To Make a Song: SoundTrax Digital Download

Andy Beck knows exactly what a choir needs to sound confident and engaged. This opener grabs attention immediately while remaining accessible enough that preparation time stays reasonable, and the included instrumental parts give you flexibility to shape the performance to your ensemble's strengths and your concert's energy.

The piece carries a contemporary pop sensibility grounded in solid songwriting. With guitar and drums supporting the vocal lines, there is an accessibility and warmth that invites both singers and listeners into something current without sacrificing musical substance.

Directors looking for a concert opener that energizes an audience while remaining solidly within the reach of developing singers. This works equally well for high school choirs wanting contemporary repertoire with real musicianship and community choirs seeking approachable material that still sounds polished.

• Listen through the recorded accompaniment first without singing; this helps singers hear the rhythmic pocket and the shape of the melodic line before they worry about their own part.
• Lock the chord changes with your rhythm section by having those players run through the progression independently, then layer in voices gradually rather than starting with full choir from bar one.
• Encourage singers to shape phrases by listening to the guitar and bass movement, since the instrumental writing itself suggests natural breathing points and dynamic contours.
• Consider staging this as an opener with minimal setup; the instrumental parts mean you can begin your concert without a long transition or tech check.

Place this early in your concert to set a positive, modern tone and settle nerves in both singers and audience. The compact length and instrumental accompaniment make it an ideal title when you want to showcase what your choir can do with contemporary material before moving into traditional repertoire.

• Blend and balance within a contemporary harmonic context
• Rhythmic precision against a live or recorded rhythm section
• Phrasing and dynamics informed by popular music production techniques
• Confidence singing with instrumental accompaniment