First Scale March: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC])
First Scale March: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC]) Sheet Music Preview

First Scale March: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC])

By Mark Williams

Grade: 1

Item: 00-PC-0000265_VN3
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Description
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: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC]) 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 Strictly Strings
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 72
SKU: 00-PC-0000265_VN3

More about this title

About the Composer: Mark Williams

Mark Williams

Mark Williams built his reputation as a prolific composer for young musicians, producing more than 200 works across band, orchestra, and choral genres. Born in Chicago and educated at Eastern Washington University, he spent his career in Washington state, where he developed a particular expertise in elementary band instruction and became known for writing music that balanced accessibility with genuine musicianship.

As a guest conductor and clinician, Williams traveled extensively across North America and Australia, bringing his compositional philosophy directly to students and teachers. Beyond composing, he performed professionally on bassoon, served as arranger for the 560th Air Force Band, and conducted the Spokane British Brass Band. His work earned recognition through the Western International Band Clinic's Gralia Competition and multiple ASCAP Special Awards, cementing his influence on music education.

Why we love this

Williams captures that genuine moment of accomplishment when young string players complete their first scale, then builds something musically complete around it. The back-and-forth dialogue between high and low strings keeps the piece engaging for both audience and orchestra, avoiding the flatness that can plague early-grade material while staying completely within reach.

What to expect

Bright and unpretentious, this march has the energy of young musicians discovering they can play together. The clean D major tonality and simple quarter-note rhythm create forward momentum, while the conversational trading between sections gives the piece warmth and personality beyond its straightforward technical demands.

Who it's for

This march belongs in the hands of first-year string orchestras ready to celebrate their early technical achievement with a performance piece. Young orchestras can prepare this quickly and confidently while gaining real conducting and ensemble experience, and it works equally well for festival showcases or informal concerts.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the scale passages between violin sections so the melodic contour reads clearly; the interplay between high and low strings only lands if each group projects equally.
  • Maintain steady quarter-note pulse throughout; march character depends on rhythmic precision, and this narrow rhythmic palette makes any wavering in tempo immediately noticeable.
  • Shape the backward scale with the same intentionality as the forward one so the piece doesn't feel mechanical; small dynamic shaping within the quarter-note framework adds character without complicating the part.

How to use it

Schedule this early in the year as a confidence builder after students have learned the D major scale, or use it as an opening number on a concert to set an optimistic tone. It also fits well on a festival program where it demonstrates ensemble fundamentals without requiring advanced skills.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and executing a one-octave major scale in quarter notes
  • Coordinating entrances and cutoffs across multiple string sections
  • Responding to conductor cues for musical phrasing within a repetitive rhythmic framework
  • Understanding scale relationships by recognizing the same material played forward and backward

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