Theme from Elf: 2-Part Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the infectious, goofy spirit of the movie in a format that's genuinely fun to teach and perform. The nonsense syllables eliminate diction challenges while keeping the focus on that unmistakable melody, and the kazoo moment gives you a built-in crowd pleaser that doesn't require a single singer to reach high or difficult notes.

Pure, unabashed joy wrapped in a present made of synthesizers and holiday schmaltz. The melody tumbles forward with infectious brightness, and once you've heard it once, it lodges in your brain like a Christmas earworm should.

Middle school and high school choirs seeking a program-closing novelty number that audiences will recognize and choirs will actually enjoy learning. This works equally well for holiday concerts, winter assemblies, or pops concerts where you want a guaranteed laugh and full-bodied singalong.

• Commit fully to the nonsense syllables with rhythmic precision. These vocables need the same clarity and energy you'd demand of text-based consonants.
• Balance the kazoo section carefully; it should sparkle without drowning out the choir. Consider a smaller group on kazoos if your ensemble is large.
• Record the accompaniment first, then have singers learn their parts with it. The contemporary pop harmonic language settles much faster with melodic reference than it does with a piano alone.
• Use exaggerated dynamics to lift the energy of repeating phrases. Small shifts between verses prevent monotony when the same melody returns.

Close your holiday concert with this, or tuck it into the middle as a surprise palate cleanser after something more serious. The 12 pages move quickly, so it works well as an opener too if you want to establish energy early. Pair it with other pop arrangements from the Alfred series if you're building a full contemporary set.

• Singing with nonsense syllables while maintaining rhythmic precision
• Balancing melody and accompaniment in contemporary pop voicing
• Incorporating choreography and staging into choral performance
• Reading and executing repeated melodic phrases with rhythmic variety