Need a nice piece of ensemble music that your very youngest beginners can join in on?
This arrangement is super easy! The first part (sun part) is a cute little British children's song called "I'm A Little Teapot":
Students who have played their instrument for a year or so should be able to play this without problems. If your group consists of complete beginners only, why not sing the first part instead of playing it?
The second part (moon part) is meant for those who have only just started putting fingers on the string - notes on the D string only, and mostly the same rhythm as the melody.
Then there is the third part (star part), which follows the same rhythm as the second part, but on open strings only.
In other words: This piece is super easy to play, and super easy to learn by ear! It's from a book called "First Lesson Orchestra", available on Sheet Music Plus. This book contains eleven pieces for ensemble playing with absolute beginners. Some of them are even easier than this one! And some have first parts that are a bit more challenging. The download contains parts for both cello and violin, which may be mixed as needed. It's also provided with chords for accompaniment. Check it out here!
PS: If you haven't seen Benedict Cumberbatch perform I'm A Little Teapot -
Time to start practicing for those end of the year concerts? Why not try this lovely old carol: «To Drive The Cold Winter Away», also known as «All Hail To The Days» or
«In Praise Of Christmas». This Elizabethan carol is a praise of all the
comfort there is to be had in the darkest time of the year:
«This time of the year is spent in good cheer, And neighbours together do meet, To sit by the fire, with friendly desire, Each other in love do greet; Old grudges forgot, are put in the pot, All sorrows aside they lay, The old and the young doth carol his song, To drive the cold winter away.»
This
pleasant theme of midwinter comforts makes this piece a good choice for
winter events such as school parties and New Year festivities as well as
for Christmas concerts.
In this arrangement for string orchestra
with piano, all the parts have significant and interesting roles to
play (although it's possible to do without the piano, if you skip the intro). The difficulty level is fairly easy, but the players must of
course be able to play in the D minor/F major key.
