Fiddling for the First Time: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

Fiddling for the First Time: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Fiddling for the First Time: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49492
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Featuring Oats, Peas, and Beans and Boil Them Cabbage Down

Traditional / arr. Bob Phillips

Grade: 1

Item: 00-49492

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$50.00

Shipped

One moment…

In the key of D major, all parts are in first position and can be played using the G, D, and A strings for all instruments. The two simple melodies are developed in a series of rhythmic variations and all sections get to play the melody. Check out Fiddling for the First Time arranged by Bob Phillips! (2:15)

The PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to the ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These engaging selections are presented with educational resources designed to enrich the rehearsal process and create outstanding performances. Including:

Assignment, recording, and assessment tools within MakeMusic Cloud
Piece-specific exercises focused on skills and techniques
Educational tips and suggestions to support learning

Available in print and digital formats.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Fiddling for the First Time: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra - PerformancePlus+

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-4992-6

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-4992-0

UPC: 038081570709

SKU: 00-49492

More about this title

About the Composer: Bob Phillips

Bob Phillips has spent more than four decades shaping string education through both direct teaching and prolific composition. From 1997 to 2024, he developed a string program in Saline, Michigan that grew to over 700 students and became nationally recognized for its excellence across classical and contemporary styles. His influence extends well beyond his home program: he has published more than 200 works for orchestras and bands, authored 25+ instructional book series (including Sound Innovations and the eclectic styles collections), and received numerous ASCAP awards for his compositions.

Phillips is a conductor and clinician who has worked with youth symphonies, all-state orchestras, and regional honors ensembles across the country. He founded and directed the Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic, an ensemble that performed internationally, appeared at the White House, and became a fixture at the Midwest Clinic. His String Clinics to Go instructional videos and his work as resident conductor for Seattle's Wintergrass Festival demonstrate his commitment to making high-quality string music accessible to teachers and students everywhere.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Phillips knows exactly what beginning string orchestras can accomplish, and this piece proves it. Instead of settling for exercises disguised as music, he built genuine fiddling idiom into a first-position arrangement that lets every player experience the melody and develop rhythmic independence through smart variations.

What to expect

Bright, approachable, and genuinely fun to play. The D major key and open-string emphasis give the piece a natural resonance; the rhythmic variations keep energy high without overwhelming the players. It feels like folk music, not an exercise wearing a folk costume.

Who it's for

Beginning string orchestras ready to move beyond classical etudes and into folk idiom. This works beautifully for students in their first year of study who already have basic bow control and can read in first position on their respective strings.

How to get the most out of it

Establish the D major tonality early in rehearsal by having all sections play open D strings together, then moving through the G, D, and A strings before tackling the melodies.
Use the rhythmic variations as a teaching moment: mark which variation introduces each new rhythmic figure so students understand the structural logic beneath the repetition.
Balance the two melodies across sections during the piece. Make note of which parts carry the melody in each variation and rotate ownership deliberately so no section feels relegated to accompaniment.
Lock the tempo by tapping the pulse during the first run-through; fiddling style thrives on steady time, and even at Grade 1, establishing this habit early pays dividends for more sophisticated folk arrangements later.

How to use it

Program this early in the school year or as a festival selection for a beginner-level string orchestra. The 2:15 duration fits easily into almost any concert, and its traditional fiddling character makes it a natural pairing with other Americana or world music selections. It also serves as a bridge piece when introducing students to eclectic styles beyond their primary classical repertoire.

Skills your students will build

Playing melodies in first position across G, D, and A strings
Maintaining steady tempo and rhythm through variations
Recognizing and executing rhythmic patterns (quarter notes, eighth notes, and their combinations)
Listening for and playing unison melodies with multiple sections
Understanding folk music idiom and its distinction from classical style
Building tone quality on open and stopped strings in a major key context