Bats 'n Bones: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Susan H. Day
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PK-0004761
$49.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Bats 'n Bones: Score | $9.00 | |
| Bats 'n Bones: 1st Violin | $5.99 | |
| Bats 'n Bones: 2nd Violin | $5.99 | |
| Bats 'n Bones: Viola | $5.99 | |
| Bats 'n Bones: Cello | $5.99 | |
| Bats 'n Bones: String Bass | $5.99 | |
| Bats 'n Bones: 1st Percussion | $5.99 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
A perfect addition for your spooky fall concert! The castanets represent bones rattling and add a scary touch! You can let the string player with the broken arm play the castanet part! Each section of the orchestra gets to play melody lines with easy rhythms. Techniques featured are pizzicato, accents, tremolo, and some 1st finger slides. The use of energetic quarter notes throughout will bring this piece to life. A surprise "Boo" at the end will get the attention of the audience. Great fun for all! (3:45)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Bats 'n Bones: 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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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
126
SKU:
00-PK-0004761
Instrumentation:
string w/ perc (castanets)
More about this title
Why we love this
Day writes string orchestra music that balances accessibility with genuine playability, and this piece proves it. The novelty concept here isn't a gimmick but a legitimate teaching vehicle: castanets doing something musically sensible (representing bones) while creating real percussion opportunity for a student who might otherwise sit out. Every section gets melodic responsibility, which means no one is relegated to filler parts.
What to expect
Playful, mischievous, and genuinely spooky in short bursts. The rattling castanets give the piece an actual skeleton-in-the-closet energy, and the "Boo" at the end delivers the laugh you're aiming for. Underneath the novelty is straightforward, energetic string writing that sounds fuller and more assured than a true beginner piece.
Who it's for
Young string orchestras ready to play beyond open strings and simple rhythms. The Grade 1.5 level keeps the technical demands reasonable while introducing techniques like pizzicato, tremolo, and slides that make the piece sound more sophisticated than it is. This is ideal for a program where you want fun without sacrificing musicianship.
How to get the most out of it
- Mark the pizzicato passages clearly in rehearsal and isolate them separately until the articulation is clean and consistent across the section. The rhythmic life of this piece depends on precision in the plucked attacks.
- Let the castanet player rehearse with the full group several times before performance so they can lock into the rhythm confidently. A hesitant castanet part undermines the whole comedic timing.
- Use the tremolo sections to discuss tone quality and control. At Grade 1.5, sustaining a smooth tremolo without wavering is a valuable technical goal.
- Build the energy gradually through the quarter-note passages. This piece thrives on momentum, so shape the dynamics and phrasing to create forward motion rather than letting the quarter notes become monotonous.
How to use it
Program this as a second or third piece in your Halloween or fall concert when the audience is warmed up and ready for something lighter. At 3:45, it gives you a solid mid-set moment without eating up precious time. Pair it with one serious piece to balance the concert and demonstrate your orchestra's range.
Skills your students will build
- Pizzicato articulation and consistency across a section
- Tremolo technique with tonal control
- First-finger slides on the fingerboard
- Accent placement and dynamic shaping
- Ensemble balance when multiple sections share melodic lines
- Following percussion cues in a rhythmically driven arrangement