Books 1 & 2

Book 1 has clean page layouts, solid pedagogy, clear goals for each exercise, and Book 1 is now completely free in SmartMusic! Provide MasterClass lessons with the included instrument-specific videos and accompaniment recordings that are now available streaming on SI Online. The content is organized into six short levels, providing benchmarks, assessment indicators, and intermediate goals.

Continue your students’ musical journey with Book 2, where new concepts are isolated and taught individually for better retention. Continue skill development with review, new keys, rhythms, tone development, and introductory scales and arpeggios.

Creative Warm-Ups for Intermediate String Orchestra

The levels of this book focus on four important aspects of string performance and can be used in any order as either warm-ups or structured units. Level one’s sound intonation exercises develop high-level listening skills through practicing intervals, chord tones and balance. The structured rhythmic patterns in level 2 provide opportunities to analyze, audiate, compose, notate, and perform rhythms. Level 3 focuses on bowing fluency and choreography, leading to a characteristic, beautiful sound. Level 4 features a groundbreaking sequence of exercises and repertoire that will help develop improvisation and composition skills.

Sound Development for Intermediate & Advanced String Orchestra

Teach your students to play with a characteristic beautiful sound with Sound Innovations: Sound Development for Intermediate String Orchestra. Components are broken down into four levels: (1) Sound Tone, (2) Sound Bowings, (3) Sound Shifting, and (4) Sound Scales, Arpeggios, Chorales, and Rhythms. Use this text with or after any method in a classroom or individual setting.

Continuing with the emphasis on playing with a beautiful sound, Sound Innovations: Sound Development for Intermediate String Orchestra focuses on three-octave scales, especially those needed for regional auditions and all states.

Sound Differentiation—Coming Soon!

This motivational, time-saving supplemental resource provides differentiated parts for 15 well-known pieces and is perfect for a variety of teaching situations, including like- or mixed-instrument classes as well as in private study! These arrangements are ready for use in an adaptable format with identical parts for all instruments. In order of difficulty, the parts are bass line, tune, harmony, variation 1, and variation 2. The difficulty of each piece progresses throughout the book.

Sound Leadership

Let your students take ownership of their own learning and leading through Sound Leadership, a leadership method book for band, choir, and orchestra students. This workbook is designed to help facilitate an engaging and collaborative process between both student leaders and program directors that allows for self-discovery, goal-setting, and defining roles and responsibilities.

Content on SI Online!

Now all five levels of Sound Innovations for Strings have MP3s, PDFs, and video lessons! You can adjust the pacing and focus of your teaching throughout the semester with the new resources at SI Online.

Supplemental PDF and audio content includes:

8 Ways to Create a Positive Music Culture from the First Day

By David Pope
Associate Professor of Music Education & Chair of the Professional Studies Department at Baldwin Wallace University’s Conservatory of Music

Fostering positive student-teacher relationships is crucial to building a successful music program. In any situation where I work with students, my goal is to create an environment where students feel valued and cared about. Here is a list of methods I have used to create a positive culture in my music program.

Developing a Student Practice Plan for Remote Learning

By Chris M. Bernotas
Director of String Publications for Alfred Music & Co-Author of Alfred's Ensemble Development Series