American Square Dance Set: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$46.00 USD

American Square Dance Set: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: American Square Dance Set: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-44824
Price: 46.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Featuring: Oats and Peas and Beans and Barley Grow / Black-Eyed Susie / Skip to My Lou

Traditional / arr. Bob Phillips

Grade: 1

Item: 00-44824

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Using only paired eighth notes with the notes on the A, D, and G strings, this accessible piece will help any group sound more mature. This easy, fun tune will delight audiences and students. It includes dancing for a change of pace and to aid in developing a sense of rhythm. The calls to teach the Virginia Reel are in the educational packs. (2:05)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, American Square Dance Set: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Sound Innovations for String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 148

UPC: 038081519630

SKU: 00-44824

More about this title

About the Arranger: Bob Phillips

Bob Phillips has shaped string education across the United States through his work as a composer, arranger, and conductor. Beginning with his 27-year tenure building the Saline, Michigan string program to over 700 students, he established a model that balanced classical training with exploration of folk, jazz, and world music styles. His published output includes the complete Sound Innovations series (all six levels), the eclectic Philharmonic collections (Fiddlers, Jazz, Rock, Mariachi, and Latin), and more than 200 works for orchestras and bands, all bearing the mark of a pedagogue who understands how students learn.

Phillips has conducted at national and state conferences, served as resident conductor for the Wintergrass Festival in Seattle for 12 years, and worked with honors orchestras and all-state programs across the country. His Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic ensemble performed internationally, regularly appearing at the White House and the Midwest Clinic. An ASCAP award-winning composer, Phillips continues to influence string education through his instructional materials and demonstrated commitment to making orchestra music both rigorous and joyful.

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Why we love this

This arrangement proves that Grade 1 string orchestras can play mature-sounding music without technical gymnastics. Phillips limits the technical vocabulary to paired eighth notes on just three strings, freeing students to focus on tone quality, intonation, and ensemble balance, while the folk idiom sits naturally under young players' fingers. The inclusion of Virginia Reel choreography transforms the piece from a concert novelty into a kinesthetic learning experience that genuinely strengthens rhythm sense.

What to expect

Spirited and unpretentious, this arrangement captures the energy of a country gathering without condescension. The driving rhythm and open-string texture create an irresistible forward momentum that engages both players and listeners, while the accessibility frees students to play with genuine musicality rather than anxiety.

Who it's for

Grade 1 string orchestras seeking repertoire that sounds accomplished without exceeding early technical demands. Directors working with young students who benefit from kinesthetic engagement and programs that want to reach audiences beyond the typical concert hall setting through the appeal of traditional American dance.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the rhythm of the paired eighth notes in isolation before adding the melody; this paired-note figure is the foundation of the arrangement's cohesion.
Work the Virginia Reel calls (provided in the educational pack) in rehearsal before the performance so students can execute the dance confidently without losing their instruments and musicality.
Shape the phrases with slight dynamic swells to avoid the flatness that can come from repetitive folk structures; even a Grade 1 piece benefits from intentional musical breathing.
Tune the open strings carefully, as this arrangement relies heavily on their resonance to create a full orchestral sound from simple material.

How to use it

Program this as a crowd-pleaser at a pops concert or community performance where audience engagement matters as much as traditional listening. The choreography also makes it ideal for school assemblies, curriculum nights, or fundraising events where you want to showcase student musicianship in a memorable and interactive way.