Sunchasers: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$49.00 USD

Sunchasers: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Sunchasers: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-47431
Price: 49.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Tanner Otto

Grade: 1

Item: 00-47431

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This animated piece with simple, catchy melodies introduces the tonality of A major without any extended finger patterns. The piece is perfect for working on staccato bowing and cut time. The lighthearted A theme makes way for the energetic and driving B and C sections. Written in rondo form, it follows a group of friends on their summer adventure. Try having students write their own narration to fit the music! (2:15)

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Sunchasers: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Belwin Beginning String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 144

UPC: 038081547121

SKU: 00-47431

More about this title

About the Composer: Tanner Otto

Tanner Otto earned his degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University and directs orchestra at Sycamore Community Schools in Cincinnati. A violist and violinist equally comfortable in classical and contemporary idioms, he has long championed improvisation and technology in the ensemble classroom, developing curricula that leverage GarageBand for student composition, arranging, and improvisation. His work has been presented at regional conferences throughout Ohio, including the Ohio Music Education Association Conference.

Otto serves as Assistant Director of the nation's largest summer string camp, held annually in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he mentors over 300 young musicians each August. He brought his expertise in program development to the ASTA National Conference in 2019. A composer and arranger for seven years, Otto draws on his pop and rock influences to create modern, engaging works for ensembles ranging from string quartet to full orchestra. His music has been published by Alfred Music Publishing since 2019.

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Why we love this

Otto writes with young orchestras in mind, and it shows. Sunchasers delivers genuine musical interest at Grade 1 without burying beginners in technical demands, and the rondo form gives everyone a clear architectural frame to follow. The animated character and accessible A major tonality make this a genuine pleasure to rehearse and perform, not a means to an end.

What to expect

Bright, summery, and full of forward motion. The A theme bounces along with genuine melodic charm, while the B and C sections pulse with youthful energy and purpose. The entire piece evokes the feeling of an adventure unfolding, cheerful without being saccharine.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the beginning level, including those just learning cut time and beginning to develop independent part accuracy. This works equally well for young orchestras with mixed experience levels, since the writing allows advanced players to add musical nuance while keeping less experienced musicians secure.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the A theme with long, singing bows. Even at this early stage, staccato bowing should not sacrifice tone quality; think of crisp but connected articulation rather than choppy attacks.
Balance the sections dynamically. The B and C sections gain their energy partly through contrast, so take care not to rush tempo or overplay dynamics in the A section.
Use the rondo structure as a teaching moment. Point out how the A theme returns each time, and have students listen for what changes in the surrounding material.
Lock rhythmic precision in cut time before adding musical expression. The driving sections need a steady pulse, so secure the ensemble's internal time first.

How to use it

Program Sunchasers early in a concert to energize the audience and build ensemble confidence. Its accessible charm and memorable themes work well as a warmup for more demanding concert pieces later in the program, or as a standalone showstopper on a youth orchestra concert.