Whilst Gigajam’s Essential Skills courses focus on teaching individuals to play rock and pop instruments, we appreciate that many pupils play other, more traditional instruments in school ensembles. For Gigajam, creating musicians is not just about creating rock musicians, playing in rock bands. It is about providing opportunities for a wider engagement in music of different genres, styles and contexts.
We have designed the Gigajam Rock Orchestra to help teachers incorporate the live performance of the rock band, into the wider setting of a Rock Orchestra. This provides an exciting opportunity for instrumentalists in school orchestras to play along with their rock band peers.The arrangements are written so that a typical school orchestra can perform the five pieces taken from the Gigajam Level One Songbook. Each piece has a full conductor’s score arranged in five orchestral parts, plus charts for the guitar, bass, keyboard and drums.
The individual orchestral parts can be assigned to different instruments and the appropriate charts printed off in the correct keys. Gigajam Rock Orchestra also includes mp3 audio files with mixes including: band and orchestra, orchestra only, band only, and various minus-one mixes. This enables the different ensembles and individual parts to be practised by students with great sounding accompaniment.
'Ode to Joy' is an arrangement of Beethoven’s popular classic, taken from the final movement of his Ninth Symphony. This version has a contemporary rock feel.
This song was written originally as a TV theme tune. Written in a rock style, it has a gentle up beat rock groove.
'Sunset' is a reggae influenced track with an Afro-Caribbean feel and lilting groove.
'Darkened Streets' is an edgy and powerful nu-metal track. It is dark and energetic, and unashamedly rock.
'Euphoria' is a dance track modelled on the late 90s dance scene. It is bright, positive and up tempo.
'Give It All' is a thoughtful and moody hip hop track influenced by contemporary rap artists.
