Into the Sky!: Viola
By Brian Balmages
Grade: 1
Item: 98-PC-DST6178_VA1
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Description
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!: Viola 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:
FJH Beginning Strings
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DST6178_VA1
More about this title
About the Composer: Brian Balmages
Brian Balmages has built an international reputation as a composer and conductor working across orchestral, band, and chamber idioms. His works have been performed by ensembles ranging from professional symphony orchestras to elementary school programs in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. He is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and received the A. Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association.
Balmages won the 2020 NBA William D. Revelli Composition Contest and has received commissions from major institutions, including the University of Miami for music celebrating the inauguration of its sixth president. His compositions were performed at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service attended by President Obama and Vice President Biden. As a guest conductor, he appears regularly with all-state ensembles, university orchestras, and professional groups worldwide. He currently serves as Director of MakeMusic Publications and Digital Education for Alfred and MakeMusic.
Why we love this
Balmages understands what young string players need: a piece that feels exciting and accomplished without overwhelming technical demands. The restriction to quarter notes removes rhythmic complexity entirely, letting students concentrate on producing a full, energetic sound and responding to the conductor's direction. Add the optional piano part, and even your most reluctant players will understand why orchestration matters.
What to expect
Propulsive and triumphant, this piece captures the rush of acceleration and lift without ever feeling frantic. The quarter-note texture creates a propulsive foundation while fanfare-style themes soar above, and the optional piano adds a contemporary energy that makes a Grade 1 piece feel genuinely sophisticated.
Who it's for
Beginning string orchestras at the elementary level, particularly groups ready to move beyond unison or two-part writing. This piece works beautifully for young players who benefit from straightforward rhythmic notation while exploring what happens when simple materials are orchestrated with intentionality and drive.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the string sound so the fanfare themes project with clarity; these young players are building confidence, and a well-blended attack will show them what they can achieve together.
- If you include piano, rehearse a few measure-long sections where the strings listen closely to how the piano's rhythmic drive can propel the phrase; this builds the habit of responding to other instrumental colors.
- Work the crescendos carefully by having students think about the physical sensation of takeoff rather than playing mechanically louder; the energy should feel organic.
How to use it
Open a concert with this piece to set an energetic, confident tone for your ensemble. It's ideal for contest or festival play since it demonstrates what young orchestras can accomplish with focused ensemble work and clear musical intent. You might also pair it with a contrasting slower selection to showcase the range of your students' musicianship.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining quarter-note rhythms across multiple measures with consistent pulse
- Blending string voices in a simple fanfare texture
- Responding to dynamic markings and conductor cues in a unified ensemble
- Listening to and balancing around optional orchestral colors (piano part)