Rockin' Up the Housetop: Score
By Bob Phillips
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PR-0000447
$6.00
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Description
This high-energy holiday medley combines the well-known tunes, "Up on the Housetop," "Jingle Bells," and "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" in a 1950s rock and roll style. The open fifth, eighth note accompaniment should be played with a bounced bow at the frog. Pay careful attention to the staccato notes during the driving eighth note melodies. Students will love this "Chuck Berry meets the holidays" setting of traditional tunes. 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, Rockin' Up the Housetop: Score 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:
Highland/Etling String Explorer
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
116
SKU:
00-PR-0000447
More about this title
About the Composer: Bob Phillips
Bob Phillips (b. 1953) has spent decades shaping how string students experience music beyond the classical canon. His career spans composing, conducting, teaching, and training music educators; he authored the complete Sound Innovations series and pioneering stylistic collections including Jazz Philharmonic, Rock Philharmonic, and Mariachi Philharmonic, all designed to expand what strings can do in the ensemble classroom.
For 27 years, Phillips built the Saline, Michigan string program into a nationally recognized model, eventually serving over 700 students across classical and contemporary styles. He founded and directed the Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic, which toured internationally and performed at the White House and the Midwest Clinic. As a guest conductor and arranger, he has worked with honors orchestras and all-state programs across the country, and his instructional DVDs reach thousands of teachers annually. With more than 200 published works and ASCAP recognition, Phillips remains one of the most performed educational composers for strings today.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures exactly what students crave in winter programs: familiar melodies, infectious energy, and permission to swing. The 1950s rock and roll treatment transforms three canonical holiday tunes into something that feels fresh without losing the charm that makes these songs recognizable. The writing is transparent enough for Grade 2.5 students to own the groove while the bounced bow technique and staccato articulation challenges keep the ensemble sharp.
What to expect
The piece bounces with a playful, rebellious energy: three beloved melodies suddenly alive with snare crack attitude and swinging rhythms. Bounced bows at the frog create an almost percussive lightness while staccato figures punch through with attitude. It feels like someone took holiday tradition and gave it a jolt of 1950s joy.
Who it's for
This conductor score and parts suit Grade 2.5 string orchestras looking to program something energetic and engaging for winter concerts without sacrificing musicality or technical growth. Directors working with developing ensembles will appreciate writing that challenges bow control and rhythmic precision while the novelty appeal keeps students invested.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the bounced bow articulation at the frog during the eighth note accompaniment figures; this technique requires focus and control, so isolate those passages in sectionals before integrating them into the full ensemble sound.
- Balance the staccato melody lines against the open fifth accompaniment so the rock and roll drive lands without muddying the harmonic foundation.
- Establish a steady eighth note pulse during rehearsal; subdividing internally helps younger string players anchor the groove through tempo changes between the three medley sections.
- Encourage violins to commit to the articulation style with conviction; hesitant staccato undermines the rockabilly character Phillips builds into the writing.
How to use it
Position this after intermission on a winter concert to shift energy and mood; it pairs well with a classical opening and works equally as a closer if you want audiences leaving with a smile. The novelty and recognizable melodies also make it an excellent choice for school assemblies or casual performances where engagement with non-traditional audiences matters.
Skills your students will build
- Bounced bow technique at the frog with control and consistency
- Staccato articulation in eighth note rhythmic contexts
- Reading open fifth harmonic accompaniment figures
- Maintaining steady pulse in rock and roll style with syncopated rhythmic elements
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in contemporary idioms