Jolly Old St. Nicholas: Score
Traditional / arr. Jack Bullock
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PR-0003808
$6.00
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Description
Santa takes his yearly "ride" to boys and girls everywhere in this happy, uplifting, and tuneful song. Always a favorite during the holiday season, it brings joy to children all over the world.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Jolly Old St. Nicholas: Score 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:
Belwin Beginning String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
78
SKU:
00-PR-0003808
More about this title
About the Arranger: Jack Bullock
Jack Bullock brings decades of professional musicianship and classroom experience to his arrangement work. A trumpet performer who has worked with the Miami Philharmonic Orchestra and Miami Opera Company, he also performed regionally with dance bands and show orchestras across the country. His formal training includes undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in Music Education.
As a prolific arranger and composer, Bullock has created over 600 publications spanning concert band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and marching band. He spent 20 years teaching instrumental music in K-12 classrooms and served as assistant band director at the Ithaca College School of Music, where he also chaired the Music Education Department. His work includes co-authoring the Belwin 21st Century Band Method and contributing arrangements for Music Expressions, Alfred Music's comprehensive school music curriculum. He has conducted clinics and workshops throughout England, Canada, and across the United States and holds ASCAP membership since 1980.
Why we love this
Bullock knows exactly what works with beginning string orchestras because he spent two decades teaching them. This arrangement strips away unnecessary complexity while keeping the melody front and center, so even players still building foundational technique can feel the joy of making music together. The Grade 2 scoring respects where your students actually are without insulting their intelligence.
What to expect
Warm and nostalgic without being saccharine. The melody unfolds with the same gentle kindness that defines the original song, while the string textures add gentle motion beneath it. Young players experience the reward of playing a recognizable, beloved tune that audiences know and love.
Who it's for
String orchestra directors working with Grade 2 players who want accessible holiday repertoire that doesn't sound simplified. This arrangement serves beginners and early intermediate players equally well in school orchestra or community youth string programs.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody between first violins and violas; these lines carry the tune equally, so bring up second violins slightly to support the harmonic foundation without drowning out either line.
- Establish a steady, gentle tempo that lets the character breathe rather than rushing the familiar melody. Young players respond well to clear beat patterns and a conductor who lets them lock into the pulse.
- Mark entrance cues clearly in parts so violins coming in after rests hit their moments confidently. Beginning orchestras need explicit visual preparation to stay together.
- Shape the phrase endings with a slight ritardando to give the arrangement room to breathe and reinforce the song's inherent warmth.
How to use it
Program this as the centerpiece of a winter concert, pairing it with other Grade 1 or 2 string pieces to build a cohesive set. It works equally well in holiday assemblies, community holiday celebrations, or as a standalone concert opener that immediately connects with family audiences. Consider performing it in the first half of the season to build student confidence before tackling more demanding repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining lyrical melodic lines across phrase boundaries
- Balancing multiple independent melodic ideas within a four-part texture
- Coordinating ensemble rhythm in homophonic sections
- Understanding and executing basic dynamic shaping for musical expression
- Reading accidentals and navigating key signatures typical at the Grade 2 level