“It’d not hard, it’s just new!” is a popular phrase from my classroom. I hear my older students tell my younger students this sometimes even before I get the chance to.
My students are in a K-8 school. This means they already have some good friends before they get to me. Best friends like to do things together and so duets help them do it musically. While solos can help to strengthen a young musician, small ensembles provide a chance to be among friends while you’re doing it. Sometimes finding an ensemble is tough and so duets can accommodate just about any player and no one gets left out.
Students will be able to play in a duet with another student. These can be performed in concerts, or just in the classroom. Seeing as how we have a K-8 school a duet can “go on the road” during class and share with the younger students how fun it is to be in orchestra. These books allow a wide variety of songs to play and so a small repertoire can build and make it exciting.
When students take on the chance to play solos it strengthens their musical skills. However not everyone feeling confident enough to do that. Duets allow a friend to share the opportunity. They will both grow and it will carry into the large orchestra ensemble, thus improving our whole program.
Dazzling Duets, Do It Dramatically!!.