A small meteoroid just caused a crisis in space! It is a race against time as a critical leak threatens the space capsule’s oxygen supply. The astronauts have only three minutes to initiate override protocol and reroute the system to ensure they have enough breathable air for reentry to the space station for repair. Hold your breath as this heroic crew must work together to make split-second decisions in this high-stakes drama. Will they make it in time?

Written mostly within grade 3 guidelines, this piece is a great way to introduce off-string bowing to all the sections or your orchestra to prepare for grade 4 repertoire. An ostinato pattern requiring spiccato and ricochet bowing passes through the sections, altering in pitch and rhythm each time it is passed. Quick scale patterns in C major require gentle sautillé bowing so the teacher can teach differences between sautillé and spiccato within the same piece. Students will also be required to review their skills in subdividing, accidentals, divisi, and contrasting articulations.

This fiery concert opener will exhilarate and energize your students and audience alike. The courageous theme races through the sections of the orchestra while the cascade of textures refuses to settle. This piece features a timpani, tam-tam, and bass drum part which add to the relentless drive of this adrenaline-fueled fanfare. The balance of adventure and stoicism make this piece a favorite to show off the passion of your orchestra.

Your students will gain familiarity with unusual meters and changes without it feeling unnatural. The opening is written in 3/4 is felt in a heavily syncopated one, but the main theme is in a fast 3/2. This allows for ease of rehearsal at a slow tempo while reinforcing the relative nature of rhythmic notation. The quick running lines and soaring melodies will reinforce your students’ quick shifting skills while giving room for choosing fingerings that balance technical and musical decisions. The textures allow for reinforcement of advanced bow techniques such as louré, sautillé, and slurred staccato.

Grade 4

This quirky melody depicts the perspective of a young puppy on a walk seeing squirrels partaking in an afternoon romp. The melody passes through different instruments as new squirrels join in the chase. A contrasting section takes a moment of rest to ponder where the acorns were buried before the puppy can wait no longer and joins in the chase, scattering the squirrels in all directions!

This piece stays almost exclusively within the 1 octave G major scale with only a few moments stepping up to the of C♮ on the  A string. The piece is designed to teach off-beat playing in both melody and accompaniment, as well as to reinforce contrasts between staccato and legato bowing and phrasing. The optional Violin II part allows you to decide how to best balance your ensemble so that they sound as big as possible. This piece is a great way to show off the progress your group has made with their new techniques but also with their sense of groove!

Grade 1.5