Porcupine Pantomime: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$45.00 USD

Porcupine Pantomime: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Porcupine Pantomime: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-31598
Price: 45.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Doug Spata

Grade: 1

Item: 00-31598

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The jazzy melodies and bouncy style will make this piece an audience favorite, but directors will appreciate the often-overlooked skills that the piece teaches. Throughout this selection, beginning string players switch from "bow hand" to "pizzicato hand," making the orchestra look like a porcupine, raising and lowering its quills! An optional drum part adds a bossa nova beat to this charming tune. 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, Porcupine Pantomime: 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: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 64

UPC: 038081345574

SKU: 00-31598

More about this title

About the Composer: Doug Spata

Doug Spata trained as a clarinetist but found his primary voice as a composer for strings, shaped by years spent teaching in the orchestra classroom. His gift for writing engaging music that works for young ensembles has earned recognition across the country, with performances spanning student orchestras to professional stages. His catalog extends well beyond educational works, encompassing operas, ballets, symphonies, and chamber pieces that demonstrate his range across multiple genres and ensemble sizes.

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Why we love this

Spata threads sophisticated pedagogy into a piece that looks and sounds like pure fun. The pizzicato-to-arco switching isn't a gimmick; it's a brilliant way to build hand independence and reinforce bow control while students watch their orchestra transform into something theatrical and memorable.

What to expect

Lighthearted and playful, with melodies that stick in your ear after rehearsal ends. The constant motion between bow and plucked strings creates visual interest that keeps younger players engaged, while the bossa nova undercurrent adds a sophisticated rhythmic flavor that feels modern and appealing.

Who it's for

Beginning string orchestras ready to move beyond purely lyrical repertoire. This Grade 1 piece works equally well for groups introducing pizzicato technique or for players already comfortable with the basics who need an engaging, confidence-building selection.

How to get the most out of it

Establish clear visual cues for the pizzicato-to-arco transitions during early rehearsals. Have students mark their parts with colored pencils or letters so the switch becomes automatic, not something that pulls their focus from listening to the ensemble.
Lock in the bossa nova rhythm if you're using the optional drum part. The percussion groove anchors the piece's casual charm, so spend rehearsal time letting that layer settle before layering in the full orchestra sound.
Shape the jazzy melodies with articulation that matches the style. Guide students to think 'singing' rather than 'scratchy,' even on short bow strokes, so the piece bounces without sounding scratchy or rushed.

How to use it

Program this early in a concert to establish an upbeat tone, or save it for a family-friendly spring concert where audiences appreciate humor and novelty. It pairs naturally with more serious repertoire by providing contrast without feeling out of place in a balanced program.