Into the Sky!: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00 USD

Into the Sky!: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Into the Sky!: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6178
Price: 50.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Brian Balmages

Grade: 1

Item: 98-ST6178

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Using only quarter notes in all string instruments, this work is still able to portray the thrill of takeoff and flight. Fanfare-style themes combine with the energetic rhythms of the piano to give the music momentum and intensity. While piano is not required, it adds a great deal to the orchestration and will help your youngest of students feel like they are soaring. Fantastic!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Into the Sky!: 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: FJH Beginning Strings

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

UPC: 674398224777

SKU: 98-ST6178

More about this title

About the Composer: Brian Balmages

Brian Balmages has built a career writing for orchestras, bands, and chamber ensembles that reaches from professional symphony stages to elementary school gyms. His works have appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and the Toronto Centre for the Arts. He holds the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association, won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest, and serves as an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association.

As a guest conductor, Balmages regularly leads all-state and regional ensembles across North America and internationally. His music was performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service and he has been commissioned by universities for major institutional events. He currently directs MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.

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Why we love this

Grade 1 doesn't always offer music that feels genuinely exciting to play. Into the Sky! delivers real energy and drama using only quarter notes, letting young players focus on ensemble precision without wrestling complex rhythms. The fanfare writing and driving piano part create genuine lift, making students feel the thrill of the piece rather than just reading notes.

What to expect

The music captures that moment of acceleration and liftoff with bright fanfare gestures and propulsive energy. Even with the rhythmic simplicity, the orchestration and harmonic movement create real momentum and lift, making young players feel like they're part of something soaring.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the beginning level who need repertoire that builds confidence through success while delivering genuine musical satisfaction. This works for concert programs, festivals, and competitions where you want young players to experience the thrill of a well-crafted piece that doesn't rely on technical difficulty.

How to get the most out of it

Keep the quarter notes steady and even; rhythmic precision is what propels this piece forward. Any wavering rhythm flattens the momentum.
Balance the fanfare themes so they cut through the texture without the melody overpowering the ensemble sound. These moments announce something important.
Let the piano drive the energy in rehearsal if you're not using it in performance. Its rhythmic vitality carries the whole piece and helps students understand the piece's architecture.

How to use it

Open a concert with this piece to set an energetic, confident tone for your ensemble. It also serves as an ideal festival selection where a Grade 1 work needs to impress without relying on virtuosity. The shorter length makes it valuable for mixed programs balancing multiple repertoire demands.