Simple music pieces with call-response writing can help beginners become confident playing in a full-string orchestra. Downloadable recorded accompaniments let students practice at their own pace. Teachers can use these pieces to transition students from solo playing to joining a string orchestra.
1. Scooter Ride | 8. Hymn |
2. Two’s Company | 9a. Open String Czardas |
3. Lament | 9b. Harmonic Czardas |
4. Windmills | 10. Siberian Shivers |
5. Topsy Turvy | 11. Cycle Circuit |
6. Innocence | 12. Mango Tango |
7. Sun Shower |
|
For String Orchestra Grade 0.5-1
For beginner players, joining a string orchestra can be a daunting experience. These little gems, however, are specifically designed to help make the transition smoother. The pieces are written in unison, with simple parts and call-response writing that prepares players for the more complex demands of playing in a full-string orchestra.
The pieces also expose young players to a wide range of techniques, including pizzicato, legato, staccato, and harmonics. These techniques are essential for developing a solid foundation in string playing and will help students to develop their skills and confidence.
Your students will be eager to play their favourite Dazzler pieces repeatedly, each time discovering new nuances and subtleties in the music. With the downloadable recorded accompaniments, they can practice and perform at their own pace, with both practice and performance speeds available.
These pieces are an excellent resource for teachers looking to help their students leap from solo playing to joining a string orchestra.
For String Orchestra Grade 0.5-1
Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel is a beautiful piece for string orchestra. This arrangement includes optional adaptations to suit different instruments and grade levels. A universally cherished work, now more inclusive!
David Maddick compiled “Chinwagging” from the most popular tunes in “Thirty Concert Pieces” by Everything String. The piece teaches fundamental string techniques to young ensemble members, such as legato bowing, string crossing, re-taking, and right/left-hand pizzicato. It’s an enjoyable and solid introduction to foundational concepts.
For String Orchestra Grade 1
This piece uses dynamic change and harmonics to evoke the beauty and mystery of the stratosphere.
Dedicated to Stephen's wonderful wife, Ann. Grade 3.
These pieces are from English folk songs. The Greens Bushes is about a lover who lost his beloved. The Wraggle Taggle Gypsies is about a group of nomads and their adventures.
For String Orchestra Grade 1.5
Pablo Sarasate (1844-1908) was a brilliant Spanish composer and violinist known for his expressive and technically challenging pieces like "The Carmen Fantasy" and "Zigeunerweisen". While retaining the original's virtuosity, this arrangement is accessible to younger musicians.
For String Orchestra Grade 2.
Carl Bohm (1844 - 1920) was a renowned composer and teacher for violinists. His famous pieces, "Moto Perpetuo" and "Galop," showcase double semiquavers and highlight the cellos in the latter. The work is shared around for everyone to shine.
For String Orchestra Grade 2.5
The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) was a remarkable period in China’s history, characterised by extensive exploration and the expansion of trade routes to Europe, Africa, and the Indian Ocean, which resulted in a nearly doubled population. The Imperial Court became a hub for the arts, showcasing a diverse range of talents in literature, music, painting, sculpture, and ceramics. Artistic representations often depicted the calming lotus and dynamic horses, symbolising both serenity and strength, while music featured sustained notes and energetic rhythms that echoed these themes.
1. Lotus
2. Imperial Horses
