Sound Innovations for String Orchestra, Book 1, 2nd Edition Overview
By Bob Phillips, Peter Boonshaft, and Robert Sheldon
Sound Innovations was written to help instrumental music students of all levels succeed in music. The uncluttered page layouts, logical progression of skills, consistent reinforcement of new concepts, and innovative practice and teaching resources make this a unique teaching method for all levels.
The content within Book 1 is organized in levels, providing benchmarks, assessment indicators, and intermediate goals:
- Sound Beginnings
- Sound Fundamentals
- Sound Musicianship
- Sound Techniques
- Sound Development
- Sound Performance
What's New in the 2nd Edition
🌎 Now Available in Spanish
Book 1 is now offered in a full Spanish-language edition, the first of its kind for a beginning string orchestra method. Every page, instruction, and exercise is translated so Spanish-speaking students can engage with the material with ease.
🎵 New & Updated Song Selection
The 2nd Edition features modernized, more engaging tunes across a variety of styles and genres. The refreshed repertoire keeps students motivated while maintaining the logical pedagogical sequencing that teachers rely on.
🎬 Sound Innovations Center Stage
Center Stage features correlated solos from today's biggest movies, soundtracks, and pop hits with incredible backing tracks. Edited and adapted by Chris M. Bernotas, these printable solos are perfect for building tone, rhythm, and dynamics while keeping students excited to play. Available exclusively in MakeMusic Cloud.
📂 1st Edition Compatibility
Switching editions mid-year? Free downloadable PDF inserts of the new songs are available for students still using 1st Edition books, keeping your mixed-edition classroom in sync.
Download individual instrument parts below, or grab the full set at once:
Free Practice Tools with SI Online
Every book includes free access to SI Online: streaming video MasterClasses and audio accompaniments for Books 1 & 2. Adjust the pacing any time during the semester to address the unique needs within your classroom utilizing the free additional materials online. Adjust the focus of your teaching and address the differentiation of abilities in your classroom by adding more music history, theory, technique, rhythm, scales, composition, improvisation, assessment pages, and more. Explore the wealth of additional repertoire available online, including duets and small ensembles.
Create better understanding with solid pedagogy, and a clean and uncluttered page layout.
View Sample Pages ›Practice with MakeMusic Cloud
Exercises from Sound Innovations for String Orchestra, Book 1 can be found in MakeMusic Cloud! Students can play along with professional accompaniments and receive real-time feedback in the form of red, green, or yellow notes. Teachers can monitor student progress through custom assignments and practice analytics.
Instrument-Specific Instructional Videos
Foster more effective practice for your students with MasterClass videos that are integrated throughout the entire method, not retrofitted to it. MasterClasses allow the student to emulate the professional musician's tone, technique, and musicianship, and are available free on SI Online.
MasterClass Teachers:
- Scott Conklin, Violin
- Nokuthula Ngwenyama, Viola
- Emilio Colon, Cello
- Daxun Zhang, Bass
Instrument-Specific Practice Tracks
Encourage at-home practice with free recorded accompaniments that are provided for every line of music in the book. Each exercise contains an example and play-along accompaniment track in a variety of musical styles that can be slowed down, sped up, and looped for effective practice.
Solid Pedagogy
Each new note is introduced with a very clear left-hand finger illustration located where the note is first introduced, eliminating the need to reference a separate page. New notes include an introductory exercise followed by plenty of reinforcement exercises. Skills are broken down into manageable steps in order to build success.
Bow Hold Development
In Sound Innovations for String Orchestra, Book 1 the bow is introduced with clear, progressive illustrations. Sequential bow-hold development is reinforced with a detailed demonstration on the MasterClass videos.
Engage Your Students with Sound Innovations Center Stage
Designed to motivate and inspire, Sound Innovations Center Stage features correlated solos, edited and adapted by Chris M. Bernotas, from today's biggest movies, soundtracks, and pop hits using incredible backing tracks. These printable solos will be perfect for playing unison melodies in your ensemble, helping to strengthen their understanding of tone, rhythm, dynamics, and more, while being excited to play well-known tunes.
Exercises from Sound Innovations for String Orchestra, Book 1 can be found in MakeMusic Cloud, while these exclusive Center Stage pieces are only available with a subscription.
Access Center Stage tracks here.
