Advice

Teaching keyboard in Wider Opportunities? Mike Adcock shares his experiences
Read Mike's article here >>.
How is teaching keyboard different from teaching piano? Find out how to do it: a guide for pianists.
How to teach electronic keyboard >>
Dazzled by the terminology? Here some of the most commonly used words are explained.
How to understand the jargon >>
Want to set up a keyboard group? Find out how Kath Todd did it in Solihull with ‘Keys".
How to set up a keyboard group >>
It is everyone"s responsibility to make sure that health and safety are taken seriously. These safety suggestions have been collected together after many years of teaching electronic instruments.
How to be safe when playing keyboards together >>

Ensemble Music

HOW TO BUY

The following pieces are for ‘Keyboard Orchestra’ and are for sale via this website. To order any of the items below click ‘add to order’ and then complete the checkout process on line. (If you would prefer to pay by cheque please contact NEKC on 01622 679481.)

They are sold as score and individual parts, front and back cover, and binder, all pages being removable. Postage is extra.

NB: The score is under copyright, but permission is given to photocopy the pupil parts.

USING THE SCORES

Players of all standards, from beginner to advanced, are given a part suitable for their level. A part can be played by an individual or by several pupils in a group. ‘Sectional rehearsals’ can be held before coming together as a larger ensemble. Some of the pieces can be performed by a very small group, others extend to as many as twelve different parts. If there is more than one part at each level of difficulty the number is shown in brackets. The auto-accompaniment (backing) will hold the ensemble together as long as it is sufficiently amplified, or played on a high specification instrument. In pieces without backing, a conductor may be needed.

BETTER NEVER THAN LATE
by John Caudwell
Details:
A (2) easy
B (2) fairly easy
C (2) intermediate
D (3) fairly advanced

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A surprisingly cheery piece in 9 parts, ideal for a fairly advanced ensemble where they could take a part each. As it is without backing, they really need to listen to each other; the ‘bass guitar’ player manipulates the tempo changes.
Price: £8.00add to order >>
CONNEMARA
by Nancy Litten
Details:
A easy
B fairly easy
C (3) intermediate
D advanced

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The misty beauty of the Irish National Park is evoked, featuring oboe and flute solos against soft strings. Group A have to maintain a steady pulse for the whole ensemble with their staccato bass line.
Price: £5.50add to order >>
COSMIC CULTIVATION
by Nancy Litten
Details:
A easy
B fairly easy
C intermediate
D advanced
BACKING advanced

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Harp and recorder/fantasia (dual voice) produce a celestial sound, and parts A and B enjoy the occasional use of birdsong and seashore. The middle section features a raunchy take on ‘Mary Mary quite contrary’.
Price: £6.00add to order >>
LULLABY 2
by John Caudwell
Details:
B fairly easy
C (2) intermediate
D (2) advanced

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John Caudwell wrote this piece for the birth of his second son. It combines strings with recorder and achieves an endearing mix of sweetness and innovation. Some of the bars are five beats long, so a conductor is needed.
Price: £4.50add to order >>
MEN OF HARLECH
Traditional arranged
by Nancy Litten
Details:
A (2) easy
B (2) fairly easy
C intermediate
BACKING intermediate

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A rousing piece with opportunities for trumpet and piccolo improvisation during the second playing. A beginner with a good sense of rhythm could be given the snare drum part. Tango works surprisingly well as a backing.
Price: £3.00add to order >>
NEVER AGAIN
by John Caudwell
Details:
A (3) easy
B (2) fairly easy
C (3) intermediate
D (5) advanced

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This is an adventurous and thrilling piece, like film music. It creates a whole new sound world impossible on acoustic instruments. It requires quite advanced ensemble skills and would make an ideal showpiece for teachers to perform.
Price: £12.50add to order >>
PASS THE POPCORN PLEASE!
by Kath Todd
Details:
A easy
B fairly easy
C intermediate
D intermediate
BACKING intermediate

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The excited atmosphere of a group outing to the cinema is well captured, and there are allusions to a famous theme. It is quite easy and short, so doesn’t take long to learn.
Price: £3.00add to order >>
PRELUDE
by J.S Bach arranged by John Caudwell
Details:
A easy
B fairly easy
C (2) intermediate
D advanced

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A well-known classical favourite is the inspiration for this piece. The rippling solo harpsichord part requires a good technique, and the slow string lines provide the challenge of maintaining ensemble without a drum beat.
Price: £4.50add to order >>
SLINKY SUSAN
by Nancy Litten
Details:
A easy
B fairly easy
C intermediate
D (4) intermediate/advanced
BACKING intermediate

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Dance bands of the 1930s are evoked here, with saxophone, muted trumpets, strings, and a satisfyingly challenging piano part. Syncopation and notes tied across the bar-line add to the ‘slinky’ effect. The backing uses many 7th chords.
Price: £6.00add to order >>
Slinky Susan (arranged in 4 parts)
by Nancy Litten
Details:
A easy or B fairly easy
C (2) intermediate
D advanced (or for teacher)
BACKING intermediate

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At the request of a teacher, this popular piece has been arranged into 4 parts, which makes it easier to perform with small groups. There are the options of either A or B parts and the piano part (D) could possibly be played by the teacher.
Price: £5.00add to order >>
SLOW BALLAD
by Nancy Litten
Details:
A very easy
B fairly easy
C intermediate
BACKING intermediate

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The haunting melody is easy, only using four notes. It is accompanied by rich strings and romantic harmonies, which if necessary could all be played by the teacher.
Price: £2.00add to order >>
Street Cred
by Kath Todd
Details:
B (2) fairly easy
C (2) intermediate
BACKING intermediate

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A short, buoyant piece with a modern edge and opportunities for four-bar improvisations.
Price: £3.00add to order >>
SUNSHINE THROUGH THE LEAVES
by Nancy Litten
Details:
A very easy
B easy
C fairly easy
D intermediate
BACKING easy

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This piece is ideal for encouraging pupils to use their volume control. Each of the melodies has a turn in the limelight while the others become accompaniment. The backing only uses chords C, G and F, and so can be played by a beginner.
Price: £3.50add to order >>
TASTE OF DARKNESS
by John Caudwell
Details:
A easy
B (2) fairly easy
C (2) intermediate
D (2) intermediate/advanced
BACKING advanced

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The imaginative orchestration provides a dark-hued and distinctive sound-world. Solos are contrasted with rich harmonies against driving rhythms.
Price: £6.00add to order >>
THE PRETENDER
by Nancy Litten
Details:
A easy
B fairly easy
C intermediate
D (2) fairly advanced
BACKING fairly easy

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The piece evokes the initial jauntiness of a hopeful army and then sadness of retreat. You can hear the fife and the marching feet, and the melody of ‘Charlie is my Darling’.
Price: £4.50add to order >>
WHERE'ER YOU WALK
by Handel arranged by Nancy Litten
Details:
A easy
B fairly easy
C intermediate
D (2) advanced
BACKING intermediate

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The piece falls into two parts; initially the melody is orchestrated in fairly traditional fashion and accompanied by a harpsichord. Then we move upbeat into a Techno variation on it, with instruments to match.
Price: £7.00add to order >>
CD of all pieces
Details:
A great help with preparation. Pupils know how the piece should sound; teachers know what balance should be achieved. Rehearsal of one part is made far more enjoyable when played with the accompaniment of the CD, leaving the teacher free to help out individual players.
Price: £4.50add to order >>