Feng Yang Song: Cello Educational Pack
Flower Drum Song
Traditional Chinese Folk Song / arr. Bob Phillips
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PC-0018400_VC_EDPAK
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Description
One of the most enduring Chinese melodies dating back to the Ming Dynasty, this arrangement of Feng Yang Song, or "Flower Drum Song," will provide technical development, listening skills, and is just beautiful. Arranged by Bob Phillips using the G and D major pentatonic scales, the sounds that might have been heard centuries ago are well-represented in the strings. All sections play the melody as well as accompaniment parts in pizzicato or as percussive taps on the top of their instruments using the finger pads of the left hand. Correlated to Sound Innovations for String Orchestra, Book 2, Level 2. (2:30) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Feng Yang Song: Cello Educational Pack 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:
Sound Innovations for String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
76
SKU:
00-PC-0018400_VC_EDPAK
More about this title
About the Composer: Bob Phillips
Bob Phillips (born 1953) has shaped string education through innovative pedagogy and prolific composition. As both a conductor and author, he created the Sound Innovations series and pioneering eclectic styles curricula including Jazz Philharmonic, Rock Philharmonic, and Mariachi Philharmonic. Over 200 of his works have been published, performed regularly at the Midwest Clinic, and selected for ASCAP awards.
For 27 years, Phillips built the Saline, Michigan string program into a nationally recognized model with over 700 students studying classical and contemporary idioms. He founded the Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic, which performed internationally and at the White House, while also serving as resident conductor and arranger for the Wintergrass Festival in Seattle and conducting honors orchestras across the United States.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures an authentic folk melody using only the G and D major pentatonic scales, making it deeply musical while remaining technically manageable for grade 2 students. Phillips gives every section the melody as well as rhythmic accompaniment roles, so no player sits passively, and the pizzicato and left-hand tapping techniques add textural interest that keeps students engaged with both their sound and their technique.
What to expect
Feng Yang Song brings centuries-old joy and celebration into the rehearsal room. The interplay between melody and accompaniment creates a warm, communal sound that feels both ancient and immediate, with the pizzicato rhythms and left-hand tapping lending a folk festiveness that energizes young players.
Who it's for
Grade 2 string orchestras working through Sound Innovations Book 2 and ready to explore folk traditions beyond standard Western classical repertoire. Players need basic facility with multiple strings and rhythm reading; this piece rewards them with a complete, beautiful arrangement rather than an étude.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody clearly against the pizzicato accompaniment parts; the accompaniment should establish groove without drowning the melodic line.
- Have students practice the left-hand finger-pad taps separately to develop consistent tone and rhythm before combining with bowing.
- Lean into the pentatonic scale's open, resonant quality by encouraging a warm tone in the melody sections and crisp articulation in the rhythmic figures.
- Use the 2:30 duration as a guide for pacing; maintain forward momentum through the repeated pentatonic phrases without rushing.
How to use it
Program this as a concert opener to establish cultural breadth and welcome audiences with a recognizable folk melody, or feature it on a multicultural concert alongside other traditions. It also serves as a pedagogical bridge within Sound Innovations, showing students how the scales and techniques they've learned apply across musical cultures.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and playing in pentatonic scales (G and D major)
- Pizzicato technique with rhythmic precision
- Left-hand percussive tapping on string instruments
- Melody versus accompaniment awareness and balance
- Cultural listening and folk music interpretation