Bushwhacker Stomp: Viola

Sharp understands the real constraints of a mixed-ability orchestra and builds solutions directly into the score. By splitting the cello and bass parts into accessible and challenging versions, you can cast the same piece across your entire section without sacrificing engagement for either group. The chromatic slide and fiddle-tune character make this a genuine crowd-pleaser that students actually want to play.

Energetic and approachable, with a distinctly American fiddle-tune personality. The novelty element keeps the energy light and fun, while the chromatic slide adds a moment of character that students find satisfying to execute cleanly.

String orchestras at the Grade 2 level, especially those with a range of technical abilities in the lower strings. This works equally well for festivals, concerts, or informal performances where you need a piece that engages multiple skill levels without requiring separate rehearsals.

• Isolate the D-sharp to E slide in your cello and bass sections before rehearsing the full piece. Have students practice the finger placement on open strings first, then apply it in context.
• Establish a steady, driving tempo that lets the fiddle character breathe. Don't rush the slide; the humor lands when the intonation is clean.
• Balance the melody and harmony parts by checking that divisi sections are equally prepared. Advanced players should lock their tuning with the harmony players, not pull away from them.

Program this as a palate-cleanser in a concert where it can sit comfortably between more substantial pieces. It's particularly effective on a spring pops concert or as the opening number on a festival program, where its accessibility and infectious spirit set an upbeat tone.

• Chromatic intonation and finger sliding
• Reading and executing divisi parts independently
• Balancing melody and harmony within a section
• Style and character work in fiddle idiom
• Rhythmic precision at faster tempos