Hocus Pocus!: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Owens crafts a piece that teaches real musicianship while keeping young players engaged. The contrast between legato and staccato articulations gives your string section concrete goals to refine technique, and the optional tremolo writing provides flexibility for different skill levels within the same ensemble. It's the kind of novelty that works at contests because it's musically honest, not just novelty for novelty's sake.

Hocus Pocus captures the playfulness of a magic trick where precision and timing matter as much as showmanship. There's lightness in the stepwise motion and clever orchestration, creating a sense of wonder rather than spectacle. The piece keeps energy moving forward while your students focus intently on getting the articulation and bow control just right.

String orchestras at the early intermediate level looking for a concert piece that builds technical foundation while keeping rehearsals fun. This works equally well for festival preparation or a standalone concert program where you want something engaging without programming a heavy ballad or major work.

• Establish clarity on which tremolos your players can execute cleanly before rehearsal; this transparency prevents mid-piece doubts and lets players focus on the musical line.
• Introduce the staccato passages with light bow contact first, then gradually add articulation once the rhythmic precision is secure.
• Coordinate percussion entries with your string rhythm section during sectionals to ensure the optional parts truly enhance rather than crowd the texture.
• Practice the legato passages with attention to bow distribution so players maintain consistent tone across phrase peaks and valleys.

Program this early in a concert to establish rapport with your audience and showcase your young players' technical growth in articulation work. It pairs well with a ballad or lyrical piece later in the program, giving you contrasting moods without demanding advanced facility from your ensemble.

• Legato and staccato articulation contrast
• Bow control and consistent tone production
• Reading and executing written tremolos
• Rhythmic precision in ensemble settings
• Dynamic shaping within stepwise melodic lines