Fill in the Blanks: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Carrie Lane Gruselle
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PK-0001094
$45.00
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Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Fill in the Blanks: Score | $7.00 | |
| Fill in the Blanks: 1st Violin | $5.99 | |
| Fill in the Blanks: 2nd Violin | $5.99 | |
| Fill in the Blanks: Viola | $5.99 | |
| Fill in the Blanks: Cello | $5.99 | |
| Fill in the Blanks: String Bass | $5.99 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
This 12-bar blues tune is to be performed in a rock style. It is full of energy, syncopation and a variety of dynamics and articulations. "X" note heads indicate "blanks" to be filled in with stomping or fun percussion instruments. You'll enjoy this interactive experience with your ensemble! 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, Fill in the Blanks: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts 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:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
31
SKU:
00-PK-0001094
More about this title
About the Composer: Carrie Lane Gruselle
Carrie Lane Gruselle earned her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire and her Master of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, where she specialized in Suzuki pedagogy. She brings classroom experience at multiple levels to her composing, currently teaching strings in the Appleton Area School District while also directing cello students through the Lawrence University Arts Academy.
Why we love this
Gruselle understands what middle school orchestras need: a piece that delivers rock energy and ensemble fun without overwhelming players or requiring advanced technique. The interactive percussion blanks turn a 12-bar blues into a collaborative experience where every musician feels the pulse, making this one of those pieces students actually want to rehearse.
What to expect
Twelve bars of controlled chaos. The piece pulses with rock-style syncopation and driven energy, punctuated by unexpected percussion hits and dynamic swells that keep everyone alert. It feels youthful and confident, never precious, with the kind of fun that makes an audience smile.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the late Grade 2 to Grade 2.5 level who are ready to tackle contemporary style and rhythmic sophistication. This piece works equally well for middle school orchestras seeking accessible but engaging concert material and for advanced elementary orchestras hungry for something with attitude.
How to get the most out of it
- Recruit enthusiastic players for the percussion stomps marked with X note heads. Assign these roles before the rehearsal so the chosen students can lock in the rhythmic hits with confidence.
- Layer the syncopation gradually in rehearsals. Start with the written articulations at half tempo, then build energy as players gain security with the rhythmic patterns.
- Balance the dynamic contrasts intentionally. The variety in dynamics and articulations gives shape to a short piece, so honor the written markings rather than playing at one comfortable level throughout.
- Record a run-through and listen back with the ensemble. Hearing the rock groove on playback helps students internalize the style and tighten ensemble cohesion.
How to use it
Place this early in a concert to establish energy and set a contemporary tone, or use it as a palate cleanser between more traditional pieces. The novelty factor and interactive percussion elements make it an ideal encore or a bridge to a second half that ventures into other styles.
Skills your students will build
- Syncopated rhythmic reading and execution in rock style
- Dynamic shaping and articulation control across sustained passages
- Ensemble synchronization with non-pitched percussion elements
- Style awareness and the musical language of contemporary light concert works