Santa Goes Wild West: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC])
Santa Goes Wild West: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC]) Sheet Music Preview

Santa Goes Wild West: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC])

Arr. Rob Grice

Grade: 2

Item: 00-PC-0014443_VN3
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Description
Imagine spending the Christmas holidays in an old "wild west" town, with cowboys and Indians, wagon rides, gunfights, and, of course, a visit from Old St. Nick. Based on "Jingle Bells" with snippets of other well-loved Christmas tunes woven in, this piece is sure to make the audience smile as they experience Christmas and the Old West in a new way!

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Santa Goes Wild West: 3rd Violin (Viola [TC]) 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: Belwin Beginning String Orchestra
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 76
SKU: 00-PC-0014443_VN3

More about this title

About the Arranger: Rob Grice

Rob Grice

Rob Grice brings deep experience across multiple educational levels to his compositions and arrangements. His works have earned performances at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and the Midwest Clinic, and his pieces regularly appear on state and national contest lists. Recognition of his pedagogical gifts includes being named Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Enterprise City School System in Enterprise, Alabama, and receiving WDHN-TV18's Golden Apple Award.

As both an educator and active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Grice understands what student musicians can achieve at each stage of development. His arrangements for beginning ensembles consistently balance accessibility with musical substance, making them favorites among directors working with younger players.

Why we love this

This arrangement turns a familiar melody into pure theater. The wild west setting gives your orchestra permission to be playful and theatrical within a structured framework, and Grade 2 players can absolutely pull off the charming musical storytelling without technical overwhelm. It's the kind of holiday piece that reminds audiences why live orchestral music matters.

What to expect

Picture dusty desert winds meeting sleigh bells, cowboys swaying to "Jingle Bells," and Old St. Nick arriving on horseback. The piece captures genuine holiday spirit without sentimentality, blending western frontier energy with the warmth of Christmas traditions. It's lighthearted and genuinely fun to listen to.

Who it's for

Young string orchestras at the beginning level who are ready for a concert with personality and humor. Directors looking for novelty holiday repertoire that keeps students engaged and audiences entertained will find this arrangement hits the mark.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish the western atmosphere in rehearsal through rhythmic clarity and crisp articulation. The genre relies on sharp attacks and clean releases to evoke the Old West setting, so address bow control and ensemble precision early.
  • Balance the snippets of familiar Christmas melodies so they read as Easter eggs for the audience rather than competing melodic lines. This requires careful sectional work to ensure supporting voices stay appropriately backgrounded.
  • Let the piece breathe at key moments. Slight tempo flexibility during transitions between "wild west" sequences and Christmas fragments will enhance the storytelling quality without compromising ensemble cohesion.

How to use it

Slot this into a holiday concert as a palate cleanser between more formal selections, or lead a program segment that celebrates music and imagination together. Its novelty appeal makes it ideal for family-friendly performances where you want audiences smiling before they leave the auditorium.

Skills your students will build

  • Rhythmic precision in playing figures that establish genre and setting
  • Balance and blend when supporting melodic lines against familiar tunes
  • Articulation control for crisp, character-driven playing
  • Understanding how arrangement shapes listener experience

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