Step by Step: SAB Choral Octavo
Music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0004089
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
This light, pop style choral work makes you feel that "something special has begun. So we'll take it step by step." Your singers will feel the solid groove created by the piano or the exciting SoundTrax CD. Use year round, but especially appropriate for spring and graduation.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0004089
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped choral music education for over three decades as the Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at major educational publishers, including Alfred Music. A prolific composer with over 600 choral works and 75 musicals in print, she has received the ASCAP Special Music Award annually since 1987 and is recognized particularly for her innovative approach to choral movement and staging.
Albrecht has conducted honor choirs at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center. She holds degrees from Rollins College (B.A., 1976, in Music and Theater) and the University of Miami (M.A. in Drama, 1977; M.M. in Accompanying, 1979). She has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. In 2021, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she serves on the Board of Trustees.
Why we love this
Albrecht and Althouse craft an arrangement that feels contemporary and immediately engaging without compromising musicality. The pop idiom and infectious groove give singers genuine ownership of the material, especially important for spring concerts where energy and connection matter most. The built-in staging possibilities make this piece work hard in your concert, transforming a simple text into a full visual and musical moment.
What to expect
The solid groove carries genuine optimism and forward momentum, creating an atmosphere of possibility and beginnings. Singers feel the support of a strong harmonic and rhythmic foundation while the pop sensibility keeps everything fresh, conversational, and joyful rather than formal.
Who it's for
This piece suits any SAB choir ready to perform accessible pop-influenced music with movement and staging. It works equally well for middle school honor choirs, high school treble choirs, or mixed groups where you want confident, engaging repertoire that resonates with singers and audiences.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the groove early in rehearsal by having singers lock into the rhythmic feel with the piano part or recorded accompaniment before adding harmonies; this foundation makes the three-part writing sit naturally.
- Layer the staging and movement gradually through your rehearsals rather than teaching text and music first, then blocking; movement integrated from the start reinforces ensemble unity and the celebratory character.
- Balance the lighter, almost rhythmic articulation in the pop style against the lyrical moments; shape phrases so the song feels conversational and genuine, not overly choreographed.
- Consider your accompaniment choice early: the recorded SoundTrax creates a polished, radio-ready sound perfect for formal graduation settings, while live piano offers flexibility and intimacy for smaller venues.
How to use it
This is a natural centerpiece for spring and graduation concerts, offering the right balance of accessibility and musicality for an occasion that celebrates transitions and hope. The emotional straightforwardness and staging potential also make it effective as a season opener or concert closer that leaves audiences smiling.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in a contemporary pop style with appropriate rhythmic articulation and phrasing
- Maintaining independent part lines while locking into ensemble rhythmic groove
- Integrating movement and staging with singing and ensemble awareness
- Interpreting dynamic shape and textual expression in modern idiom