I've been wishing for the perfect concert music for beginners, so I wrote some!
I'm no Richard Meyer or Soon Hee Newbold, but I have a lot of experience teaching beginning strings and I know how hard it is to find the perfect piece for a concert. Beginners are learning so many new skills. It is important to choose concert music that reinforces those skills. Since there is much to learn, I like to have my beginners play concert music that is quick to put together. Students feel great when they get a real piece of music they can actually play! A piece that focuses on just a few notes and a few simple rhythms is great for beginners.
My new music is very attainable and easy to learn because all parts take turns playing the various melody/harmony lines. That means students can practice the same melodies and harmonies before putting it all together. When rehearsing, have students practice all matching measures until they are comfortable with the notes and rhythms. Next, put it all together and it works up very quickly!
Five Note Ramble for Beginning Orchestra - grade .5
This piece drills only 5 notes - D, E, F#, G, A. All rhythms are simple. All instruments gets the main melody/harmony lines at some point.
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Catalyst for Beginning Orchestra - grade 1
This piece is fast paced, set in e minor. All notes are on the on the D string and A string (D string and G string for basses). Rhythms included quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes, whole notes, and rests. All parts share the same melody/harmony lines at some point, so it works up very easily.
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