Storm: Score
By Soon Hee Newbold
Grade: 1.5
Item: 98-DST6387S
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Description
This dynamic and riveting work depicts an ancient battle scene or ferocious weather system. A lyrical melody contrasts with an intense rhythmic groove complete with optional percussion. A great work to expose younger players to programmatic music! (2:30)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Storm: 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 Beginning Strings
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-DST6387S
More about this title
About the Composer: Soon Hee Newbold
Soon Hee Newbold draws on global musical traditions and her own extensive travel to create works that speak across all performance levels. Beginning her musical training at five on piano and later adding violin, she developed into both a concert performer and a composer whose pieces appear regularly on stages from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center and beyond.
As a conductor and clinician, Newbold has worked extensively with orchestras and ensembles across the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Her dual career in Hollywood composition has added film and media work to her catalog, while her reputation as a guest clinician keeps her in high demand at festivals and conferences worldwide.
Why we love this
Newbold captures the raw energy of conflict or natural forces without overwhelming young players, pairing a soaring melodic line against a propulsive rhythmic foundation that holds their attention. The optional percussion parts give you flexibility in instrumentation while keeping the core string writing accessible at grade 1.5, and the programmatic narrative gives younger students a vivid entry point into music that tells a story.
What to expect
Ancient warriors clash or wind tears across the landscape. The melody soars above a relentless rhythmic pulse that mirrors the chaos unfolding beneath it, creating a sense of momentum and drama that feels urgent and alive.
Who it's for
String orchestra directors working with beginner to early-intermediate ensembles who want to introduce students to narrative-driven orchestral writing without excessive technical demands. This piece engages younger players by connecting music to a vivid image or story, making the technical challenges feel purposeful.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the rhythmic groove in your string sections before layering in the melody; lock the pulse with the bass line first so the driving accompaniment feels inevitable rather than chaotic.
- Use the optional percussion judiciously during rehearsals to build rhythmic confidence, but consider balancing its prominence so the string melody remains the focal point.
- Shape the dynamic arc deliberately; the contrast between lyrical passages and intense sections only lands if you allow quiet moments to breathe before the energy surges.
How to use it
Position this as a centerpiece for a concert focused on music that paints a picture, pairing it with other programmatic works at appropriate levels. Its runtime of 2:30 makes it ideal for a spring concert or festival appearance where you want to showcase your ensemble's dramatic range without anchoring the entire program to a single piece.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining steady rhythmic accompaniment against a contrasting melodic line
- Dynamic contrast and narrative phrasing in a programmatic context
- Coordination with optional percussion in an orchestral setting
- Reading and executing lyrical versus rhythmically driven passages within a single piece