Slingshot: 2nd Percussion
By Michael Story
Grade: 1.5
Item: 00-PC-0017977_PC2
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Description
One of the most flexible pieces ever written, this powerful original work by Michael Story will provide the opportunity for an entire instrumental program to perform together! Perfect also for a first full orchestra experience with plenty of doubling, it can be performed by string orchestra alone or with almost any combination of winds or percussion. The piano part is also completely optional, as it simply reinforces the string parts. The percussion parts are written for up to five players; however, if you have extra percussionists, you can double as many as you wish on the tom-tom part. (1:30)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Slingshot: 2nd Percussion 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 Full Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
120
SKU:
00-PC-0017977_PC2
More about this title
About the Composer: Michael Story
Michael Story is a prolific composer for young and developing musicians, with a catalog spanning band, orchestra, and choral ensembles across all levels. His work is known for combining accessibility with genuine musicality, creating pieces that sound far more sophisticated than their technical demands suggest.
Story has built his reputation on understanding what student musicians need: engaging melodies, clear harmonic language, and flexible instrumentation that works in real-world school settings. His compositions appear regularly on festival programs and contest lists nationwide.
Why we love this
Story engineered this piece specifically for programs where logistics matter. You can run it with whatever you have on any given day without sacrificing the musical result, and the flexibility never feels like a compromise. The writing across all sections is genuinely musical rather than utilitarian, making it rewarding to teach and hear.
What to expect
Energetic and purposeful, with bright textures that feel bigger than the Grade 1.5 difficulty suggests. The writing has rhythmic momentum and clear sectional color that keeps both young musicians and audiences engaged across its compact length.
Who it's for
Conductors building a full orchestra program from the ground up, or those managing ensembles where attendance varies week to week. It works equally well as a standalone concert piece or a stepping stone for musicians about to tackle more demanding literature.
How to get the most out of it
- Treat the string section as your foundation. Even with winds added, the melody and harmonic bedrock live in the strings, so balance your woodwinds and brass as reinforcement rather than soloists.
- Keep the energy consistent even at the Grade 1.5 level. The short duration (1:30) means every phrase counts, so coach musicians to play with intent rather than waiting for bigger moments later.
- Double your tom-tom part liberally if you have extra percussionists available. Story built this flexibility into the arrangement knowing that multiple tom-tom layers add drive without muddying texture.
- Skip the piano or keep it subtle. Since it only doubles strings, use the keyboard as a cue instrument for balance during rehearsal, then consider omitting it in performance to let the orchestra sound cleaner.
How to use it
Open a concert with this to set a confident tone and showcase your full orchestra early. It also functions perfectly as a standalone performance for a first full orchestra experience, giving every musician in your program a moment to play together without requiring months of preparation.
Skills your students will build
- Balancing melody and accompaniment in a full ensemble
- Reading and performing independent string, woodwind, and brass lines simultaneously
- Responding to a conductor's beat while maintaining rhythmic independence
- Adapting to flexible instrumentation and doubling patterns
- Sustaining focus during short, punchy musical phrases