The Chicken Dance (arr. Larry Moore): String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Infectious and lighthearted, with the kind of irresistible rhythmic momentum that makes standing still impossible. The orchestration captures the playfulness of the original while giving strings their own personality within the arrangement.

Directors programming family concerts, school dances, or end-of-year celebrations where active audience participation is part of the goal. String orchestras at the elementary and early middle school level will find this musically engaging without overwhelming the technical demands.

• Establish the groove early in rehearsal by having the ensemble tap the main rhythmic ostinato before adding pitch. This anchors the precision needed for the repeated figures.
• Work dynamics carefully in the pizzicato sections. The contrast between staccato and sustained notes relies on clean articulation and appropriate volume control to land the humorous intent.
• Coordinate with your venue ahead of time about floor space and sightlines. Students will naturally want to watch the audience participate, so position your orchestra where they can see the dance floor without losing focus on you.

Save this for a moment when your audience needs permission to let loose. Whether it's the finale of a winter concert or the highlight of a spring pops program, the infectious energy works best when it's unexpected enough to surprise people into participation.

• Playing repeated rhythmic figures with precision and consistency
• Executing clean pizzicato articulation in ensemble context
• Maintaining rhythmic integrity while responding to audience movement and energy
• Reading and performing a Grade 2 arrangement for full string orchestra