Rubicon

Written to help students understand the concept of positions, this entire piece can be played by the violins, violas, and cellos in 3rd position with no shifting! Playing in positions is often a challenging hurdle for many young musicians yet an important prerequisite for advanced techniques. The rhythms are kept very simple so students can focus on playing in a new way. With a dark, mature sound and named after an ancient Roman border river, this piece allows plenty of room for expression. To “cross the Rubicon” is to pass a point of no return and enter into a new realm. “This work is both a valuable teaching tool for a new musical adventure and a thrilling concert piece that students will be excited to show off in concert. (1:45)