Trying Too Hard (from Central Park) (arr. Roger Emerson): SSAB Choral Octavo
Trying Too Hard (from Central Park) (arr. Roger Emerson) Sheet Music Preview

Trying Too Hard (from Central Park) (arr. Roger Emerson): SSAB Choral Octavo

As performed by Emmy Raver-Lampman and Michael James Scott / Arranged by Roger Emerson

Item: 35-DS01420121
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 19
SKU: 35-DS01420121

More about this title

About the Artist: Emmy Raver-Lampman and Michael James Scott

Emmy Raver-Lampman brought Broadway sensibility to the role of Veronica Sawyer in the Heathers musical, where her vocal maturity and emotional range shine. Michael James Scott is known for his work across stage and screen, blending theatrical training with contemporary pop sensibilities. Together, they performed this duet from Central Park with the kind of intimate vulnerability that makes their arrangement ideal for choral settings seeking authenticity and nuance.

Why we love this

Roger Emerson's arrangement captures the raw honesty of the original while opening it up for ensemble voices without losing the song's conversational tone. The SSAB voicing is accessible enough for mixed-voice choirs that want contemporary material with substance. This sits at the sweet spot between popular and musical theater repertoire, giving your students a song they'll actually want to sing.

What to expect

This duet pulses with the awkwardness and yearning of two people trying to say something true. Emerson's arrangement preserves the intimacy of the original while adding harmonic warmth and vocal texture that makes it feel both personal and shared.

Who it's for

Choirs looking for contemporary material with genuine emotional weight fit this perfectly. High school and college choirs will connect with both the source material and the arrangement's theatrical sensibility. Directors seeking repertoire that bridges pop and choral music will find this immediately engaging for their students.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the lyrics drive the phrasing rather than locking into predictable melodic patterns. The emotional beats matter more than metric precision here.
  • Balance the soloists against the ensemble carefully. The arrangement works best when supporting voices stay transparent enough to hear the narrative unfold.
  • Explore the dynamics marked in the score to show the emotional arc; a quiet moment often communicates more vulnerability than volume.

How to use it

Pair this with other contemporary musical theater work to build a concert that honors modern storytelling through song. It functions well as a concert closer or as part of a set focused on vulnerability and human connection. The 19-page score suggests this deserves time in rehearsal, so position it where your choir can give it the focus it demands.

Skills your students will build

  • Navigating pop vocal stylings within a choral context
  • Balancing melodic interest with harmonic support
  • Text expression and emotional storytelling in ensemble singing
  • Managing dynamic contrast to serve narrative intent

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