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Sound Innovations for String Orchestra: Sound Development (Advanced): Bass Book

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Sound Innovations for String Orchestra: Sound Development (Advanced): Bass Book

Warm-up Exercises for Tone and Technique for Advanced String Orchestra

By Bob Phillips and Kirk Moss

Item: 00-41099

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Description
Sound Innovations: Sound Development for Advanced String Orchestra continues the emphasis on playing with a characteristic, beautiful sound, but also focuses on 3-octave scales, particularly scales that students will need for regional auditions and all-states. Advanced technical skills are presented in four levels, consistent with the revolutionary and flexible Sound Innovations structure: (1) Sound Tone, (2) Sound Bowing, (3) Sound Shifting, and (4) Sound Scales and Arpeggios. The levels can be used in the order that is best for your students, as individual warm-ups, or as structured units. The perfect book to follow Sound Development for Intermediate String Orchestra, or for any advanced string ensemble or individual learner, your students will further refine the proper use of the bow, bow strokes, shifting, and 3-octave scales.
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Additional Details
Series: Sound Innovations for String Orchestra
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 56
ISBN10: 0-7390-9703-2
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-9703-8
UPC: 038081461496
SKU: 00-41099
Instrumentation: Bass

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About the Authors

Bob Phillips
Bob Phillips, born in 1953, stands out as a composer, author, educator, and conductor who has fundamentally shaped string education. Recognized for his expertise in large-group pedagogy and his ability to develop diverse musical styles for string players, he has become one of the most influential educational composers of his generation. His instructional materials reach thousands of students annually across classrooms worldwide.

Phillips has authored more than 25 book series for classroom instruction, including the complete Sound Innovations curriculum across all six levels. His groundbreaking eclectic style publications include Fiddlers Philharmonic, Jazz Philharmonic, Rock Philharmonic, Mariachi Philharmonic, Latin Philharmonic, and Fiddle and Song. He has composed over 200 works for orchestras and bands, earning recognition as an award-winning ASCAP composer. His works receive regular performances at the prestigious Midwest Clinic, and his String Clinics to Go instructional DVDs have been adopted by thousands of educators.

Over 27 years in Saline, Michigan, Phillips built a nationally recognized string program with more than 700 students, establishing it as a model for excellence in both classical and eclectic repertoire. He founded the Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic, which grew to international prominence under his direction and performed more than 80 concerts annually, including multiple appearances at the White House and Midwest Clinic. Phillips has conducted numerous youth orchestras and honor ensembles across the country, including all-state orchestras in Michigan, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and California, along with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and the Queensland Honour Ensemble Program. He also served 12 years as resident conductor and arranger for the Wintergrass Festival in Seattle and worked as assistant music director and arranger for the professional ensemble Barrage 8.
Kirk Moss
Kirk D. Moss, Ph.D., is Vice Provost for Faculty & Academic Programs at University of Northwestern–St. Paul. He earned recognition as a Faculty Award winner for Excellence in Scholarship in 2021. A respected leader in string music education, Moss formerly served as national president of the American String Teachers Association and chaired the ASTA National Orchestra Festival on five separate occasions.

His contributions to music education span multiple areas. Moss coauthored the Sound Innovations series method books published by Alfred Music and has created numerous string orchestra arrangements. He has worked as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout nearly forty states and Australia. His achievements include six ASTA National Citations for Leadership & Merit and an Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Florida School of Music.

During twelve years of teaching orchestra at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, Moss directed ensembles that achieved recognition at state, national, and international competitions. One of his former high schools established a college string scholarship bearing his name. He holds a Ph.D. in Music Education with a conducting emphasis from University of Florida, where he studied under Raymond Chobaz, Timothy Brophy, and Russell Robinson. His graduate degree in Music from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music included string pedagogy study with Gerald Doan, and he earned his Bachelor of Music degree with high distinction from University of Michigan under Robert Culver. Moss and his wife, Deb, have been married for more than thirty-five years and have three children: Bethany, Luke, and Lydia.

Why we love this

This book cuts through the guesswork of what advanced bass students actually need to work on before auditions. The four-level structure lets you move between sound development, bowing technique, shifting, and scales depending on what your section struggles with in any given rehearsal, rather than marching through pages in lockstep. Phillips's emphasis on characteristic tone at the advanced level recognizes that students this age are ready to develop a personal sound, not just execute patterns.

What to expect

The book maintains clarity and focus throughout, never overwhelming players with dense pages of exercises. Each level builds confidence through intentional work on a single skill, creating the kind of steady, achievable progress that keeps advanced students engaged.

Who it's for

Advanced string orchestra bass players and private bass students preparing for regional auditions, all-state orchestras, or continued advancement in ensemble playing. Teachers and directors leading advanced high school orchestras or adult community ensembles will find this book equally valuable for targeted technical refinement.

How to get the most out of it

  • Prioritize the Sound Tone level in your first weeks with this book; students at this level often have developed technical facility without the foundation of beautiful, resonant sound that makes everything else sing.
  • Work the 3-octave scales methodically across a few weeks of warm-ups rather than tackling them all at once; spacing out scale mastery builds confidence before audition season.
  • Rotate through the four levels as individual practice assignments so students own their progress and don't rely solely on group rehearsal to build these skills.
  • Record your section working through the same passage at the start and middle of your unit with this book; students hear tangible improvement in bow control and tone quality immediately.

How to use it

Use this as your primary warm-up resource for advanced orchestras during audition season, moving between sections based on what your ensemble needs most. It also works beautifully as preparation material for students auditioning individually, since each level can stand alone as a practice tool outside ensemble rehearsal.

Skills your students will build

  • 3-octave major and minor scales across positions and styles
  • Consistent bow tone production in upper and lower half of the bow
  • Accurate position shifts across the full fingerboard
  • Arpeggios in multiple patterns and octave ranges
  • Flexibility in bow strokes (legato, detaché, and marked articulations)
  • Intonation refinement in extended range positions

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