I'm A Little Teapot - ensemble playing for beginners

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 - 

well, you should, that's all I'm saying 😁

You're welcome!

Junior Suite 3: Blueberry Blues

This is the last of the three little pieces for junior strings that together form a "Junior Suite". The pieces have an optional viola part, and the double bass part may also be played by cellos (in this movement the double bass part is optional).

Edit: Blueberry Blues is now a part of a new and improved suite: A Very Berry Suite! Listen to it here: 

Strawberry Song for Junior Strings

This is a nostalgic little melody from my composition for children's string orchestra: A Very Berry Suite. It's a flexible piece in that both the viola and double bass parts are optional - the piece will work well with as small an ensemble as two violins and a cello. That being said, it will obviously sound better with violas and double basses!

Don't ask me why the strawberries are so sad... Maybe they just like melancholy tunes? It can't be because the song is too difficult, because this piece is pretty easy for anyone to play :)

Complete parts for Strawberry Song and the rest of A Very berry Suite are available at Sheet Music Plus: A Very Berry Suite for Junior Strings.
Listen to one of the other movements: Blueberry Blues.

Komm, Lieber Mai - Mozart's May Song

It's May, and time for some spring music! This is a simple and flexible arrangement of Mozart's famous song.

You can use just the melody part (Violin 1 / Viola 1 / Cello 1) together with the slightly easier harmony part (Violin 2 / Viola 2 / Cello 2).  It may also be used as a duet for violin (or viola, or cello) and piano. The piano part is written for a young player of the same age as the rest of the orchestra.

Enjoy! :)

Junior Suite 2: Rainy Reggae

This is the second of the three little pieces for junior strings that together form a "Junior Suite". The pieces have an optional viola part, and the double bass part may also be played by cellos (in this movement the double bass part is optional).

Part three of the Junior Suite coming soon! :)

Junior Suite 1: Arrival of the Acrobats

This is the first of three little pieces for junior strings that together form a "Junior Suite". The pieces have an optional viola part, and the double bass part may also be played by cellos.

I have given the first violins some technically challenging tasks in this suite, while the second violins get to stay in fairly safe territory...

Stand by for part two! :)

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.