some holiday spirit? This fun, catchy holiday piece will put everyone in the Christmas mood! And when your singers pull out their kazoos, well, we can't predict what might happen! The 4-measure kazoo part can be played on any band or string instrument-parts for EVERY band or string instrument are included so young instrumentalists can join in the holiday cheer. Plus, the bouncy, Broadway, 2-beat style makes it perfect as a concert opener or as a concert theme. P.S.: the SoundTrax CD is fantastic!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0006503
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. Early in his career, he worked as a rights and licenses administrator for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. His catalog now includes more than 800 choral compositions performed regularly across the English-speaking world.
Althouse is an ASCAP writer member and a consistent recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for his contributions to standard music composition. Beyond his choral output, he has collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on several children's musicals and vocal collections, authored instructional resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Ready to Read Music, and co-wrote I Hear America Singing, performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. He currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
This piece genuinely delivers on its promise: a high-energy holiday opener with built-in flexibility. The included instrumental parts for band and string instruments transform what could be a standard choral number into an ensemble event, letting your young musicians feel the holiday excitement alongside singers. The Broadway-style 2-beat grooves naturally and makes conducting feel effortless, while the kazoo element (playable on any available instrument) generates real joy in rehearsal.
What to expect
Bright, bouncy, and unapologetically theatrical. The Broadway groove gives it a theatrical buoyancy that makes the holiday mood feel earned rather than forced, while the option to bring in instruments and kazoos creates a celebratory, all-hands-on-deck feeling that singers respond to immediately.
Who it's for
This octavo works beautifully for middle or high school choirs seeking an accessible, fun holiday selection that engages both singers and instrumentalists. Directors programming concerts with young band or string players will find the included parts a built-in solution for cross-ensemble collaboration without arranging original parts.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock the rhythmic groove with your rhythm section or recorded accompaniment from measure one; the 2-beat Broadway style depends on that pocket staying tight
- Work the choir and instrumentalists separately first, then layer them together so each group hears where they fit in the texture
- Encourage character and personality in the vocal delivery; this arrangement thrives on energy and doesn't reward tentative singing
- If using kazoos, assign them thoughtfully rather than letting everyone play; a focused group of players creates better color than a wall of sound
How to use it
Open your holiday concert with this piece to set an upbeat, inclusive tone. Its accessible 2-part writing and short instrumental interludes make it an excellent gateway between a classical first half and lighter choral fare, and its structure allows you to feature student instrumentalists alongside your choir without major logistical rearrangement.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in 2-part harmony with clear part independence
- Coordinating ensemble rhythm in a Broadway-style 2-beat meter
- Collaborating with instrumentalists and maintaining synchronization across ensembles
- Performing with character and energy in a secular holiday context