Dragon Dance: Part 1 - F Instruments
By Michael Story
Grade: 0.5 (Very Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0019129_PART1_F
$3.00
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Description
This version of Dragon Dance by Michael Story is part of our Belwin FLEX offerings and is designed with maximum flexibility for use by any mix of instruments---wind, strings, and percussion, including like- or mixed-ensembles with as few as 3 players. The suggested instrumentation and a customizable Teacher Map will help you plan out how to best assign parts to suit your ensemble's needs. The 3-part instrumentation will support balanced instrumentation of the lower voices. It also comes with supplemental parts for maximum flexibility. With the purchase of this piece, permission is granted to photocopy the parts as needed for your ensemble. A percussion accompaniment track is also available as a free download. String parts have been carefully edited with extra fingerings and appropriate bowings to support students in mixed ensembles playing in less familiar keys.
The Dragon Dance is a popular event in traditional Chinese culture, especially during Chinese New Year celebrations. Originating during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-200 A.D), the dance is carried out by a team of performers that carry the dragon on poles, fluidly mimicking its supposed movements. Drums, cymbals, and gongs usually provide the musical accompaniment to this beautiful and colorful performance.
Percussion Accompaniment Track Downloads:
with click
without click. (1:30)
The Dragon Dance is a popular event in traditional Chinese culture, especially during Chinese New Year celebrations. Originating during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-200 A.D), the dance is carried out by a team of performers that carry the dragon on poles, fluidly mimicking its supposed movements. Drums, cymbals, and gongs usually provide the musical accompaniment to this beautiful and colorful performance.
Percussion Accompaniment Track Downloads:
with click
without click. (1:30)
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Very Beginning Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019129_PART1_F
More about this title
About the Composer: Michael Story
Michael Story is an accomplished composer and educator whose work spans concert band, orchestra, and flexible ensemble repertoire. His compositions are known for their accessibility to young musicians combined with genuine musical substance, making him a prolific voice in music education publishing.
Why we love this
Story has written an arrangement that genuinely solves the instrumentation puzzle without sacrificing musicality. The three-part structure with supplemental parts means you can open this to your entire beginning ensemble, whether you're heavy on strings, short on brass, or somewhere in between. The cultural context adds real dimension to a piece that could easily be a throwaway novelty.
What to expect
Propulsive and celebratory, like watching the dragon undulate across a festival street. The rhythm drives forward with infectious energy, while the melodic line captures the fluid, sinuous quality of the dance itself. There's color and joy throughout without pretense.
Who it's for
Beginning to early intermediate ensembles with mixed instrumentation, from 3-piece combos to full bands with strings added. Teachers managing heterogeneous groups (different instruments, different starting levels) will find the flexible parts essential for keeping everyone engaged.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the sustained harmony parts against the melody line; in mixed ensembles, doubling can obscure the Chinese musical inflection if upper voices dominate.
- Engage your percussion section as equal partners. The accompaniment track is free, but live drums, cymbals, and gongs (or substitutes) will anchor the ensemble's sense of forward motion.
- Work the string fingerings and bowings as written. Story included specific editorial suggestions to build confidence in less familiar keys, so lean into that support rather than simplifying.
How to use it
This fits perfectly in a cultural awareness or world music unit, especially around Chinese New Year. It also works as a concert opener or as a changeup piece that lets newer players shine while your stronger ensemble members support. Because it's only 1 minute 30 seconds, you can easily pair it with another short piece for a concert slot.
Skills your students will build
- Playing in mixed instrumentation and adjusting balance across different instrument families
- Reading and executing fingerings and bowings in less common keys
- Rhythmic precision and ensemble cohesion with percussion accompaniment
- Understanding cultural context and performance traditions in music