Amazing Bass: Violin Educational Pack
A Bass Section Feature
Traditional American Folk Tune / arr. Bob Phillips
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PC-0019485_VN_EDPAK
$3.00
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Description
A surprise awaits the audience as this famous, beloved melody takes on a completely different flavor as a feature for your young bassists! With a hint of jazz, the bass section learns walking bass lines. All sections remain in first position, with one half-step shift in the bass part. Most well-known as the melody to "Amazing Grace," the origins of this folk tune are lost in the mists of time. It most likely comes from Appalachia in the United States, though it has been given many titles over the centuries. This setting, as Amazing Bass, may surprise the audience and provides the perfect way to feature the bass section, as Bob Phillips arranges another highly playable bass feature. (2:00) Correlates to Sound Innovations Book 1, Level 4.
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations Series for Strings
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019485_VN_EDPAK
More about this title
About the Arranger: Bob Phillips
Bob Phillips has spent decades at the intersection of string pedagogy and creative arranging, building a track record of making music accessible without sacrificing musicality. Since 1953, he has authored over 25 educational series and published more than 200 works for orchestras and bands, earning recognition as an ASCAP award-winning composer whose pieces reach thousands of student musicians annually.
For 27 years, Phillips directed the string program in Saline, Michigan, growing it to over 700 students and establishing it as a national model for both classical and contemporary styles. His eclectic catalog includes the Philharmonic series (Jazz, Rock, Mariachi, Latin, and Fiddlers), and his student ensembles have performed at the White House, the Midwest Clinic, and major all-state festivals across the country. He served as resident conductor and arranger for the Wintergrass Festival in Seattle and has taught at honor orchestras and fine arts camps including Interlochen and Blue Lake.
Why we love this
This arrangement strips away expectation and gives young bassists a genuine musical spotlight, complete with walking lines that teach jazz language in a playable context. The familiar melody disarms the audience, making the bass feature feel earned rather than forced, and Phillips' restraint in the rest of the orchestration ensures the bass section shines without overwhelming them.
What to expect
A familiar hymn tip-toes into a jazz club, where the bass section takes over the room with understated cool. The walking lines and swing rhythm transform a melody most people know into something playful and modern, offering the audience a delightful surprise while keeping the technical demands honest for young musicians.
Who it's for
Young string orchestras at the intermediate level (grades 1.5 and up) looking to build jazz literacy while keeping first-position comfort. Bass players especially benefit from this spotlight, gaining rhythmic independence and exposure to jazz vocabulary in an ensemble context.
How to get the most out of it
- Have your bassists practice the walking bass line separately before combining it with the full ensemble; the rhythm and harmonic awareness this line requires benefit from isolated rehearsal time.
- Balance the accompaniment voices so they sit behind the bass feature. String sections naturally want to project, so explicit dynamic coaching during rehearsals pays off.
- Establish a steady, conversational swing feel before layering in the melody; a metronomic bass sounds mechanical, but one with gentle forward momentum captures the jazz character.
- Let the half-step shift in the bass part breathe as a moment of surprise for both players and listeners; don't rush through it.
How to use it
Program this as a mid-concert feature that breaks up a classical program and delights audiences who recognize the tune but don't expect this treatment. It works equally well at a festival as a refreshing change of pace among traditional repertoire, and the 2-minute length makes it an ideal choice for concert pacing.
Skills your students will build
- Walking bass lines and jazz rhythm vocabulary
- Harmonic awareness in a swing context
- First-position technique with confidence and independence
- Dynamic balance in ensemble sections
- Reading and executing half-step shifts