Ready, Set, Snow: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

Althouse taps into genuine holiday excitement with the infectious energy of 1960s pop, avoiding treacly sentiment while keeping the humor front and center. The 2-part voicing makes this accessible to middle school and beginning high school choirs without sacrificing wit or musical satisfaction. Your singers will love performing something that feels current and fun rather than traditionally festive.

Imagine the energy of a 1960s radio hit transplanted into a winter morning fantasy. The piece bounces along with infectious optimism, capturing that specific childhood joy of hoping for snow day magic with tongue firmly in cheek.

This works perfectly for mixed or same-voicing 2-part choirs, particularly middle and early high school ensembles. Directors seeking a winter concert piece that's engaging without being saccharine will find this hits the mark.

• Lean into the pop-style groove; think rhythmic precision and bright vowels rather than sustained phrasing. The recorded accompaniment locks the groove in place, so match its energy and tempo consistency.
• Give the comedy room to breathe by shaping the dynamic contrasts that Althouse builds in. The escalating snow measurements ('one foot, two feet, three or more') should feel like a comedic crescendo.
• Balance the parts so the melody emerges clearly without burying the supporting line. In 2-part writing, blend is earned through careful voice independence, not blending into unison.

Pair this with a more serious winter piece to create dynamic contrast in a December concert, or use it as a crowd-pleasing finale that sends audiences out smiling. The novelty appeal makes it ideal for a lighter segment of your program or for combining with other secular seasonal selections.

• Rhythmic accuracy in pop-style grooves with syncopated figures
• Maintaining independent lines while blending in 2-part writing
• Stylistic interpretation of contemporary pop idioms
• Clear diction and comedic timing in text-driven passages