From Plank Road Publishing

For this recorder collection, we have selected special works that take us through outer space, through time, and into the imaginative world of the mind. And all of these tunes have creative settings that will really engage young players and make them sound great in performance. Includes:

• Starbeast - This driving orchestral rock tune with an infectious groove will appeal to sci-fi fans! There are two recorder parts for this tune – one for soprano and one for alto recorder. The soprano recorder part uses E, G, A, B, and C, and should be easy enough for most young players. The optional alto part uses the notes C, D, and E. It's also a good tune to practice staccato playing.
• Bella's Blues - Beginning and ending with an orchestral nod to J. S. Bach's "Toccata," the song itself is a big band blues with a bit of fun thrown in. There are two recorder parts that work separately or together, one featuring G, A, B, and C, and the other just A and C – a real bonus for teachers who like to start with these two notes. The tune is also great for combining groups of players a year apart.
• Bad Day At The Droid Works - Machine-like, yet with energy, a full orchestra and professional sound effects make this a fun tune for your kids to play B, A, and G. The recorder part is very straightforward, and aside from only using B, A, and G, it never gets more rhythmically complicated than quarter notes. However, the recorded accompaniment creatively bounds along in its own harmonic and melodic universe with lots of chromatics and whole tone sounds. At the very end, players are given the option to become droids gone awry.
• Mission: 5 - We've had a number of requests to sink our toes into the less common time signatures, and this is a fun way to do it. This may seem like a daunting mission, but believe us, it is by no means impossible. Actually, we have designed the song to make 5/4 quite accessible and easy to learn. This original tune is exciting to listen to and play, but the students' part is simple, and we limit the notes they play to G, A, B, and C.
• Rockin' Raptor - Whenever you're ready to start your recorder students on the notes A and C, we're sure this fun tune will capture their interest. The tune is driving shuffle rock, or perhaps rockabilly to some ears, complete with a big jazzy horn section. The rhythms are simple and repetitive, in a typical blues form, with your students playing half notes and quarter notes throughout.
• March Of The Abominable Alien Aardvarks - If this tune sounds a little bit "alien," it's because the entire work is created with whole tone scales. Sort of march, sort of sci-fi, there are two recorder parts: Recorder 1 requires G, A, B, and C, while Recorder 2 uses G, A, B, plus low E. The tune can be played successfully with just the first part, but it's much more fun with both recorder parts. There's even an opportunity for students to add their own ad libbed "alien" sounds at the end.

About the Downloadable OptionThe downloadable version contains all the components the print version would, but in electronic format.

About the Convenience Combo Kit The Convenience Combo Kit includes both the Kit with CD and the Downloadable Kit.

About the Audio RecordingsAudio recordings contain full performance and accompaniment only (instrumental) tracks.