Sound Differentiation for Beginning String Orchestra

Teachers keep coming back to the Violin Book, Viola Book, and Cello & Bass Book, all by Sarah Lenhart. Each part book lets you assign passages at different difficulty levels within the same rehearsal, so everyone plays together while working at their own level. The Teacher's Score ties it all together and shows you exactly how the differentiation works across the ensemble.

Sarah Lenhart taught beginning strings in Connecticut and Illinois before directing middle school orchestra in Michigan, where her ensembles earned consistent first division ratings. Her experience across different teaching contexts shaped how she built flexibility into these materials for real classrooms.

Bob Phillips has spent decades innovating in string education and is widely recognized for his work in large group pedagogy and eclectic arranging styles. His textbooks and compositions are used by thousands of string students each year, and he's authored over 25 series for classroom instruction.

Becky Bush founded the Hudsonville Public Schools Orchestra Program and served as the String Acquisition Editor at Alfred Music Publishing. She brings both classroom teaching experience and publishing expertise to her work as co-author of this collection.