Polly Wolly Doodle

A well known tune for Junior string orchestra, with a very easy double bass part!

In my experience, most children find it easier to play fast notes than long slow ones. That's why most of the Junior pieces on this blog are of the lively kind. Also, they tend to be more popular – many of my youngest students seem to rate music by speed: the faster the better! Nevertheless, I do have some pieces of the slightly more slow and soulful kind up my sleeve... Stay tuned!

Saint James Infirmary Blues

Time for another youth orchestra piece! Shorter and less technically demanding than the Grieg Lyric Pieces, this melancoly melody is nice for working on a rich, warm string orchestra sound.

Camptown Races

This is actually a two-part arrangement of a well known minstrel melody. The first part (violin 1/cello 1) is the tune itself. The second part (violin 2/cello 2) is very simple, but still melodious. It should be well suited for a beginner who is just learning the notes in first position on the D string.

If all your orchestra players are of similar age and ability, why not switch parts on the repeat? That way the violins may play part 2 and the cellos part 1 the first time, and vice versa the cecond time.

Billy Boy

A new piece for junior strings: my arrangement of the North American traditional tune Billy Boy!
The viola part is optional, i.e. if you're lucky enough to have a viola section in your orchestra, it may replace the cello 1 section (and vice versa).

Like in my other Junior pieces, the second violin part is a little easier to play than the first. Also the cello 1 part is slightly more technically challenging than the cello 2 part. But my goal is, as always, that every player should have a part that's interesting enough to be practiced at home!