Terra Nova: String Orchestra Conductor Score

$10.00 USD

Terra Nova: String Orchestra Conductor Score

Name: Terra Nova: String Orchestra Conductor Score
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-35958S
Price: 10.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Richard Meyer

Grade: 2

Item: 00-35958S

$10.00

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You and your students will love this contemporary, "hip"-sounding, original gem which is sure to be a hit! From the first time they hear the infectious modal melodies, your orchestra will be hooked. The imaginative orchestration gives every section a chance in the spotlight, and the ever-changing time signatures are sure to get everyone counting like never before! The teaching opportunities abound as your students explore low finger patterns (B-flat and F natural), dynamic contrast, accents, syncopation, balance, and rhythmic independence. Wow! This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

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Series: Highland/Etling String Explorer

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 8

ISBN10: 1-4706-5803-8

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5803-8

UPC: 038081417219

SKU: 00-35958S

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Meyer

Richard Meyer spent 35 years teaching strings at elementary, middle, and high school levels in California public schools. At Oak Avenue Intermediate School in Temple City, he grew the orchestral program from 29 to 200 students over 22 years while also directing the city's elementary string initiative. He founded the "Giving Bach" program in 2009, which has earned national recognition for using interactive concerts to reach students with special needs and underserved communities across Southern California.

Beyond the classroom, Meyer led the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra for 16 years and has guest-conducted All-State and Honor Orchestras nationwide. He is a prolific composer with nearly 200 published works and arrangements, served as string editor for Alfred Publishing for 16 years, and co-authored the String Explorer Series and Sight-read It for Strings. His clinician credits include the A.S.T.A. National Conference and major string workshops at Ohio State University and beyond.

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Why we love this

Meyer writes string music that sounds genuinely fresh without sacrificing pedagogical clarity. The modal melodies and shifting meters here demand real musical thinking from your students, yet the orchestration ensures every section gets rewarding material, keeping ensemble morale high while they tackle the rhythmic complexity.

What to expect

Terra Nova captures an energetic, modern sensibility through infectious modal grooves and rhythmic surprises. The constantly shifting time signatures create forward momentum and keep listeners engaged, while the balanced orchestration ensures that every player feels the piece belongs to them.

Who it's for

Grade 2 string orchestras ready to move beyond simple meters and straightforward harmonies. This score works for ensembles with solid bow control and basic shifting skills who are developing independence within the ensemble and want contemporary-sounding repertoire with real teaching value.

How to get the most out of it

Isolate the meter changes in sectionals before full rehearsal; have students count aloud together rather than silently until the transitions feel instinctive.
Balance the modal melodies carefully between sections. They should feel effortless and slightly hypnotic, not strained or tentative.
Use the accents and syncopated figures as entrances into dynamic contrast; they're not ornamental but structural anchors for shaping phrases.

How to use it

Program this at a concert where you want to showcase your orchestra's rhythmic sophistication and contemporary chops alongside more traditional repertoire. It also makes an excellent contest or festival selection at the Grade 2 level, where strong musicality and technical precision will shine without overwhelming young players.

Skills your students will build

Reading and executing mixed meters with accuracy and confidence
Playing in lower finger patterns (B-flat and F natural positions)
Executing syncopated rhythms and accents as ensemble
Balancing sectional parts and maintaining rhythmic independence within the ensemble
Shaping and contrasting dynamics to support contemporary modal idiom