Wipe Out: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Sandra Dackow's arrangement strips away none of the original's infectious energy while building in genuine pedagogical value. Off-string bowing and chromatic fingering work naturally into the music rather than feeling like exercises, and the optional rock band instrumentation lets you scale the piece to your ensemble's strengths.

Sunlight, speed, and defiance rolled into four minutes. The piece captures the rush of the ocean, the joy of youthful recklessness, and the sheer fun of playing rock music on strings. It swings hard and never apologizes for it.

String orchestras in grades 2-3 who are ready for contemporary repertoire with teeth. This arrangement works equally well for ensembles looking to expand beyond classical canon and for students who respond to music they actually hear on the radio.

• Lock the rhythmic drive early in rehearsals. The piece lives or dies on groove; establish a steady pulse before refining intonation or balancing parts.
• Emphasize the off-string bowing passages with clarity and precision. These moments should dance, not clatter; light articulation sells the rock character.
• If adding the optional drums, bass, and guitar, let them establish the foundation while strings layer in response. The rock band parts shape the entire ensemble's energy.
• Balance the famous drum break moment (if included in the arrangement) so it lands without overpowering the orchestra. This is the listener's ear candy.

Open a concert with this to immediately signal that your orchestra is not stuck in the past. It pairs naturally with other light, contemporary selections and gives your audience a moment of genuine joy. Consider it as a bridge piece that validates what your students hear outside the concert hall.

• Off-string bowing technique and control
• Chromatic fingering accuracy
• Rhythmic precision in rock and roll idioms
• Ensemble coordination with optional electric instruments
• Balancing articulation and tone in contemporary styles