Rhythm Song: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
By Kirby Shaw
Item: 00-PO-0001132
$1.80
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Kirby's hip style rocks from start to finish in this kickin' choral sung entirely on scat syllables. As the title suggests, the rhythm (often syncopated) is the focus, while the sonorities are intuitive.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0001132
More about this title
About the Composer: Kirby Shaw
Kirby Shaw has shaped choral music education across North America, Europe, and beyond through his teaching, conducting, and prolific compositional output. A graduate of San Jose State University (Music Education and Choral Composition) and the University of Washington (DMA in Choral Conducting), Shaw founded and directed acclaimed vocal jazz ensembles at the College of the Siskiyous, Colorado State University, and the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He now directs the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University and maintains an active presence as a clinician, having worked extensively across 45 states and internationally.
Shaw's creative reach extends far beyond the classroom. With more than 2,500 choral arrangements and compositions in print and nearly 20 million copies sold worldwide, his music appears on college and university albums, educational recordings he has overseen, and in performances at venues from local choirs to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He has collaborated directly with jazz vocalists including Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Al Jarreau, and Jon Hendricks, and performs as a member of Just 4 Kicks, a four-man a cappella jazz ensemble. Shaw's contributions to music have earned him multiple ASCAP awards, and his creative partnership with his wife Markita has produced an original musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
Why we love this
Shaw's distinctive gift is making rhythm the star without sacrificing musicality. The scat-singing approach removes the need to learn text while keeping voices engaged with syncopated lines that demand precision and character; your singers will feel the groove rather than just mechanically follow it. This piece carries Shaw's signature humor and energy—it's the kind of arrangement that energizes a concert and reminds audiences that choral music can swing.
What to expect
Hip, propulsive, and joyful. The scat syllables create an almost instrumental texture, freeing singers to focus on rhythmic precision and groove rather than emotional text interpretation. It's playful without being silly, modern without sounding trendy, and it swings from measure one.
Who it's for
SAB choirs at the middle school and high school level who are ready to handle syncopated rhythms and who thrive on contemporary, upbeat material. This octavo works equally well for treble-voiced middle school ensembles or mixed high school groups looking for an energizing, low-text-barrier piece that doesn't sacrifice musicality.
How to get the most out of it
- Lock into the groove early. The syncopation only lands cleanly when your singers trust the pulse, so spend rehearsal time on rhythm isolation before layering all three parts together.
- Shape the scat syllables as if they were text. Each syllable choice (whether a crisp 't' sound or a rounded 'doo') affects the character and blend, so model the articulation and vowel color you want to hear.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to ground your rehearsals. Singing a cappella in early run-throughs works against the piece's primary appeal; the rhythm needs the instrumental foundation to make sense.
How to use it
Pair this with other contemporary pieces to anchor a modern choral set, or position it as an energizer mid-concert when you need to shift the room's mood and shake off the reverence of a serious work. The eight-page length makes it manageable for a concert that includes larger or more demanding repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing syncopated rhythms in mixed meters
- Scat singing technique and articulation clarity
- Ensemble rhythmic precision and groove awareness
- Part independence while maintaining forward pulse
- Tone production and diction for contemporary styles