Whispers of Winter is a late level 2 piece that incorporates all level 2 techniques and note reading, as well as introducing the reading of tied note values. In addition to reading and playing on the 1st 3 strings, the Guitar 4 part uses notes on the 4th and 5th strings in an easy pattern that can be taught by rote to expand the range of the ensemble. This piece was written for an ensemble with a wide range of technical levels/abilities. The Guitar 2 and 3 parts can be challenging for beginning students, but the Guitar 1and 4 parts are very approachable.
From an inclusivity perspective, programming for a winter concert can be challenging for a director. Even the best efforts to present a diverse collection of music that represents multiple holidays or belief structures can fall short. How do we respect the beliefs and values of all students during these moments of the year? Use Whispers of Winter as an opportunity to open up the topic of holiday traditions and customs. Ask your students about their family or cultural traditions, providing multiple opportunities for your students voices to be heard (discussions, writing, projects, etc.). Look for opportunities to incorporate this information into creative musical and artistic decisions for the performance (sounds, melodic fragments, etc.).