Sheet Music by Women Composers for String Orchestra: Artistic Excellence

The rhythms used in this piece are repetitive, so will be easily learned and recognized in the future. The feel of a canon is utilized in each four-bar phrase and the melody is shared right around the...

This piece is perfect for a 'Grand Entrance' in a school parade, or the opening of a concert. Dynamics should be carefully observed and the melody line well projected as it changes voice. The piano pa...

Written as the grand finale for a combined school string festival, this piece is dedicated to the Junior String players of Somerville House Girls' School, Queenwood School for Girls, Sydney and Brisba...

This piece features pretty melodies, using slurs and dotted rhythms, while teaching bow division between half notes and quarter notes. The music is not difficult, but students should be encouraged to...

For the past 15 years, Junior and Training Strings at Somerville House School rehearse on a Wednesday morning. Hence, the name. This piece features string crossing and block rhythms with nice harmonie...

This bright, fun piece features low 2nd fingers and D sharps on the D string for 2nd violins and violas. It also uses pizzicato. The middle section has a contrasted legato melody, using minor tonality...

Catchy from the opening bars, the piano part adds interest in this piece and will cover the bass if not available. It is rhythmically interesting, using syncopation and accents. The bowing and rhythms...

Every teacher knows the dangers of pizzicato and the need to train the internal metronome to resist the temptation to rush. This very simple piece is pizzicato throughout. It begins in unison, so anyo...

Although this dance is energetic, it mustn't begin too quickly, to allow for the accelerando in the final section. However, when the ensemble is confident with the rhythms, a more adventurous tempo co...

Contemporary bowing techniques are explored in this spooky piece. Sul ponticello, Bartók pizzicato, sul tasto, tremolo and Psycho-style glissandi combine to make this work one which is sure to be a st...

This adventurous piece opens with an edgy "at the nut" bow stroke and features syncopated rhythms with a smoother melodic line in the cello and violin parts. (2:23)

A very straightforward piece in triple time, which features easy, legato bowing and attractive melodic lines. A lullaby dedicated to the composer's beautiful granddaughter, born on Mother's Day 2009.

This piece features upbeats, pizzicato, tremolo, and sul ponticello bowing to depict the falling snowflakes and the shivering cold of a Swedish winter.

The opening of this piece requires short, energetic bows. These passages are contrasted with more lyrical melodies and the bass line is essential for maintaining the momentum and vitality. It has a sl...

The opening of this piece requires short, energetic bows. These passages are contrasted with more lyrical melodies and the bass line is essential for maintaining the momentum and vitality. It has a sl...

Written in G Major, this piece features syncopated rhythms and retakes. Violins and violas are required to use low 2nd fingers. 1st violins use high 3rds, while violas need to play low firsts for D#s....

Written in G Major, this piece features syncopated rhythms and retakes. Violins and violas are required to use low 2nd fingers. 1st violins use high 3rds, while violas need to play low firsts for D-sh...

This is a very easy and straightforward piece in D Major, using repeated eighth and quarter notes. All sections of the orchestra are sure to be kept busy. Whole bows should be used for quarter note pa...

This is a very easy and straightforward piece in D Major, using repeated eighth and quarter notes. All sections of the orchestra are sure to be kept busy. Whole bows should be used for quarter note pa...

Written in E natural minor, this simple piece is a lesson in dynamic variations, bow divisions, and minor tonality. It uses mostly quarter notes and half notes, encouraging students to vary the bow sp...

Written in E natural minor, this simple piece is a lesson in dynamic variations, bow divisions, and minor tonality. It uses mostly quarter notes and half notes, encouraging students to vary the bow sp...

Written in the key of D Major, this piece starts out in unison, using terraced dynamic changes, and is in Rondo form. The theme then breaks into parts, using simple but catchy rhythms, which alternate...

This piece commences with a slow introduction in triple time. Its rich harmonies lead to a feeling of expectation, before heralding the Allegro, with an alternating 6/8-3/4 time signature. Students ar...

This fun piece is written in first position for all parts. It is in D Major, with a short section in b minor. It encourages the use of forearm bowing in the quaver passages and is rhythmically and har...