If I Can't Have You: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
As Performed by Shawn Mendes
Words and music by Scott Harris, Teddy Geiger, Shawn Mendes, and Nate Mercereau / arr. Victor López
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PK-0008095
$55.00
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Description
If I Can't Have You was performed by Shawn Mendes and is now arranged for string orchestra by Victor López. This Hot 100 hit is guaranteed to rock the house at your next concert. Hitting No. 1 on the iTunes chart, this solid pop-rock song will certainly add a little pizzazz to your program. A brilliant and unforgettable catchy melody, along with an upbeat groove, drives this solid pop-rock song from a new pop troubadour. Get the audience clapping along and let them have some fun. (2:20)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, If I Can't Have You: 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:
Pop Intermediate String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
156
SKU:
00-PK-0008095
More about this title
Why we love this
Victor López's arrangement captures everything that made this pop hit irresistible and translates it brilliantly for string players. At Grade 2, the writing stays accessible without sacrificing the energy and infectious melodic hook that audiences recognize instantly. Programming a contemporary pop-rock song at this level gives your orchestra a confidence boost and reminds students why they love playing music.
What to expect
The arrangement radiates upbeat pop-rock energy without losing the elegance that string writing can bring. A brilliant, catchy melody rides over a solid groove that feels modern and accessible, driving the piece forward with infectious momentum and the kind of hook that listeners remember long after the concert ends.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the Grade 2 level looking to program music that excites both players and audiences. Directors seeking contemporary repertoire that builds student investment and delivers the kind of applause moment that reminds young musicians why they play.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the groove steady and driving throughout. The rhythm section feels light and bouncy, so resist the temptation to drag or over-conduct the accompaniment figures.
- Shape the melody line with clear phrasing and vibrato where the score indicates it. This catchy tune deserves to sing even though it's arranged for strings.
- Balance your sections so the main melody always cuts through. In passages where multiple parts carry melodic material, make sure the lead voice stands out clearly.
- Encourage the ensemble to listen for the audience's energy. If the crowd wants to clap along (as the description suggests they will), lock in your tempo and let that connection happen naturally.
How to use it
Use this as a second-half opener or as a finale to shift the energy of your concert. It pairs well alongside lighter classical or modern pieces, or as a bridge between a more traditional first half and encore material that lets the audience leave smiling.
Skills your students will build
- Executing rhythmic precision in a contemporary pop-rock groove
- Balancing melodic lines with accompaniment figures
- Sustaining steady tempo through repeated harmonic progressions
- Playing with stylistic awareness and energy appropriate to pop-rock idiom
- Responding to conductor's gesture while maintaining groove integrity