Secret World: 1st Violin
By Michael Hopkins
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0017633_VN1
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Description
This high-energy, rhythmic work in E minor---with a mysterious theme---features a syncopated motive that will delight players. Chromatic harmonies give students opportunities to develop their intonation. This original work by Michael Hopkins combines the use of slow and fast bow strokes to help students learn to control the speed of the bow, and features a variety of dynamic contrasts. All sections of the orchestra have challenging and interesting parts. (4:20)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Secret World: 1st Violin 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 Intermediate String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
144
SKU:
00-PC-0017633_VN1
More about this title
About the Composer: Michael Hopkins
Michael Hopkins directs the music education program at the University of Michigan, where he teaches orchestral methods, string techniques, and research in music pedagogy. His background spans conducting university and secondary orchestras across Colorado, Michigan, and Vermont, and he founded the Burlington Chamber Orchestra. Hopkins is a frequent clinician at festivals and conferences nationwide, having presented over 60 times on string education and music technology topics.
As a prolific composer and arranger, Hopkins has published more than 70 works for orchestra. His scholarship appears in the Journal of Research in Music Education, American String Teacher, and other peer-reviewed journals. He authored The Art of String Teaching, a pedagogical resource widely used in pre-service teacher training and professional orchestra settings.
Why we love this
Hopkins writes with the ear of someone who has spent decades in the rehearsal room with student orchestras. The syncopated motive and chromatic writing are engaging without feeling contrived, and the deliberate bow technique demands feel like natural extensions of the musical content rather than exercises tacked onto a piece. Every stand gets real work to do, which keeps energy high and players invested.
What to expect
A high-octane journey through E minor that pulls you in with an intriguing, syncopated theme before shifting into driving rhythmic passages. The chromatic harmonies create moments of sophisticated unease, while the variety of bow techniques and dynamic shaping keeps the energy kinetic without ever feeling simple.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate level looking for a contemporary work with real technical substance and energy. The piece works equally well in a school orchestra setting and on a festival or contest program where you want to show both musicality and technical growth.
How to get the most out of it
- Isolate the syncopated motive early in sectionals and lock it across the entire ensemble before layering it into the full texture. Precision on the rhythm pays off dramatically in the fast sections.
- Use the dynamic contrasts to shape the mysterious theme; resist the urge to play it at one volume level. The quiet passages require focused tone control, especially in the chromatic passages where intonation slips easily.
- Work fast and slow bow strokes separately in each section before combining them. Students often rush the fast strokes or lose speed control on the slow ones when both appear in the same phrase.
How to use it
Program this as a contest or festival piece where the 4:20 timing and melodic accessibility will appeal to judges while the technical demands showcase your students' development. It also works as a concert opener or closer, depending on what surrounds it; its energy and contemporary voice pair well with both classical repertoire and other modern string works.
Skills your students will build
- Syncopated rhythm reading and execution in ensemble contexts
- Intonation accuracy in chromatic passages
- Bow speed control in both fast and slow strokes
- Dynamic shaping and contrast interpretation
- Part independence across all orchestra sections