Chasing Dreams: 1st Violin
By Chris M. Bernotas
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PC-0019187_VN1
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Description
With its energetic rhythms and soaring melodies, Chasing Dreams, by Chris M. Bernotas, brings your string players into a world of imagination and wonder. This uplifting work empowers students to embrace their passions and discover the joy of following their dreams. All sections have melodic features. This is an exciting opener or closer and perfect for concert and contest. (2:00)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Chasing Dreams: 1st Violin 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:
Belwin Beginning String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019187_VN1
More about this title
About the Composer: Chris M. Bernotas
Chris M. Bernotas brings over 25 years of classroom and publishing experience to his compositions. As Director of Instrumental Publications at Alfred Music, he develops educational materials for band and orchestra programs worldwide, work informed by his deep understanding of what young musicians need at every stage of development.
Beyond his role as a published composer, Bernotas is an active clinician and guest conductor who works directly with ensembles and teachers. His dual perspective as both creator and educator allows him to write music that balances genuine artistry with the real technical and musical growth students can achieve. He has co-authored several influential resources including Sound Innovations Ensemble Development and Sound Artistry, and regularly presents on composition, conducting, and pedagogy at workshops and conferences.
Why we love this
Bernotas gives every section something to play at once. Rather than carrying the melody while others mark time, your violins, violas, and cellos all have engaging material that keeps the texture alive and every student invested in the musical arc. The energetic rhythms and confident harmonic language make this work feel bigger than its Grade 1.5 difficulty, giving your ensemble real musical satisfaction while remaining within their technical range.
What to expect
Chasing Dreams radiates optimism and forward motion. Soaring melodies unfold over energetic rhythmic foundations, creating a sound that feels both youthful and confident, inviting your students into a world where their individual voices matter and their collective energy propels the music forward.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the Grade 1.5 level ready to perform a work with genuine musicality and uplifting character. Directors seeking an opener or closer that engages all sections melodically and works equally well in concert or contest settings will find this piece both effective and rewarding to teach.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melodic material across sections carefully during rehearsal; stop and isolate each voice part so students hear how their line contributes to the overall color and forward momentum.
- Maintain rhythmic precision through the energetic passages by anchoring the ensemble with a clear, steady pulse from the opening; this clarity will actually free your players to shape the soaring sections more expressively.
- Shape the dynamic arc of the work by gradually building intensity through the middle section, then allowing the final statements to feel inevitable rather than abrupt; resist the urge to peak too early.
How to use it
Program this as your concert opener to establish an uplifting tone immediately, or use it as a powerful closer when you want your ensemble and audience to leave feeling energized and inspired. Its accessibility at Grade 1.5 also makes it effective for a festival or contest entry where you need a work that sounds mature while remaining playable for developing musicians.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining melodic lines while maintaining rhythmic precision
- Balancing individual voice parts within a fuller texture
- Reading and executing energetic rhythmic patterns across the ensemble
- Shaping musical phrases and building dynamic intensity