Secret Santa: String Orchestra Conductor Score

$9.00 USD

Secret Santa: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Name: Secret Santa: String Orchestra Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-47465S
Price: 9.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Kathryn Griesinger

Grade: 1

Item: 00-47465S

$9.00

Shipped

One moment…

He knows when you are sleeping, and he's sneaking in the shadows of your Christmas tree! This piece features classic holiday tunes that transform into a top-secret mission with some fun percussion effects. Included are simple 3-part harmony with easy rhythms, no low-2 finger patterns, and subtle hints and quotes from "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Up on the Housetop," "Jingle Bells," "We Three Kings," "Good King Wenceslas," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." (1:45)

Secret Santa: String Orchestra Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.

Series: Highland/Etling String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

UPC: 038081544458

SKU: 00-47465S

More about this title

Why we love this

Griesinger nails the balance between accessibility and personality. Grade 1 orchestras rarely get arrangements this clever: the seven interwoven holiday melodies feel like musical Easter eggs rather than a simple medley, and the spy-mission framing turns a potential snoozefest into genuine fun. Your students will love the narrative twist; your audience will be charmed by the familiar tunes they recognize.

What to expect

A mischievous Christmas carol that knows it's being clever. The arrangement wraps familiar holiday melodies in a playful spy narrative, complete with shadowy sneaking and subtle musical winks. It's cozy and recognizable but never predictable, with enough rhythmic and textural variety to hold young musicians' attention.

Who it's for

Beginning string orchestras that have mastered fundamental reading and intonation and are ready for manageable ensemble complexity. The Grade 1 designation, simple 3-part harmony, and absence of awkward finger patterns make this ideal for intermediate to advanced elementary or early middle school ensembles.

How to get the most out of it

Plan the percussion effects carefully during rehearsals. Even simple additions (sleigh bells, triangle) require coordination with the string parts, so isolate those moments early and mark them clearly in the conductor score.
Shape each holiday quote distinctly through dynamic and articulation choices. Since multiple melodies weave together at Grade 1 level, small changes in how one section plays its theme help listeners track the musical storyline.
Lean into the theatrical setup. The spy-mission concept gives you permission to vary tempo and character between sections; use that freedom to build contrast and keep young players engaged across the 1:45 duration.
Balance the fun percussion effects so they enhance rather than overwhelm the strings. At this level, young musicians are still building confidence, so let the orchestral sound remain the foundation.

How to use it

Perfect for a December concert opener or closer that establishes a lighter, family-friendly tone without sacrificing musicality. The 1:45 length and holiday charm pair well with a mix of traditional carols and other Grade 1 arrangements in a winter or holiday concert program.

Skills your students will build

Balancing independent melodic lines within simple ensemble texture
Recognizing and executing dynamic and articulation changes to define musical phrases
Reading and performing simple 3-part harmony
Ensemble cohesion and listening to adjacent voices
Responding to conductor cues for musical clarity and theatrical expression