Presto!: Viola Educational Pack
By Robert Sheldon
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PC-0017340_VA_EDPAK
$5.99
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Description
This joyful, fast-paced composition by Robert Sheldon gives developing players an opportunity to show their spirit and enthusiasm for music. Rapid repeated eighth-note patterns provide an energetic texture as they are passed around the orchestra. The catchy main theme uses only five notes, making this tune perfect for beginners and a great addition to a festival or contest program. (1:25)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Presto!: Viola Educational Pack comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
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Additional Details
Series:
Sound Innovations for String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
76
SKU:
00-PC-0017340_VA_EDPAK
More about this title
About the Composer: Robert Sheldon
Robert Sheldon's compositions rank among the most widely performed works in school music today. His catalog spans wind band, string orchestra, and choral literature, all marked by craft that speaks directly to student musicians and audiences. Beyond the page, Sheldon maintains an active schedule as guest conductor, clinician, and educator, bringing his expertise to honor bands and universities across the globe and in numerous countries including Japan, Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, and China. His work has graced major concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Boston Symphony Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center.
Recognized with honors from the American School Band Director's Association, Phi Beta Mu, and ASCAP, Sheldon continues to accept commissions while producing substantial new publications each year. He received an honorary doctorate from VanderCook College of Music in 2020.
Why we love this
Sheldon builds momentum and confidence into every bar of this piece. The five-note melodic restriction becomes a feature, not a limitation: it trains your players to listen carefully to their own intonation while supporting a catchy tune everyone can remember. The eighth-note patterns that move between sections keep energy high without overwhelming developing players, making it an ideal opener that energizes a concert or festival without leaving anyone behind.
What to expect
Presto delivers pure joy through motion. The piece bounces along with youthful energy, the repeating figures creating a sense of playful momentum as they pass from one section to another. There's no pretense here, only the direct pleasure of simple melodies and driving rhythm.
Who it's for
Grade 1 string orchestras with developing technique and reading skills. The limited note vocabulary and straightforward rhythmic patterns make this accessible to groups in their first year of string instruction, while the energetic character and concert-ready structure appeal to conductors seeking a confidence-builder that programs well.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the repeated eighth-note figures articulate and consistent in length; they drive the piece's character and the passages move too quickly to forgive sloppy articulation.
- Shape the five-note theme with clear phrasing even though the notes are few. A simple rise and fall through the melody prevents it from sounding mechanical.
- Balance the texture so that whichever section carries the repeating eighths stays rhythmically locked with the pizzicato or sustained voices supporting underneath.
- Resist the urge to slow down; Sheldon's tempo marking rewards confidence in the ensemble's ability to stay unified at a brisk pace.
How to use it
Open a festival or contest with this piece to set an upbeat tone and settle any opening-concert nerves. It also serves as an effective closer when you want the audience to leave energized. At just 1 minute and 25 seconds, it pairs well with longer works on the same program.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and executing rapid eighth-note passages in mixed rhythmic contexts
- Maintaining ensemble unity and intonation within a limited pitch set
- Distinguishing between articulated figures and sustained supporting voices
- Listening and balancing across string sections while playing at tempo
- Responding to conductor tempo and stylistic direction in fast-paced music