Stomp It!: Score
By Kathryn Griesinger
Grade: 2
Item: 98-DST6438S
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Description
Clap and stomp your way through this lively tune, written in a fun fiddling style. This first-position piece for developing strings moves between minor and major tonalities while also exploring arco and pizzicato technique. Certain to be a hit as the melody passes between sections with all the vigor of a square dance!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Stomp It!: Score 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:
FJH Developing Strings
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6438S
More about this title
About the Composer: Kathryn Griesinger
Kathryn Griesinger has established herself as a composer who understands the practical needs of developing string programs. Her work balances accessibility with genuine musical interest, avoiding the temptation to oversimplify.
Griesinger's compositional voice often draws from American vernacular traditions, particularly folk and fiddle idioms. This approach gives her pieces an immediate sense of place and purpose that resonates with both young musicians and their audiences.
Why we love this
Griesinger captures the infectious energy of a square dance without resorting to overly complex writing. The piece hands the melody around the sections in a way that keeps every desk engaged and makes even a modest string program sound spirited and unified.
What to expect
Stomp It! bounces with the casual exuberance of a community barn dance. The melody dances between minor and major tonalities while arco and pizzicato textures shift the color; when the full ensemble locks in on the rhythm together, the piece lands with infectious joy.
Who it's for
Grade 2 string orchestras seeking an audience-friendly novelty piece that develops musical literacy without requiring advanced technique. Directors will appreciate a score that builds unison and sectional confidence while students enjoy the stomping, clapping, and fiddle-style movement.
How to get the most out of it
- Lean into the rhythmic drive of the stomp and clap sections; treat them as a percussion layer rather than an afterthought, keeping the pulse crisp and synchronized across the ensemble.
- Shape the major/minor shifts deliberately. Slow down fractionally into the minor passages to let the tonal color register, then brighten the tone quality when you return to major.
- Balance the pizzicato passages so they sit rhythmically tight without losing the bounce of the fiddle idiom; this is a moment to emphasize rhythmic clarity over sustain.
- Encourage violins to articulate the melody with the relaxed energy of folk fiddling rather than classical precision; a slight lift at phrase endings captures the square dance character.
How to use it
This works beautifully as a standalone opener that sets a celebratory tone for a concert or as a bridge piece between traditional repertoire and more contemporary selections. Use it to showcase your ensemble's rhythmic precision and sectional independence without the weight of a major classical work.
Skills your students will build
- First-position violin and viola reading
- Arco and pizzicato technique transition
- Major and minor tonality recognition and tonal adjustment
- Rhythmic precision in unison and sectional playing
- Melodic independence as parts rotate through sections
- Folk idiom style and articulation