When Robins Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$49.00 USD

When Robins Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: When Robins Dance: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-47459
Price: 49.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Bob Phillips

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-47459

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$49.00

Shipped

One moment…

A great concert closer or opener, this piece is rhythmic and dance-like with a reflective lyric section and melodic parts for every instrument section. Musically sophisticated but written completely in 1st position, this piece will be fun for students to play while they develop their accented and legato bow strokes. (Correlates with Sound Innovations for String Orchestra, Book 2, Level 2)

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

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

Series: Sound Innovations for String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 148

UPC: 038081548913

SKU: 00-47459

More about this title

About the Composer: Bob Phillips

Bob Phillips is a composer and string pedagogue who has shaped music education through innovative large-ensemble writing and eclectic repertoire development. Since the 1980s, he has authored over 25 instructional series, including all six levels of Sound Innovations, and published more than 200 works for orchestra and band. His compositions are performed by thousands of string students annually, and his approaches to stylistic diversity (evident in series like Jazz Philharmonic and Mariachi Philharmonic) have influenced how string programs balance classical technique with contemporary musical contexts.

Phillips directed a nationally recognized string program in Saline, Michigan for 27 years, building it to over 700 students and establishing the Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic as an internationally performing ensemble. He has conducted at all-state orchestras across the country, served as resident conductor for the Wintergrass Festival in Seattle, and earned recognition as an ASCAP award-winning composer whose work appears regularly at the Midwest Clinic.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

This closing or opening number delivers genuine musicality without asking Grade 2-3 orchestras to leap beyond their technical reach. The rhythmic vitality and dance-like character engage audiences immediately, while the lyrical section gives your orchestra a chance to shape phrases and demonstrate musical maturity. Its construction in first position keeps students focused on bow control and expression rather than navigation, which is exactly what this level needs.

What to expect

Buoyant and playful, with a rhythmic bounce reminiscent of folk or traditional dance music. The lyric section offers respite from the kinetic energy, creating a reflective moment that feels earned before returning to the vibrant closing material.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the Grade 2-3 level who can read in first position and are developing bow control and musical expression. This piece works for programs that want a polished concert piece without transposition or position shifts, allowing students to focus entirely on tone and interpretation.

How to get the most out of it

Establish a steady dance pulse during the rhythmic sections; a slight lilt in the bow stroke helps the infectious quality emerge without rushing the tempo.
Shape the reflective lyric section by bringing out the melodic line across different instrument sections and softening the accompanimental voices underneath.
Layer the accented and legato bow strokes intentionally; mark the score to show students where each technique occurs so they understand why the composer chose each one.
Use the full dynamic range available at this level; the contrast between rhythmic energy and lyrical breathing makes the piece feel much more sophisticated than the page suggests.

How to use it

Open or close your concert with this piece to frame your program with immediate energy and charm. The accessibility of the writing means it can anchor a mixed-level concert while feeling substantial enough to stand alone; many directors use it as a statement piece early in the year to show families what their orchestra can achieve musically.