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Today: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

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Today: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

By Robert Gardner

Grade: 3

Item: 00-38506

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Description
An intense, up-tempo piece in a power rock style, similar to the Ramones, Green Day, or the Foo Fighters, that students will enjoy performing because it utilizes an aggressive style that is fun to perform, and a tonality that is familiar to them. The spirit of the piece is the enthusiastic embracing of living in the moment. Very accessible, using mostly first position and few accidentals, this piece will also challenge your group with its energetic tempo, independent voicing, and syncopated, interlocking rhythms. Perfect for any concert---even a festival program that utilizes several genres.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Today: 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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Additional Details
Series: Highland/Etling String Alternatives
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 124
UPC: 038081430485
SKU: 00-38506

More about this title

Why we love this

Gardner captures what makes rock music resonate with student musicians: immediate energy, permission to play with attitude, and rhythmic complexity that feels purposeful rather than academic. The syncopated, interlocking lines keep everyone engaged without requiring virtuosic technique, making this a rare piece that challenges the ensemble while staying genuinely fun to rehearse.

What to expect

A amp-turned-up moment of teenage restlessness and joy. The piece thrums with the kind of unfiltered enthusiasm that makes rock music so immediately satisfying. Driving rhythms and syncopated patterns create forward momentum that feels less like traditional concert music and more like a collective statement.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the Grade 3 level who are ready to tackle contemporary language and rhythmic independence. This works equally well for groups seeking repertoire that resonates with student interests and for directors building a mixed-genre concert program.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock the syncopated rhythms by having parts count together in full sections before splitting into independent lines. The interlocking patterns fall into place faster with collective pulse awareness.
  • Push the tempo without rushing the articulation. The aggressive style demands crisp attacks, but the power comes from precision, not speed.
  • Encourage the students to listen across sections. First-position playing means ears need to track balance and intonation more actively than in pieces with wider spacing.

How to use it

Close a concert with this to send audiences home energized, or program it alongside classical or folk selections to show your group's stylistic range. The accessible technical demands make it a strong choice for festival programs mixing multiple genres.

Skills your students will build

  • Syncopated rhythm reading across multiple independent lines
  • Maintaining clear pulse within interlocking ostinatos
  • First-position intonation with minimal accidentals
  • Articulation control at energetic tempos
  • Voice independence while tracking ensemble balance

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