Millipede Madness: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$40.00 USD

Millipede Madness: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Millipede Madness: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-ST6351
Price: 40.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Lauren Bernofsky

Grade: 1

Item: 98-ST6351

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The nonstop movement of a millipede takes center stage in this piece that focuses on eighth notes and bow arm technique. Using simple finger patterns, this piece shares a humorous take on the misunderstood millipede and is sure to be a favorite of your beginners. Impressive, fun, and very millipede-istic!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Millipede Madness: 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: 674398232499

SKU: 98-ST6351

More about this title

About the Composer: Lauren Bernofsky

Lauren Bernofsky is a prolific composer whose catalog spans solo works, chamber music, choral literature, and large-scale compositions for orchestra, film, musical theater, opera, and ballet. Her music has earned recognition from major institutions including The National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts, The American Music Center, and The American Composers Forum, and she has received commissions from ensembles ranging from professional orchestras to specialized groups like Reimagining Opera for Kids. Her compositions balance technical sophistication with lyrical expression, and her work has been performed internationally and featured on PBS.

Bernofsky holds degrees from The Hartt School (Bachelor's in violin and composition), New England Conservatory (Master's in composition), and Boston University (Doctorate of Musical Arts in composition). She has taught at the Peabody Institute and Interlochen Center for the Arts, and her string quartet Anacostia Journal was broadcast on the PBS program NOW with Bill Moyers. Her choral work Prayer of Shantideva won the Dalai Lama Composition Contest and was premiered at a prayer service attended by the Dalai Lama himself.

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Why we love this

Bernofsky crafts a piece that makes beginning string players genuinely laugh while they're learning. The humor comes from the subject matter and the musical setting rather than condescension, which means your students stay engaged with the material itself. The focus on eighth-note technique and bow control gives you a solid pedagogical anchor within something your ensemble will actually want to perform.

What to expect

Quick-moving and lighthearted, with the perpetual motion of those eighth notes creating a sense of bustling activity. The piece captures something genuinely whimsical about the subject without veering into cuteness, and students finish feeling like they've accomplished something real and musical, not just novelty.

Who it's for

Grade 1 string orchestras and beginning string ensembles seeking repertoire that entertains without sacrificing technique. This works for school orchestras, community youth ensembles, and Suzuki group programs at the early levels.

How to get the most out of it

Establish a steady eighth-note pulse in your rehearsals before adding the character. Once the rhythm is secure, layer in the pizzicato and arco contrasts that give the millipede its personality.
Keep the bow arm relaxed throughout the rapid eighth-note passages. Tension will cause the notes to sound choppy rather than like the smooth, scurrying motion the piece needs.
Use the simple finger patterns as an opportunity to build left-hand confidence. Beginners often rush when they feel secure with their fingering, so watch for tempo creep and lock in with a metronome.
Balance the section dynamics carefully. With a Grade 1 ensemble, younger players often play louder than they intend when excited, so rehearse the softer passages explicitly.

How to use it

Position this as a crowd-pleaser on a winter or spring concert with your younger ensembles. It pairs well with more serious Grade 1-2 repertoire because it gives audiences and students both a moment of joy and a clear demonstration of what bow technique and rhythm training produces.