Rustic Warriors: Score
By Rodney Lamar Page
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PR-0007515
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Description
If you are looking for a fun, exciting selection for your beginning orchestra, look no further! Rustic Warriors, by Rodney Lamar Page, highlights each string orchestra instrument with a very catchy melody! This piece introduces bow lifts, dynamics, as well as quarter- and eighth-note rhythms that are pleasing for each section of the string orchestra. (2:25)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Rustic Warriors: Score 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:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PR-0007515
More about this title
About the Composer: Rodney Lamar Page
Rodney Lamar Page grew up in Southfield, Michigan, and began violin at age 10. He earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in music education from Michigan State University, where he also developed strong piano skills during his collegiate years.
Page spent his early career teaching music in Michigan public schools, including the East Lansing and St. Johns districts. He has since become a respected clinician throughout Michigan, working with orchestras and ensembles across the state. He lives in Lansing with his family.
Why we love this
Page writes for beginning orchestras with genuine understanding of what works in the rehearsal room. Each section gets a moment to shine through memorable melodies, which keeps students invested and engaged while they're learning fundamental techniques. The piece strikes that rare balance between being genuinely musical and genuinely approachable.
What to expect
Rustic Warriors carries a spirited, outdoor character that feels wholesome and direct. The catchy melodies lodge in students' ears immediately, and the straightforward rhythms let them focus on bow control and tone without getting tangled in complexity.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the beginning level will find this piece accessible and rewarding. The piece works equally well for mixed-ability ensembles where some players are still solidifying their fundamentals.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape each section's featured melody with clear phrase direction, even at this early level. Young players respond to the courtesy of knowing where a line is going.
- Use bow lifts crisply and consistently throughout to maintain rhythmic clarity. Have all players in a section practice lifts together during sectionals so the gesture reads as unified.
- Balance the dynamics across your sections carefully; the writing gives each group a chance to project, so resist the urge to suppress younger players when they have the main line.
- Keep the quarter- and eighth-note passages energized and moving forward. Beginners often drag rhythmic figures like these, so a steady pulse from your beat makes all the difference.
How to use it
This works beautifully early in the year when you're building fundamentals and morale. Its energetic, accessible quality also makes it an ideal concert opener or a crowd-pleasing standalone piece at a fall festival.
Skills your students will build
- Executing clean bow lifts within musical phrases
- Reading and performing quarter- and eighth-note rhythms accurately
- Responding to dynamic markings across an ensemble section
- Playing a singing melody with sustained tone quality
- Listening to other sections while maintaining rhythmic independence