Classroom Guitar Ensembles: Volume 2

This product includes the scores and student parts and is licensed for the original purchaser to make up to 30 physical copies for classroom and performance use. Digital copies and/or sharing is prohibited.

Classroom Guitar Ensembles: Volume 2 includes six pieces that are written in the treble clef and have been performed by 7th and 8th grade students. These are quite a bit more difficult than the pieces in Volume 1 of this series, so it is recommended that these be used with second and third year students.

Ukrainian Christmas Carol is an arrangement of this Christmas favorite in 6/8 time. It is in four parts with differentiated levels of difficulty. This allows for more advanced students to be challenged without overwhelming the others. This one is recommended for a winter concert after at least a full year of instruction with the students.

Tranquility is an original in 3/4 time. The parts are differentiated to some extent, but the 4th part will require students who have a good sense of timing. This one can be a good piece for a concert at the end of the second year of instruction.

Pachelbel's Canon is the easiest piece in this collection. It has been successfully performed at the end of the first year of instruction with 7th and 8th grade students. This arrangement is in 4 parts. The 4th part is quite easy. The first part is the most challenging, and the 2nd part includes strummed chords.

Plainsong Variations could be done at the end of a first year. It is based on the modal concept of melody used in the Medieval period, but the piece as a whole is somewhat modern. It is in 4 parts and includes body percussion as well as percussion sounds such as tapping on the guitar body and tapping picks on music stands. It also includes a singing section. Students enjoy this one because of the variety of sounds they get to create.

Blaze is somewhat of a chord piece in an oldies rock style. The first 36 measures are unison then it breaks into 3 parts for the duration. It is a bit challenging on technique. Even so, it is attainable by the end of the second year.

Swingin' is in a bluesy swing style. It is in 3 parts and includes a 12 bar improvisation section using a G blues scale (G, Bb, C, Db, D, F) or a Bb pentatonic scale (Bb, C, D, F, G). This works best for students in 3rd position using frets 3-6. For class, the improv section can be done over and over again. For performances, selecting one or two soloists is appropriate.

Full demo recordings of these pieces can be previewed at speaktometoday.com/b&rmusic