You've Gotta Have Music: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

This piece brings immediate energy and joy to your choir program. Donnelly and Strid's gift for writing melodies that sit naturally in young voices combined with text that makes singers smile makes this an excellent choice when you need a mood lifter on any concert.

Upbeat and infectious, this tune sparkles with optimism and humor. The music feels like a friendly invitation to the joy of singing itself, with warmth that appeals equally to performers and listeners.

Choirs at the middle school and early high school levels will find this piece immediately accessible and rewarding to learn. The straightforward melody and supportive accompaniment make it ideal for developing ensembles that benefit from a morale boost and a surefire audience pleaser.

• Maintain steady, buoyant articulation throughout; let the accompaniment track anchor the tempo and prevent rushing through the fun moments.
• Shape the melody with natural phrase breathing rather than strict dynamic markings; this song thrives on conversational delivery.
• Use the recorded accompaniment as your rehearsal anchor, then consider performing live piano if your program allows for a more intimate feel.
• Keep dynamics moderate and consistent; resist the urge to oversell or add theatrical excess, which would undercut the song's light-hearted charm.

Program this as a concert opener to energize your audience and set a positive tone, or place it mid-program as a palate cleanser between more serious works. It pairs well with other accessible secular pieces and works especially effectively on family concerts or spring pops programs.

• Maintaining steady tempo with recorded accompaniment
• Singing with clear articulation in an upbeat style
• Shaping phrases with musicality in contemporary pop-influenced material
• Building confidence through immediately gratifying musical success