This collection offers new and exciting original pieces, transcriptions of old favorites, and spectacular folk song arrangements in a versatile three-part format. Teachers can augment their rehearsals and performances with this well thought-out book. The Piano accompaniment can enrich your sound and the optional percussion parts (reproducible from the conductor score)can be a great way to add a new sound to your string group.

The comprehensive approach of Artistry in Strings provides all the basic tools necessary for establishing solid technique and expressive music making! Perfect for classroom, group, or private instruction. Each book includes music theory, composition, listening exercise, improvisation, ensemble performances, and interdisciplinary studies for a well-rounded approach. Music styles include classical, jazz, country, rock and folk music from a variety of cultures around the world.Book 2 continues the time-proven Artistry curriculum with a focus on successful performance, including solos, duets, rounds, and orchestrated 3-part arrangements. Enjoyable activities are also sprinkled throughout the book, helping to reinforce basic theory, and to engage creativity through composition. The two Accompaniment CDs feature stellar performances by professional musicians.

All for strings is a comprehensive three-volume method surrounded by a wealth of supplementary materials for teaching and performance.This complete curriculum covers virtually every aspect of beginning through intermediate string study, emphasizing technical skills, rhythmic understanding, and quality musical experiences. Many of the National Standards for Music Education can be easily implemented into the classroom setting with the varied components All for Strings has to offer.Book 2 devotes many exercises and musical selections to the development of major and minor left hand finger patterns for all string players, as well as shifting for cellists and bassists. New bowing styles are introduced, and more advanced rhythm patterns are incorporated. As in Book 1, a great variety of solos, duets, trios. and ensembles are included - perfect for performance!

Steps to Successful Ensembles is an extraordinary new collection of 24 ensembles loosely correlated with String Basics Book 1, the new comprehensive string method by Shade & Woolstenhulme. Arranged for string orchestra, music includes arrangements of classical themes and folk songs, and also includes original selections by Woolstenhulme. Already classroom tested and performed in concert, this collection is a definite hit with students and audiences.

"String Basics: Steps to Success for String Orchestra" is a comprehensive method for beginning string classes. Through technical exercises, music from around the world, classical themes by the masters, and original compositions, students will learn to play their stringed instruments in an orchestra. Step-by-step sequences of instruction will prove invaluable as students learn to hold their instruments and bows, finger new notes, count different rhythms, read music notation, and more. Clear, full-color photographs and fingering chart diagrams introduce playing positions, bow holding and bowing, and left-hand finger patterns. Duets, rounds, trios, and orchestra arrangements develop students' ability to play in an ensemble setting right away, thereby strengthening ear training and intonation. The "Interactive Practice Studio" is a unique downloadable resource containing a wealth of supporting biographical, historical, and cultural information: photos; maps; artwork; audio samples; video and more. "Video Lessons" offer students and teachers a comprehensive, step-by-step look at concepts taught throughout the method. Lessons are taught in a middle school classroom setting by the authors; the lessons show special consideration for each instrument, and one lesson is specially devoted to shifting for the bass. "Theory & Composition" offers students hands-on experience to better understand what they see and hear by actually learning to notate music and compose simple melodic lines. The Teacher's Edition provides successful teaching strategies, divided into two categories: "Performance" and "Musical Understanding." "Guidelines" and "Guideposts" assist in giving students a comprehensive experience in orchestra. Also available to teachers is the "Interactive Teacher's Studio," with even more helpful tips and strategies.

Four-part chorales are a great way to improve ensemble playing. And, since each book includes all four voices - soprano, alto, tenor, and bass - there are a number of programming options. In addition to this, as the voice parts are individually rehearsed and learned, the students discover that all voice parts of a chorale are important. When played in four-part harmony, the chorales become naturally expressive, because all students know all four parts and they understand which voice should predominate at any given time. Students love playing chorales, because they sound so good! The chorales range in difficulty from very easy to very sophisticated and are suitable for year two through high school string orchestras. This is the perfect book for helping students master the important concepts of chorale performance.

"String Basics: Steps to Success for String Orchestra" is a comprehensive method for beginning string classes. Through technical exercises, music from around the world, classical themes by the masters, and original compositions, students will learn to play their stringed instruments in an orchestra. Step-by-step sequences of instruction will prove invaluable as students learn to hold their instruments and bows, finger new notes, count different rhythms, read music notation, and more. Clear, full-color photographs and fingering chart diagrams introduce playing positions, bow holding and bowing, and left-hand finger patterns. Duets, rounds, trios, and orchestra arrangements develop students' ability to play in an ensemble setting right away, thereby strengthening ear training and intonation. The "Interactive Practice Studio" is a unique downloadable resource containing a wealth of supporting biographical, historical, and cultural information: photos; maps; artwork; audio samples; video and more. "Video Lessons" offer students and teachers a comprehensive, step-by-step look at concepts taught throughout the method. Lessons are taught in a middle school classroom setting by the authors; the lessons show special consideration for each instrument, and one lesson is specially devoted to shifting for the bass. "Theory & Composition" offers students hands-on experience to better understand what they see and hear by actually learning to notate music and compose simple melodic lines. The Teacher's Edition provides successful teaching strategies, divided into two categories: "Performance" and "Musical Understanding." "Guidelines" and "Guideposts" assist in giving students a comprehensive experience in orchestra. Also available to teachers is the "Interactive Teacher's Studio," with even more helpful tips and strategies.

This comprehensive technique and musicianship book will help develop, improve, and solidify the rhythmic accuracy of your students, individually and as an ensemble. The exercises, songs and etudes, along with their accompanying rhythmic counterparts and variations, have been carefully selected to enable students and orchestras to explore fundamental skills related to rhythmic development. Emphasis is placed on understanding and learning to play basic rhythmic units correctly with both the right hand and the left hand, while the order and flexibility of the materials allows you to focus on the skills needed most. Section I introduces basic note values, rest values, and divisions of the beat. The four-measure rhythms can be practiced in a variety of ways and include specific suggestions for mastery. Section II has a wealth of music, including folksongs, rounds, and excerpts from standard orchestral repertoire. Also included are "Rhythm Trainers" that help students master new rhythms before they are presented in the music. Section III focuses on the technique of variation. Familiar folksongs and time-tested etudes help students focus on successfully applying the rhythmic and melodic variations (left hand development), as well as the bowing variations (right hand development). Section IV continues the technique of variation with short, two-measure finger patterns based on tetrachords, one- and two-octave scales, and scales in broken thirds. Use of the "Finger Runners" will improve left-hand dexterity, velocity, and rhythm, while use of the "Rhythm Runners" will improve right-hand bowing technique. The flexibility of notation allows each scale to be played as major, minor, modal, and more, and the suggestions for further melodic and rhythmic variation encourage scale practice to be fun. With the variety of results-driven music and exercises, and the flexibility throughout of melodic, rhythmic, and/or bowing variation, this will be your go-to book for daily rhythm practice.

The First was so much fun, they've added S'More! This second volume of folk songs, classical themes and rounds is only slightly more advanced than "First Things First" and would be a great follow-up. Each instrument book contains the melody line and a harmony line, so that the flexibility of the series ranges from duet to ensemble with piano. Contains 24 selections.

Brighten this season's holiday concerts with 14 favorite elementary-level Christmas carols. Featuring a Multiple Option Scoring System, any size ensemble with any mix of instruments will sound its best. Each instrument part has the melody line, as well as harmony lines. Select and vary the most effective combinations for your group. From a simple violin solo with piano accompaniment up to a full-size string orchestra.