This month 22 ensemble titles were added to the SmartMusic Repertoire Library. In addition to new pieces for concert band we’ve added a dozen pieces for middle school string orchestra.
Among the new orchestra titles is “Not Enough Cowbell (Cha Cha),” by Lynne Latham and Clarence Barber. First published in 2016, this piece is already very popular, in part due to its light-hearted spirit and infectious cha-cha-cha feel.
Follow this link to listen to the fun at Stanton’s Listening Library.
Are you considering playing Not Enough Cowbell? If so, here are some tips for what to listen to and work on in the piece.
Arco/Pizzacato
Check out the transitions between arco and pizzicato. These will likely be an area of concentration.
Specifically, students need to make the transition from bow hold to pizz early during the rests. They can’t wait until they see the word pizz, or it will be too late. One helpful strategy is to write the words pizz and arco over the rest, before the note, so the students know to make the transition as quickly as they can.
Violin and viola students shouldn’t get out of the bow hold. Instead, they should turn the palm of the hand slightly towards themselves while they use their index finger to pluck the strings.
Cellists should quickly release the thumb and wrap their fingers around the bow to bring it to the palm of the hand. Then they can use the thumb to anchor against the fingerboard and pluck with their index finger.
Bassists should practice going from measure 12 to 13 repeatedly. They need to keep their bow hold intact, as they will be plucking the G with the left hand.
Counting
Students will also want to focus on counting rhythm patterns. Subdivision of the beat is more important with rests than many students realize. It’s often helpful to reiterate that they must continue subdividing the beat even when they are not playing.
A complete list of all the added titles appears below.
| Title | Comp/Arr | Publisher | Music Type | Pepper Level |
| Amazing Grace | Traditional; O’Loughlin, Sean | Carl Fischer | Concert Band | E |
| Carpathian Castle | Story, Michael | Alfred | Concert Band | VE |
| Fall of Empires, The | Lee, Robert L. | Carl Fischer | Concert Band | B |
| Machu Picchu | Loest, Timothy | FJH Music Company | Concert Band | B |
| Meet and Greet MacDonald’s Band | Sebesky, Gerald | LudwigMasters | Concert Band | VE |
| Moon Song and Tribal Dance | Chambers, Carol Brittin | Carl Fischer | Concert Band | VE |
| Noble Procession | Chambers, Carol Brittin | Carl Fischer | Concert Band | VE |
| Olympians | Foster, Robert E. | LudwigMasters | Concert Band | VE |
| One Giant Leap | Morales, Erik | FJH Music Company | Concert Band | ME |
| Seven Hills Overture | Fannin, John | Alfred | Concert Band | M |
| Adamant | Clark, Larry | Carl Fischer | String Orchestra | VE |
| Ancient Legends | Fagan, Gary | Highland/Etling Publishing | String Orchestra | ME |
| Ethos | Clark, Larry | Carl Fischer | String Orchestra | VE |
| Explorers, The | Sharp, Keith | Belwin | String Orchestra | ME |
| Fingerboard Frolic | Compello, Joseph | Carl Fischer | String Orchestra | VE |
| Irish Farewell, An (Sheebeg and Sheemore) | O’Carolan, Turlough; Monday, Deborah Baker | Highland/Etling Publishing | String Orchestra | E |
| Lucky Seven | Turner, Matt | Carl Fischer | String Orchestra | M |
| Miller’s Fiddler, The | Gazda, Doris | Carl Fischer | String Orchestra | E |
| Not Enough Cowbell (Cha Cha) | Latham, Lynne; Barber, Clarence E. | LudwigMasters | String Orchestra | VE |
| Old Rocking Chair, The | Woolstenhulme, Jeremy | Kjos | String Orchestra | ME |
| Sinfonia Song | Mosier, Kirt N. | Wingert-Jones | String Orchestra | E |
| Suo Gan | Traditional; Clark, Larry | Carl Fischer | String Orchestra | E |
If you have a suggestion of repertoire you’d like included in future versions of SmartMusic, please let us know here.