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This traditional American lullaby has a simple, yet captivating melody. Set securely in the Aeolian mode (natural minor), its rainbow-like phrase begins with upward jumps, and then ends with relaxing downward scale steps. In this arrangement of “All The Pretty Little Horses”, the environment of the gentle lullaby is occasionally infused with a restless tension that moves into a region set with a swaying Latin feel. Opportunities for improvised or composed student solos are provided in this section. Printed solos are provided in the viola and first violin parts. Position work is required in the first violin, cello, bass, and the solo viola. “Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, Go to sleepy little baby. When you wake you shall have, All the pretty little horses.”

A beautiful piece! The flowing of a river is reflected in this wonderful tune that will build slow bows for beginners. An introduction to melodic, sustained playing that is suitable for young players.

Bach's exquisite melodies give teachers a great opportunity for teaching important musical concepts and to provide delightful concert material for developing groups. Here's one of his most famous tunes, skillfully placed into a setting that give students confidence and learning success.

One of the earliest examples of tone painting, Vivaldi's “Four Seasons” has become a staple of the orchestral repertoire. This energetic movement from “Autumn“ depicts a hunt on a crisp fall morning and is full of learning opportunities for your young orchestra including: terraced dynamics, hooked bowings and dotted rhythms. The original violin solo has been simplified and distributed to two solo violins with solo cello accompaniment. Full and mature-sounding, yet very playable by less-experienced students.

Fast, romantic melodies pass through all the parts, sweeping beneath fiery ostinatos in “Avatar.”  This piece is designed to give students experience with the extreme ranges of their instruments – plenty of E-string passages for the violins, C-string passages for the violas and ‘cellos, and rumbling bass lines. Students and audiences will be enthralled by the dark tone and passionate style of Avatar, right up to the thrilling conclusion.

Based on the old-time melody to 'Buffalo Gals', Bass-ically Bluegrass will showcase your bass section and the orchestra will look their best! In this classical setting reflecting bluegrass influences, the orchestra 'trades licks' with the bass section. The bass solo uses a one-octave D scale, which the other sections remain in first position throughout. The bass features may be payed by a solo bassist or by your entire bass section. American Grade 2

Fantastic value ! Five lovely selections specifically to show off the young string orchestra. Play all for a ready-to-go concert or choose one or two. All are short, attainable and will sound great!

Imagine the stately bird, the blue heron, in the marshes along Lake Erie. When standing on one leg in the water, the bird is visible to the careful observer, yet their large wingspan makes them majestic flyers. This piece calls for a moderate tempo. After the short introduction, the next 16 measures are played piano, mezzo forte and forte. This is followed by two versions with variations. All players get to play the melody and bowings and dynamics make the music more interesting for the audience and performers as the piece comes to a loud ending.

This medley of traditional sea-faring songs, while written in the sand dunes of beautiful Lake Michigan, brings to life a sense of the wide-open ocean as well. “Sea Chanty,” an exciting, rhythmic, driving tune opens the medley followed by “Sloop John B” in an easy going Caribbean style. “Sailor’s Hornpipe,” an up-tempo fiddle tune, wraps up the piece. Imagine the sailors in days of old dancing on the wooden deck for exercise as each section takes their turn with the melody!

Go back in time to days of old with gallant knights and lovely ladies! “Castle Lore” is a unique setting of two Irish folksongs, the stately “Grace O'Malley” and the sprightly “Brian Boru’s March.”

Rock and roll for the young string orchestra! Australian Andy Firth’s tune rocks out in this setting by Bob Phillips. Under the melody, the crocodile lurks - always there! A great piece to use for teaching all sections to go from lo 1 to 1. Each section has interesting and very playable parts that will sound great and be fun to play.

American Grade 2 Standard Strings with opt. piano

American Grade 2+ Standard Strings with opt. piano

This selection is essentially a set of variations on the “Pong Lang Dance”, one of Thailand's most popular melodies. The pong lang is a suspended vertical wooden xylophone whose keys are arranged upside down, with the low notes on the upper end and the high notes at the bottom. The melody uses the pentatonic scale and is very simple in nature. The variations do not retain the phrase lengths or harmonic structure of the original melody as traditional variations would, but rather expand on fragments of the original tune in a variety of tempi and styles. After this exploration, the original melody returns, gradually gaining speed and energy as one would hear in a traditional performance of this dance.

“Fiddles Down Under” presents an opportunity for string students to learn three standard fiddle tunes from the Australian “bush music” tradition. After a brief introduction, the sea chantey “Bound for South Australia” is presented by all the instruments. Later, the orchestra plays two versions of the famous Australian folk tune, “Waltzing Matilda” – first the older, ‘traditional’ melody, and finally the popular version so loved throughout the world. Lots of fiddling features – driving rhythms, shuffles, fun back-up parts, and an energetic bass line – will make this arrangement a favourite of the players and will leave the audience wanting to shout, “G’day, mate!”

Recalling popular choral arrangements of African-American spirituals of the last several decades, the rhythmic style and energy of this piece is sure to please students and audiences alike. Characteristic examples such as “call-and-response” and flatted fifths present opportunities for the learning of stylistic elements, while players develop skills playing syncopated rhythms in both straight and swing styles.  “Freedom Train” could also be used as a practical departure point for improvisation in the rehearsal or performance setting utilizing the basic I-IV-I chord structure found in the 4-bar introduction.

Selected from the rich heritage of Highland music, this suite presents three of the finest examples of Scottish folk song in musically captivating settings written with developing players in mind. Included are “The Blue Bells of Scotland,” “Turn Ye To Me,” and “Bobby Shaftoe.” The entire suite has a total performance time of about five and a half minutes, with each movement also capable of standing alone.

Inspired by the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains, the composer uses interesting harmonies, easy rhythms, and a minor melodic line passed around to different sections to make this grade 2 composition a favorite among young string players.  Careful attention should be paid to the F naturals throughout.  Upper strings can develop the use of 4th finger instead of open strings for a more mature sound.

from: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

American Grade 2+ Standard Strings with opt. piano

This song was very popular early in the 20th century. It is spirited and bouncy. Hooked bowing is used, along with other bowing. This occurs when the dotted eighth note is followed by a 16th note. The marked tempo can be changed, if desired. The tempo should be kept steady to the end. If a retard is desired for the last two measures – OK!

This children’s nonsense song is full of fun! Sprinkled with lighthearted silliness, there is much to be explored and learned in this arrangement, including a broad range of articulations and dynamics, quick switches from pizz to arco and back, and a key change in the middle. You will also hear quotes from “Old MacDonald,” “Turkey in the Straw” and the children’s “taunting motif” (nanner, nanner, nanner!). Very brief position work in the cello and bass, and an optional third position ending in the first violin make this an accessible piece for your young musicians. Singsong kitty catch-a-kymee-oh!

Lots of fun and a great piece to introduce syncopation!

It was while visiting his sister in “Little Russia” (an area of Southern Russia known better as the Ukraine) that Tchaikovsky got the idea to compose a new symphony based on songs he heard from the inhabitants. The first performance of the new symphony (his second) took place in Moscow in 1873, and was revised eight years later. This march (the symphony's second movement) is actually the tragic wedding march from Tchaikovsky's discarded opera “Undine”. Simple chromatics, hooked bowings, and staccato and marcato bow styles make this charming work an excellent teaching piece for young orchestras.

One of the all-time Latin favourites.

American Grade 2+ Standard Strings

American Grade 2+ Standard Strings with opt. piano & opt. percussion