First Scale March: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$46.00 USD

First Scale March: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: First Scale March: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-18288
Price: 46.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Mark Williams

Grade: 1

Item: 00-18288

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What a perfect way to celebrate learning that very first scale! Using only a one-octave D major scale and quarter notes, all sections join in the fun as the scale is played both forward and backward in this tuneful, easy march. Lots of interplay between the high and low strings help to make this a highly interesting and educational first-year selection.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, First Scale March: 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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Series: Highland/Etling Strictly Strings

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 72

ISBN10: 1-4706-5967-0

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5967-7

UPC: 038081167893

SKU: 00-18288

More about this title

About the Composer: Mark Williams

Mark Williams built his reputation as a prolific composer who understood the needs of young musicians and school ensembles. Over his career, he created more than 200 works for band, orchestra, and choir while also co-authoring the Accent on Achievement Band Method, a cornerstone resource in instrumental music education. His expertise in elementary band instruction came from years teaching in Washington state schools, where he developed a keen sense of what students could accomplish at each level.

Williams' influence extended far beyond his home region. As a clinician and guest conductor, he traveled across 34 states, five Canadian provinces, and Australia, sharing his pedagogical insights and conducting his own compositions. His contributions earned recognition including the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards. Beyond composing, he performed bassoon professionally and served as conductor and artistic director for the Spokane British Brass Band, bringing both compositional and performance expertise to every project.

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Why we love this

First Scale March captures what makes Williams' elementary writing so effective: he takes a single learning objective (mastery of the D major scale) and builds genuine musicality around it. The back-and-forth interplay between high and low strings keeps everyone engaged while reinforcing the scale in a context that feels like a real march, not a drill. Students perform a piece they're proud of while cementing fundamentals.

What to expect

Bright and purposeful, like a small parade where everyone gets to march. The D major scale feels celebratory rather than mechanical, and the alternation between ascending and descending creates a sense of call-and-response that keeps the energy alive.

Who it's for

First-year string orchestra students who have just learned their first scale and are ready to apply it in a musical context. This piece works for beginning orchestras in grades 4 through 7 that need a confidence-building selection with genuine substance.

How to get the most out of it

Establish a steady march tempo before rehearsal; this piece benefits from a confident pulse that younger players can lock into immediately.
Listen for clarity in the scale passages. Use separate bowings between forward and backward scale statements so the directional change registers audibly.
Balance the high and low string sections as they trade the scale. This interplay is the heart of the piece; make sure neither part overwhelms the other.

How to use it

Schedule this for an early-season concert or a beginner ensemble showcase where students can perform something they've truly mastered. It also works beautifully as a festival or contest selection at the Grade 1 level, showing off both technical accuracy and musical poise in just a few minutes.