Third Gear

Third Gear was composed as an accessible and fun way for all sections to become acclimated with playing in third position on their instrument. The inclusion of a drone string in several sections is intended to help with tuning while playing in these extended positions. The sliding glissando figure in the opening is intended to help students comfortably settle in to third position. All sections get a chance to play melodic hooks that I hope performers will find to be catchy and fun to play. Do you have some students not quite ready to shift to Third Gear? Additional "First Gear" part set is included for each instrument making this piece great for mixed-level ensembles. These parts stay in first position for violin, viola, and cello while requiring only basic G String 3rd Position on the Bass. Some rhythms are also simplified. The piece only has one violin part to simplify the instruction of shifting strategies. The optional violin 2 part is simply a treble clef viola part.