The ABCs of String Orchestra Titles by Janice Tucker Rhoda

CF Catalog Number: ABC107
ISBN: 0825841410
Price: $8.95

If you aspire to play in your local community orchestra, school orchestra or even a professional orchestra someday, The ABCs of Strings Orchestra is a great way to begin! While covering beginning to intermediate levels, it is expertly arranged to have a full and satisfying sound by Janice Tucker Rhoda and Andrew Balant. Each part gives you valuable reading experience, and progresses gradually and logically while developing left hand and bow arm techniques.

The ABCs of String Orchestra seven parts sold separately:
Full Score, 1st Violin, 2nd Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Piano Accompaniment

The ABCs of String Orchestra is very unique! Violists, Cellists and Bassists have interesting parts with many main melodic phrases and lines. So it's not strictly accompaniment for the lower pitched instruments like so much of the string orchestra music available. Switching back and forth from the first violin's main melody parts to the other instruments makes the music an enjoyable challenge for everyone to play. It is a useful tool for learning basic ensemble skills for all players!

The Viola and 2nd Violin Parts are the same, just in case there aren't enough Violists!

D Major, A Major and G Major Scales are included in each part and can be played simultaneously for warmup as a string orchestra, trio or quartet ensemble.*

There are 21 delightful ABCs of String Orchestra pieces!

The list of the popular melodies and original works by author Janice Tucker Rhoda:

Pieces in the key of D Major:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Jingle Bells
My Dreydl
Frere Jacques
School is Out!
Beethoven's Violin Concerto Theme
Arkansas Traveler

Pieces in the key of A Major:

Lullaby
Alouette

Pieces in the key of G Major:

O Pastorzinho
The Clown
O Come, All Ye Faithful
A Shakespeare Play
Bobbing for Apples-Jig
Waves of the Sea
Over the Ocean
Chinese River Flowing
Child's Play
The Hope (Hatikvah)
Irish Washer Woman
Beethoven's Ode to Joy

The ABCs of String Orchestra can also be used for Trio or Quartet playing.*

Trio suggestions:

Violin I, Violin II, Cello (or Bass)
Violin I, Viola, Cello (or Bass)
Violin I, Violin II or Viola, Piano

Quartet suggestions:

Violin I, Violin II, Cello, Bass
Violin I, Viola, Cello, Bass
Violin I, Viola, Cello, Piano (or Bass instead of Cello)

Teachers Comments

"Three Part Concert Gems"
"For the beginning string orchestra, these short pieces are gems. Included are obvious favorites along with arrangements of classics and styles. The three part instrumentation creates pleasant harmonies without overwhelming young players. They (and you), will surely be motivated by successful rehearsal and performance."
Review by Darlene Abbate, Long Island, NY October 8, 2008.
Used by permission of Sheet Music Plus.

"I use ABCs of Violin for both children and adults, and find that it covers both groups well. There is a variety of material and styles... The availability of an orchestral scoring of the material is useful in forming up small groups for the spring recital season."
Richard Tweney, B.M., English and French speaking Violin/Viola teacher, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada

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Longy School of Music's Beginning String Orchestra Ensemble performed pieces from ABCs of Strings Orchestra on Saturday, May 22, 2010 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their conductor is Kirsi Pertulli. They performed beautifully!!!
Longy's Orchestras Conductor Kirsi Pertulli Ask your local music store to carry these books!