Ninja: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Name: Ninja: String Orchestra Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-44828S
Price: 8.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Richard Meyer

Grade: 1

Item: 00-44828S

$8.00

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One moment…

There's a ninja on the loose and he's sneaking through the orchestra. But not for long! Your students will love making up storylines for what happens next in this colorful Asian-flavored piece that uses only the notes of the D Major scale. There are plenty of great teaching opportunities here for your first-year students, including pizzicato, accents, crescendos, and melody/accompaniment balance. Fun for everyone! (2:15)

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Series: Highland/Etling String Explorer

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

ISBN10: 1-4706-5289-7

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5289-0

UPC: 038081520124

SKU: 00-44828S

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer spent 35 years teaching strings across elementary, middle, and high school levels in public schools. At Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, California, he directed orchestras for 22 of those years, expanding the program from 29 students to 200 while also overseeing the district's elementary string curriculum. He served as music director of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for 16 years, leading performances across North America, Europe, and Australia.

Beyond the podium, Meyer has established himself as a prolific composer with nearly 200 works and arrangements published, and spent 16 years as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company. His "Giving Bach" program, launched in 2009, uses interactive concerts to reach special needs and underserved students throughout Southern California and has earned national recognition. He has been a featured clinician at the A.S.T.A. National Conference, the Texas Orchestra Directors' Association Conference, and string teacher workshops at Ohio State University and other institutions. Meyer co-authored several string method series, including the widely adopted String Explorer Series and Sight-read It for Strings.

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Why we love this

This piece captures what makes Grade 1 string repertoire memorable: a narrative hook that sparks student imagination while delivering solid pedagogical content. Meyer's restriction to the D Major scale removes technical barriers and lets your first-year students focus on orchestration, articulation, and style—exactly what they need at this level.

What to expect

A musical adventure unfolding in real time. The D Major scale palette creates a bright, accessible soundscape that feels both adventurous and playful, while the pizzicato and staccato writing keeps the energy lean and comic. There's mystery in the sneaking and momentum in the crescendos, making this feel like a miniature film score for a young ensemble.

Who it's for

First-year string orchestra students who benefit from a short, musically engaging piece that introduces key articulation and expression techniques without overwhelming technical demands. Conductors seeking concert or festival repertoire that builds student confidence through accessible material and an appealing storyline.

How to get the most out of it

Establish a clear pizzicato sound with your section before tackling the rhythmic accents; students often rush when learning to pluck cleanly, so isolate those figures in rehearsal first.
Shape the crescendos gradually rather than abruptly; young players tend to jump dynamic levels, so conduct these with sustained, visible arm movements that invite a slow, steady swell.
Highlight the melody and accompaniment balance by having students who carry the main line rehearse separately from the rhythmic support voices, then blend them back together.

How to use it

Open a family concert or elementary showcase with this piece to engage young audiences immediately and set a lighthearted tone. Its 2:15 duration makes it ideal for filling a festival program or pairing with contrasting pieces at the same grade level to demonstrate stylistic range.