I Spy: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Katie O'Hara LaBrie
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PK-0008715
$50.00
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Description
This engaging work by Katie O'Hara LaBrie becomes a secret agent soundtrack as students spy around corners, sneak stealthily like ninjas, and burst out in surprise attacks. I Spy uses a wide range of dynamics and styles, including staccato, pizzicato, and accents. A fun work with a truly cinematic feel! (2:00)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, I Spy: 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:
MakeMusic Developing Strings
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PK-0008715
More about this title
About the Composer: Katie O'Hara LaBrie
Katie O'Hara LaBrie is a composer, conductor, clinician, and cellist based in Northern Virginia who spent 15 years as an orchestra educator in Fairfax County. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from St. Olaf College and her Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University, studying with Anthony Maiello.
LaBrie's compositions emerge from her deep investment in music education; she creates work that prioritizes pedagogical value, audience appeal, and pure enjoyment for the players. Her pieces have earned multiple J.W. Pepper Editor's Choice selections and performances at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Directors Clinic and American String Teachers Association Conference. In 2022, Yamaha recognized her as one of their "40 Under 40" honorees. She is the founding conductor of the Fairfax Chamber Players and co-creator of "the Big IDEA" practice method.
Why we love this
A Grade 1 piece that doesn't compromise on musical storytelling. LaBrie builds genuine cinematic tension through dynamic contrast and articulation choices (pizzicato, staccato, accents) rather than complexity, making it rewarding for both players and audiences. Students feel like they're playing a real film score from day one.
What to expect
A spy thriller unfolding in real time. Quiet, cautious moments give way to sudden action and surprise, all delivered with clean articulation and dynamic clarity. The two-minute arc moves fast enough to hold attention but includes breathing room for musical expression.
Who it's for
Grade 1 string orchestras seeking engaging, musically substantial material that captures student imagination. Directors building confident young musicians who understand that exciting orchestral writing exists at every level.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the pizzicato sections with clear rhythmic precision. Even at Grade 1, clean articulation between notes creates the sneaky, stealthy character LaBrie intends.
- Explore the full dynamic range. Moving confidently from soft spying passages to sudden accented bursts teaches students that dynamics are not optional flourishes but essential to the narrative.
- Let the staccato markings breathe. Shorter articulation doesn't mean rushed; crisp separation gives the secret agent moments their intended edge.
- Use the recorded accompaniment to build confidence in ensemble balance before rehearsing sectionally.
How to use it
Program this as a festival or contest selection that showcases your orchestra's range of articulation and dynamic control without demanding advanced technique. It also pairs well on a concert featuring film or pop-inspired music, offering Grade 1 students a seat at the "cinematic repertoire" table.
Skills your students will build
- Dynamic contrast (soft pizzicato to accented passages)
- Articulation clarity (staccato vs. legato vs. pizzicato)
- Rhythmic precision in ensemble context
- Following a narrative through orchestral color and texture