We're All in This Together: 2-Part, a cappella Choral Octavo

Bryan Sharpe's arrangement strips away complexity without losing energy, making this a genuine win for groups still building confidence in blend and balance. The built-in role differentiation (beatboxer, soloist, full ensemble) lets you cast students at their actual skill level while keeping everyone engaged and visible. This is the kind of piece that gets genuine excitement at rehearsal because kids recognize the source and feel the ownership of making it work.

Infectious and celebratory. The familiar melody sits comfortably in students' voices while the arrangement's rhythmic drive and the permission to move (stomps, claps, beatboxing) create the feel of a genuine pep rally where singing is the natural way to celebrate. There's joy in simplicity here, not restriction.

Choirs with developing 2-part singers who benefit from accessible voicing and clear harmonic writing. This works equally well for middle school ensembles building fundamentals and high school groups looking for upbeat concert material with built-in student leadership opportunities. The piece also suits programs seeking contemporary pop repertoire that feels current and fun without requiring advanced vocal technique.

• Lock the rhythmic precision of the stomps and claps in the finale; they're simple but need absolute clarity to land the energy payoff.
• Give the beatboxer time to rehearse the notated vocal percussion separately before combining it with the rest of the arrangement so their groove doesn't feel rushed.
• Shape the solo with the medium voice singer early in your rehearsal process; a confident soloist lifts the whole piece and gives the ensemble something to support.
• Maintain consistent vowel shapes across the a cappella sections to keep intonation stable without instrumental reinforcement.

Program this as a concert closer or a spring concert opener where you want momentum and audience connection. It also serves as an excellent tool in your first weeks with a developing 2-part group to build confidence before moving to more complex material. Consider pairing it with other contemporary pop arrangements in the same series to create a cohesive set that showcases your students' growth.

• A cappella singing with stable intonation across unaccompanied sections
• Rhythmic precision in unison and 2-part contexts
• Part independence while maintaining blend
• Vocal percussion technique and ensemble rhythmic coordination
• Confidence singing recognizable contemporary material