Just Give Me a Reason: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
As Recorded by Pink, Featuring Nate Ruess
Words and music by Nate Ruess, Alecia Moore, and Jeff Bhasker / arr. Michael Story
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PK-0006067
$51.00
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Description
One of 2013's biggest hits, this soulful and catchy tune contains many different textures and sounds. This solidly scored arrangement will be a hit with both students and audience alike! It contains easy optional parts for piano and tambourine, but the piece is totally playable by strings alone. (2:15) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Just Give Me a Reason: 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 Beginning String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
78
SKU:
00-PK-0006067
More about this title
About the Composer: Nate Ruess
Nate Ruess is a singer, songwriter, and producer who rose to prominence as the frontman of the indie pop band fun. His work across multiple genres—from indie rock to mainstream pop—demonstrates a gift for writing hooks that stick with listeners and lyrics that resonate emotionally. "Just Give Me a Reason," co-written with Pink and producer Jeff Bhasker, became one of the defining pop songs of 2013 and showcases his ability to craft accessible, universally appealing melodies.
Why we love this
Michael Story's arrangement captures the emotional core of this 2013 smash without overcomplexity, giving Grade 2 orchestras a contemporary hit they actually want to play. The varied textures and optional parts (piano, tambourine) mean you can shape the sound to match your ensemble's strengths, whether you're emphasizing the strings or adding color. Students respond visibly to pieces they recognize from radio and streaming, and this one delivers both musicianship and engagement.
What to expect
Soulful and contemporary, with enough dynamic and textural variety to keep players interested across a short, memorable form. The arrangement balances pop sensibility with genuine string writing, never talking down to the players while staying accessible to developing orchestras.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the Grade 2 level who want to program something current and rewarding. This works equally well for contest and festival settings or general concert programming where you want students engaged and audiences delighted by a song they know.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the melody across first and second violins so the hook reads clearly no matter which section carries it; this tune lives and dies on that recognizable line staying prominent.
- Use the optional piano and tambourine parts strategically to shift texture and energy across the 2:15 duration; they're tools for shaping intensity, not mandatory additions.
- Encourage sustained, singing tone in the slower passages to match the song's vulnerable emotional core, then shift to a more rhythmic, contemporary groove where the arrangement gets propulsive.
How to use it
Program this in the first half of a concert alongside other pop or contemporary arrangements to energize the audience early and signal that your orchestra plays music students care about. It's also a natural fit for pops concerts, community events, or any context where you want to bridge the gap between concert repertoire and the music students hear every day.
Skills your students will build
- Playing contemporary, rhythmically driven material with accurate articulation
- Tracking multiple melodic and accompaniment textures within a single arrangement
- Balancing optional parts (piano, percussion) with the core string sound
- Sustaining engagement through repetitive, pop-based song forms