Dog Dreams: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Bob Lipton
Grade: 1
Item: 98-DST6259
$40.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Dreams: Score | $5.00 | |
| Dog Dreams: Violin 1 | $7.00 | |
| Dog Dreams: Violin 2 (Viola T.C.) | $7.00 | |
| Dog Dreams: Viola | $7.00 | |
| Dog Dreams: Violoncello | $7.00 | |
| Dog Dreams: Double Bass | $7.00 | |
| Dog Dreams: Piano | $7.00 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Experience the lazy days of summer in this cute original based on the wandering thoughts of "man's best friend." This all-pizzicato work is based entirely on a one octave D major scale, so students can focus on left hand technique. No barking in this one - just another day in the life of a slightly crazy, but sweet companion!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Dog Dreams: 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:
FJH Beginning Strings
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6259
More about this title
About the Composer: Bob Lipton
Bob Lipton holds a B.M. in music education from San Francisco State University and has spent the past 19 years teaching middle school orchestra and band in Silicon Valley. His performance resume spans classical symphonies across Northern California (San Jose, Oakland, Napa, Monterey, and Berkeley), plus jazz festivals in San Francisco and Frankfurt and appearances at major events including the Filmfare Awards in Mumbai. Beyond his teaching and composing work for school ensembles, Lipton maintains an active performance life as a tuba player and brass arranger.
Why we love this
Bob Lipton understands exactly what beginning string orchestras need: a piece that teaches left hand technique without overwhelming players with multiple scale positions. The all-pizzicato texture removes the challenge of bow coordination and lets students focus entirely on intonation and finger placement on a single octave, while the charming subject matter keeps the room engaged and laughing.
What to expect
Whimsical and dreamy, with the gentle pluck of pizzicato strings evoking a dog's lazy afternoon in the summer sun. The simplicity of the scale allows the melody to breathe without technical strain, creating a warm and slightly silly musical portrait that feels both tender and humorous.
Who it's for
Grade 1 string orchestras new to pizzicato playing and first-position technique. The one-octave D major scale framework makes this accessible to students with limited reading experience while still holding their musical interest through a fun, relatable scenario.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a steady pulse before the first rehearsal; pizzicato passages lose their character if the rhythm becomes unmoored.
- Use the D major scale as a tuning reference throughout the piece, checking intonation against open D strings to reinforce the harmonic center.
- Encourage consistent left hand height and wrist position across all four strings, since the pizzicato technique exposes any tension or collapse in the hand frame.
- Lighten the character in sections that depict the dog's daydreaming; a slightly sleepy, rubato quality in phrasing mirrors the subject better than a rigid tempo.
How to use it
Open a spring or end-of-year concert with this piece to set a lighthearted tone, or use it as a palate cleanser between heavier works. It works equally well in a young people's concert, school assembly, or festival where you want to showcase beginning students without the pressure of complex technical demands.
Skills your students will build
- Pizzicato technique across all four strings
- Intonation control in first position on a single octave
- Left hand positioning and consistency
- Rhythmic precision and ensemble pulse awareness
- Reading on the D major scale