Rise of the Bow-bots: Viola
Megalift, the Hookinator, and Slurtron
By Richard Meyer
Grade: 1
Item: 00-PC-0019191_VA1
$3.00
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Description
Rise of the Bow-Bots is a creative offering by Richard Meyer that will be as much fun to play as it will be to teach. The Bow-bots are alive and invading your orchestra room! This colorful selection is perfect for your students to work on their bow lifts, hooks, and slurs. Very simple note patterns (left hand) will allow young musicians to concentrate on their bowings (right hand), and the minor key and modal harmonies will set their imaginations wild as they picture the rise of "Megalift," the "Hookinator," and "Slurtron." (2:40) Correlates to Sound Innovations, Book 1, Level 4.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Rise of the Bow-bots: Viola 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:
Sound Innovations for String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0019191_VA1
More about this title
About the Composer: Richard Meyer
Richard Meyer spent 35 years teaching string students across elementary, middle, and high school levels in public schools. At Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, California, he directed orchestras for 22 years, expanding the program from 29 students to 200, while simultaneously overseeing the city's elementary string curriculum. He also led the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for 16 years, taking the ensemble on concert tours throughout North America, Europe, and Australia.
Beyond the classroom, Meyer has established himself as a prolific composer with over 190 works published, served as string editor for Alfred Publishing Company, and co-authored widely adopted string method resources including the String Explorer Series. His "Giving Bach" program, launched in 2009, has gained national recognition for using interactive concerts to reach special needs and underserved students across Southern California. He remains active as a guest clinician and conductor at major conferences and all-state festivals.
Why we love this
Meyer writes with a genuine understanding of what beginning string players need to focus on at this level. The narrative hook (robot characters with bow-technique names) transforms technical work into something students actually want to play, and the deliberately simple left-hand writing frees players to concentrate on the right-hand fundamentals that build technique.
What to expect
A playful sci-fi scenario brought to life through minor key textures and modal sounds. The mechanical yet musical atmosphere lets students picture the robot invasion while their bows perform the coordinated lifts, hooks, and slurs that will anchor their technique for years to come.
Who it's for
String orchestra directors teaching beginning players (around Sound Innovations Book 1, Level 4) who are ready to work on bow control beyond basic detaché strokes. This piece works equally well for festival preparation or as a concert opener that engages young musicians through character-driven narrative.
How to get the most out of it
- Map out the bow patterns in the opening rehearsal so players understand which sections isolate lifts, hooks, and slurs. Knowing the 'mission' of each Bow-bot makes the technical work feel purposeful.
- Count measure-by-measure with the group until the bow patterns feel natural. The repetition that supports learning also makes coordination lockable across the section.
- Let the modal harmonies breathe. Resist rushing through the harmonic color; it's part of the storytelling and gives younger players something musically interesting to listen for beyond their own parts.
How to use it
Program this early in a concert to set an energetic, imaginative tone while the ensemble's focus is fresh. It's an ideal choice for a festival or showcase where you want to highlight how young players can execute clean bowing patterns on melodic material. The two-minute-plus duration slots well between longer works.
Skills your students will build
- Bow lifts and bow articulation control
- Hook bowing technique
- Slurred passages across bow changes
- Playing in minor tonality and modal harmony
- Sectional coordination and rhythm accuracy
- Melodic independence in simple note patterns