These quirky pieces are trinkets that can spark young musicians' imaginations. They cover many techniques, such as pizzicato, staccato, harmonics, and rapid eighth notes, which can help beginning orchestras build their skills in a fun way. The memorable tunes often shared around the orchestra will indeed have your students begging for more!

1. Busy Bikes

2. Sanpan in the Clouds

3. Elephants and Fleas

4. It's Raining Diamonds

5. Very Dark Elves

6. Tibetan Trinkets

7. King Bruce's Spider

8. Nullarbor

9. Dragon Crusher

10. Magical Mandolines

11. Fuji

12. Ice Train

For String Orchestra Grade 1

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767) is recognized as the most prolific composer of all time. He composed over 3000 pieces during his lifetime, including 1043 cantatas, 46 passions, 40 operas, over 100 concertos, 700 orchestral suites, and volumes of chamber music. The following 4 movements exemplify his elegant style and ability to craft appealing melodies, making them an excellent resource for ensembles to practice useful string techniques.

For String Orchestra Grade 1.5

Originally written for wind ensemble and later arranged for pianoforte, these charming movements have been carefully placed to give the sense of a fully integrated work. Some elements of this work are similar in vein to Mozart's famous "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik." Advanced intermediate players will enjoy the challenges of spiccato quavers, martele crotchets, measured tremolo, and lifted upbows, which are a must for developing precision and clarity in a more advanced string ensemble.

For String Orchestra Grade 3

Vivaldi wrote many concertos for different instruments, including one for mandolin and strings. The composition's formal structure remains unaltered, but some intricate figurations have been tweaked. The music creates a dialogue between the orchestra's sections as they share the melody. The Baroque string crossings and harmonic progressions make the piece enjoyable to play.

For String Orchestra Grade 3

Haydn's second symphony in a minor key is a classic Sturm und Drang piece with strong emotional changes. It's great for expanding classical repertoire and practising playing techniques in G minor.

ES 133

Kakadu National Park is known for its wildlife. One piece depicts sunrise over the water with improvisation. "Twilight Trek," the second piece, conveys a journey of adventure on foot with staccato notes, pizzicato melodies, and sudden fortes.

1. Sunrise at Kakadu

2. Twilight Trek

For String Orchestra Grade 1

This music piece tells the legend of how the Kookaburra got its laugh. It was created for the Cooloola Shire Symphony Orchestra in Queensland, Australia, in collaboration with elders from the Nations in the area. The composition features a full orchestra, narrator, and didgeridoo. It's an engaging introduction to the orchestra for young listeners, with the didgeridoo blending well with the orchestra.

For Full Orchestra, Narrator and Didgeridoo Grade 4