New Music Friday: At the Fair

“At The Fair” was conceived as a somewhat light-hearted dance using traditional forms and harmonies. Although the piece was not written for advanced players, it should offer some challenges to an average orchestra. As a teaching piece in the key of D and G, several occurrences of accidentals (D♯, G♯, A♯ & E♯) require student […]
New Music Friday: Tango from España

The understated elegance of this Tango is characterized by graceful melodies, rich harmonies and classic tango rhythms.
The Expressive Bow: Tone Production Exercises for School Orchestra

Bow arm technique is an important skill to develop in intermediate string players. These exercises, excerpted from Expressive Techniques for Orchestra, will have your orchestra sounding their best. Tone Production Near the Bridge What: This exercise develops a rich, intense, mature sound that is really pulled and projected from the instrument. It also develops the […]
New Music Friday: Symphony No. 1 in C – Allegro Vivace

The Allegro Vivace from Bizet’s Symphony No. 1 in C is a lively display of youthful genius. At the age of 17, Georges Bizet wrote the entire symphony in only one month in 1855. The symphony was never performed in his lifetime and had its premiere in Switzerland in 1935. No one is entirely sure […]
Warm-Up Stretches to Practice With Your School Orchestra

Recent research into the physical health issues of musicians has shown the importance of proper stretching.
New Music Friday: Jingle Bells Gone Wrong

For our Christmas in July week, we have a new holiday string orchestra title from Mark Barnard.
New Music Friday: Dreamscape

“Dreamscape” is a song for orchestra that paints an imaginary story played expressively.
Spotlight: Meaghan Clayton

Meaghan Clayton graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina with a degree in Music Education. While at Meredith, Ms. Clayton studied cello with Ms. Virginia Hudson, violin with Ms. Dana Freidli, and music theory with Dr. Anthony Vaglio. She served as principal cellist of the Meredith College String Orchestra for 4 years in addition […]
New Music Friday: Marche de Triomphe

This week, for a slightly belated Bastille Day celebration, we have a new grade 2 title arranged by Robert Longfield.
Celebrate Bastille Day With These Titles From French Composers

France has a rich musical tradition and Tempo Press has several arrangements of works by French composers to perform with your school orchestra. Full Orchestra Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffmann This famous excerpt requires style and balance in order to make this piece come to life! Danse Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila Samson et Dalila […]