String Me Along: Viola
By Erik Morales
Grade: 3.5
Item: 98-PC-DST6330_VA1
$7.00
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Description
Embark on an exciting adventure in jazz with this fantastic swing chart for strings and drum set. Incredible harmonies will make you feel like you are listening to a modern jazz orchestra as the music moves through shout choruses, break strains, and more. No solos in this one - just fantastic ensemble writing from the first note to the last!
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, String Me Along: Viola 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 String Orchestra
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DST6330_VA1
More about this title
About the Composer: Erik Morales
Erik Morales began composing as a teenager in south Florida, initially arranging music for his high school band director in 1985. Since then, his output has grown to over 150 published works spanning classical, jazz, wind, orchestral, chamber, and commercial idioms. His trumpet ensemble works have earned first-place honors at the National Trumpet Competitions (2006, 2008), and his Concerto for Trumpet in C and Piano premiered at the 2009 International Trumpet Guild conference. In 2016, he was inducted into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame.
Moreales studied composition at Florida International University and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette (1989). His work consistently seeks balance between artistic merit and pedagogical value, a philosophy reflected in commissions from schools and organizations nationwide. With trumpet as his primary instrument, he has built a substantial catalog that serves both concert halls and music classrooms.
Why we love this
Morales writes for string orchestra with a jazz sensibility that feels immediate and fun without sacrificing musical substance. The ensemble writing here carries real energy—shout choruses and break strains give every section something memorable to play, and the absence of solos means every musician contributes to the swinging texture from start to finish. For a Grade 3.5 orchestra seeking something contemporary and engaging, this delivers both educational value and genuine concert appeal.
What to expect
Bright, swinging, and thoroughly modern. The orchestral sound carries the warmth and sophistication of a small jazz ensemble, with harmonic color that feels both accessible and carefully crafted. From the opening note through the final shout, the piece maintains an infectious groove that invites both the ensemble and the audience into the jazz idiom.
Who it's for
String orchestras at the intermediate level (Grade 3.5) looking for contemporary material with genuine jazz vocabulary and energy. Directors seeking a novelty piece that combines artistic challenge with student engagement will find this particularly valuable for both rehearsal motivation and concert programming.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish a steady swing feel early in rehearsal by having the rhythm section lock the pulse before the strings enter. The drum set should drive the groove, giving players a clear reference point for the jazz articulation throughout.
- Shape the shout choruses with dynamic clarity. These sections need to land with impact, so work on precise attacks and releases across the full orchestra to create that modern jazz ensemble sound.
- Balance harmonic density with textural clarity. The incredible harmonies Morales writes can blur if sections aren't intentional about voice leading; encourage players to listen across parts, not just within their own section.
- Lighten the articulation during break strains. These moments invite rhythmic precision rather than weight, so cue a shift in tone quality that keeps the swing flowing while maintaining the structural clarity of the written breaks.
How to use it
Program this as a bridge between classical and contemporary repertoire, or pair it with other lighter concert works to create a mixed program that showcases your orchestra's versatility. It also works effectively as a festival/contest selection, where the strong ensemble writing and stylistic clarity stand out without requiring soloists to carry the piece.
Skills your students will build
- Jazz articulation and phrasing in a string context
- Reading and performing swing rhythms and syncopation
- Ensemble balance and voice independence in complex harmonies
- Maintaining groove and pulse against rhythmic complexity
- Dynamic control across shout choruses and break strains