Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Viola

Bob Phillips has crafted an arrangement that captures the warmth and wonder of the Fantastic Beasts score while keeping the technical demands genuinely manageable for a Grade 3 ensemble. The deliberate focus on shifting (violins in 3rd position, cellos in both 3rd and 4th) gives students a specific musical goal that feels purposeful rather than arbitrary, and the marked positions provide flexibility for directors who want to customize the challenge level for different sections.

Elegant and cinematic, this setting brings the whimsy and heart of the wizarding world to the concert stage. The arrangement honors Howard's original orchestration in miniature, delivering moments of warmth and wonder that feel far more sophisticated than the technical demands suggest.

String orchestras working at the Grade 3 level who want to program recognizable, emotionally engaging film music without sacrificing technical development. Directors seeking a manageable piece that allows systematic work on position shifting across the entire ensemble will find the built-in pedagogical structure particularly valuable.

• Establish the shifting passages in isolation before running them with the full ensemble. Have violins work the 3rd position writing in the opening passages separately, then integrate gradually with violas and basses to lock the intonation.
• Balance the two themes carefully: 'Newt Says Goodbye to Tina' benefits from warm, singing tone in the upper strings, while 'Jacob's Bakery' needs lightness and clarity to capture its character. Conductor's choice of tempo will determine how much rubato feels natural.
• Use the marked positions as a starting framework, then experiment with alternative positions in violas and basses during sectionals. Students often discover more efficient or comfortable fingerings once they understand the piece's architecture.
• Mark cues clearly between the two themes and any transitions, especially if you're alternating between sections for rehearsal efficiency.

Program this alongside other contemporary film scores or fairy tale-inspired pieces to create a themed concert that appeals to student musicians and audiences alike. The Grade 3 accessibility makes it ideal for mid-season programming when ensembles have developed basic technique but are still building confidence with shifting and position work.

• Shifting into 3rd and 4th positions with secure intonation
• Playing alternative positions for the same pitch to develop flexibility
• Sustaining long, lyrical lines with consistent tone quality
• Balancing between melody and accompaniment in thematic sections
• Responding to conductor cues between contrasting musical themes