Dragon Chase: Viola
By Katie O'Hara LaBrie
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PC-0018943_VA1
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Description
Who doesn't love an exhilarating, one-octave, E-minor tune about Dragons?! In Dragon Chase, by Katie O'Hara LaBrie, driving rhythms and melodies echoing from section to section will engage your students. Musical elements---such as marcato, accents, crescendos, and bow lifts---make it an excellent teaching piece. The first violin part includes carefully placed low 2s on the A string, while the other sections stick mainly to a 6-note range. (2:20)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Dragon Chase: Viola 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-0018943_VA1
More about this title
About the Composer: Katie O'Hara LaBrie
Katie O'Hara LaBrie brings fifteen years of orchestra teaching experience from Fairfax County, Virginia, to her work as a composer, conductor, and clinician. She studied music education at St. Olaf College and earned her master's degree in instrumental conducting from George Mason University, training under Anthony Maiello. Her compositions draw inspiration from family, nature, and the classroom itself, always grounded in what works for students and audiences alike.
Recognized as one of Yamaha's "40 Under 40" in 2022, LaBrie has earned multiple J.W. Pepper Editor's Choice selections and performances at major conferences including the Midwest Band and Orchestra Directors Clinic and the American String Teachers Association Conference. She founded the Fairfax Chamber Players and co-created "the Big IDEA" practice method, reflecting her commitment to purposeful music-making and musician development.
Why we love this
LaBrie crafts this piece with genuine pedagogical intent, layering technical elements (marcato, accents, crescendos, bow lifts) into a narrative that keeps young players engaged rather than overwhelmed. The one-octave E-minor melody and accessible ranges across sections make it accessible for beginning orchestras without sacrificing musical substance or excitement. You get a piece that teaches conducting clarity and sectional independence while your ensemble actually has fun playing a story.
What to expect
A chase unfolds in propulsive E-minor energy, with melodies darting between sections like dragons in flight. The driving rhythms and sharp articulations create momentum and drama, while the one-octave range keeps the focus on musical expression rather than navigating the fingerboard.
Who it's for
Beginning string orchestras at the 1.5 grade level will find an ideal vehicle for learning musicianship alongside technical fundamentals. Directors seeking contest or festival material that engages students without requiring advanced technique will appreciate how LaBrie balances accessibility with musical substance.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the driving rhythms as a unified group rather than letting individual sections rush. Have the ensemble lock in with a consistent pulse before adding expression, then layer in the marcato and accents.
- Highlight how the melody passes between sections, especially the echoing effect. This reinforces listening skills and helps players understand they're part of a larger musical conversation.
- Address the low 2s on the A string with first violins in advance. Mark them clearly in parts and confirm students can locate the position before full-group rehearsal.
- Use the bow lifts as natural breathing points. Exaggerate them slightly in early rehearsals to create rhythmic clarity and articulation awareness across the ensemble.
How to use it
This works beautifully as an opening number for a winter or spring concert, setting an energetic tone and showcasing your developing orchestra's precision with articulation and dynamics. It also fits naturally into thematic programming around mythology, adventure, or nature-inspired works.
Skills your students will build
- Marcato articulation and bow control
- Executing accents with rhythmic accuracy
- Sectional balance and listening across parts
- Dynamic shaping with crescendos and controlled releases
- First violin fingerboard awareness (low 2s on A string)
- Following conducting gestures for ensemble cohesion