Climbing Above the Clouds: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

Climbing Above the Clouds: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Climbing Above the Clouds: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-50818
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Michael Kamuf

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-50818

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One moment…

The excitement and exhilaration of the first moments of flight are brought to life for beginning strings by composer Michael Kamuf. Climbing Above the Clouds is in D major, allows for all parts to have an opportunity to play one of the themes, work on arco/pizzicato transitions, and demonstrate mastery of dynamics. It is perfect as an opening or closing selection for your next concert! (2:00)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Climbing Above the Clouds: 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: Belwin Beginning String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-6758-4

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-6758-0

UPC: 038081586465

SKU: 00-50818

More about this title

About the Composer: Michael Kamuf

Michael Kamuf earned Bachelor of Music degrees in Jazz Performance and Music Education from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University, followed by a Master of Arts in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University. His compositions and arrangements have been recorded and performed by major jazz ensembles including the Woody Herman and Glenn Miller Orchestras, the USAF Airmen of Note, and the US Navy Commodores, as well as soloists such as James Moody, Eddie Daniels, and Sean Jones. He has served as assistant principal trumpet with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Woody Herman and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras.

Kamuf taught instrumental music for Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland for thirty years, spending twenty-seven of those years as Director of Bands and Orchestras and Music Department Chairperson at John T. Baker Middle School in Damascus. His ensembles consistently earned high ratings at festivals and commissioned numerous works for young concert bands. As an exclusive writer for Belwin Division of Alfred Music, Kamuf has over 100 publications in print across jazz, orchestra, and concert band catalogs, with many becoming standard repertoire for young ensembles. He currently leads the Mike Kamuf Little Big Band in the Baltimore and Washington, DC area.

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Why we love this

Kamuf writes with a clear understanding of what beginning string orchestras can achieve without oversimplifying the musical content. This piece gives every section a meaningful moment with the primary themes while building essential technical skills, and its programmatic title fires up student imagination from the first rehearsal. At Grade 1.5, it delivers genuine musicality and festival potential in a two-minute package that doesn't overstay its welcome.

What to expect

The music captures that thrilling moment of liftoff, with rhythmic momentum and ascending passages that convey upward motion. D major keeps the sound bright and open, and the accessible thematic material lets every player feel the shape and purpose of what they're playing rather than simply executing notes.

Who it's for

Beginning string orchestras at the Grade 1.5 level looking for energetic, musically substantive material that works equally well as a concert opener or closer. Directors seeking a piece that builds arco/pizzicato technique and dynamic control while keeping students engaged with vivid imagery.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the dynamic arc carefully during the arco passages to match the imagery of ascending flight; young players often rush crescendos, so mark specific beat numbers where dynamics shift.
Isolate the arco/pizzicato transitions in sectional rehearsals before combining parts. Have students practice the switch silently first to build muscle memory and consistency.
Balance the themes across sections during forte passages so no single voice overwhelms the texture. This exposes tuning issues and trains ears toward blend.
Lock in tempo early and conduct the opening with clarity; the energy of flight depends on rhythmic confidence, and young conductors sometimes rush exciting material.

How to use it

Open a concert with this piece to establish energy and confidence immediately, or save it for the closing slot to send the audience out on an uplifted note. Its two-minute duration and festival-appropriate polish make it ideal for opening a competition set when you want to demonstrate technical control and musical maturity right away.

Skills your students will build

Arco to pizzicato transitions with clean articulation and consistent tone
Dynamic shaping and control from soft to forte passages
Thematic awareness and melodic phrasing across different string sections
Rhythmic unity and ensemble entrances in D major tonality
Understanding how programmatic titles guide musical expression and interpretation