Showtime Rag: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
By Doug Spata
Grade: 2
Item: 00-PK-0007379
$46.00
Pickup currently not available
Buy Extra Parts (Digital PDF Download)
| Product | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Showtime Rag: Score | $9.00 | |
| Showtime Rag: 1st Violin | $5.99 | |
| Showtime Rag: 2nd Violin | $5.99 | |
| Showtime Rag: Viola | $5.99 | |
| Showtime Rag: Cello | $5.99 | |
| Showtime Rag: String Bass | $5.99 |
Parts Added to Cart!
Description
Here's a fun, jazzy, all-pizzicato selection for early beginners to play at one of their first concerts! Built around a strong, steady beat, this original by Doug Spata uses only the D and A strings, and half, quarter, and eighth notes with very limited independence to keep everyone together. Each section gets a melody, making it the perfect way to show off those beginning skills. (1:40)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Showtime Rag: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts 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
Page Count:
62
SKU:
00-PK-0007379
More about this title
About the Composer: Doug Spata
Doug Spata trained as a clarinetist but found his true compositional voice writing for string ensembles. His experience directing orchestras shaped his deep understanding of what young musicians need to succeed, and that knowledge runs through every piece he writes for students.
Spata's catalog spans opera, ballet, symphonies, and chamber works performed across the U.S. and internationally. His compositions have earned recognition from educators and audiences alike, balancing accessibility with musical substance in a way that keeps students and teachers coming back to his work.
Why we love this
This piece hits that sweet spot for a program opener or early-season concert: energetic enough to engage an audience, simple enough that your section leaders can focus on ensemble balance rather than survival mode, and genuinely fun to play. The all-pizzicato texture keeps rhythmic precision front and center without the added challenge of bow coordination.
What to expect
Playful and swinging, with a steady rhythmic bounce that feels approachable rather than demanding. The all-pizzicato texture gives the piece a percussive sparkle that captures the spirit of ragtime without requiring the technical independence that a bowed arrangement would demand.
Who it's for
String orchestras in their first or second year of study who are ready to move beyond unison playing but still benefit from simplified rhythmic material and limited string usage. This is the ideal choice for ensembles preparing their first public performance or adding a lighter selection to a concert already heavy on lyrical repertoire.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a clear, unwavering pulse before rehearsal begins. Use a metronome or recorded beat during early runthrough so pizzicato rhythms lock in immediately.
- Assign section leaders for each group that gets a melody, then have them rehearse separately to secure their lines before bringing the full orchestra together.
- Keep the tempo steady but never rushed. The ragtime style thrives on a relaxed, confident beat; hurrying undermines the groove.
- Insist on clean articulation on the first note of each pizzicato phrase. A crisp attack compensates for the percussive nature of plucking and keeps the arrangement sounding polished.
How to use it
Open a concert with this to set an energetic, welcoming tone and settle audience nerves before moving into more substantial repertoire. Its 1:40 duration makes it an excellent filler between longer pieces or a dependable closer if you want audiences to leave smiling.
Skills your students will build
- Rhythmic precision in pizzicato playing (half, quarter, and eighth notes)
- Maintaining steady ensemble pulse with limited independence
- Playing on D and A strings with confidence and intonation
- Blending and balancing when different sections carry the melody
- Understanding rhythmic style and swing feel in ragtime contexts