Description of Beginning
Level...
EASY -for players in their first through third years of experience
keys limited to no sharps or flats through three sharps
first position used with occassional extensions and use of harmonics
bowing styles include detache, martele, staccatto, slurs and pizzacato
New students will begin with phase one of the string program unless
he/she has had prior musical training. A book list will be
provided after the first several lessons. These books can be
purchased by mail order from the SHAR Company (see below) or obtained
at a local music shop such as Dollarhyde (downtown Pensacola), Joyful
Noise (Milton), or Ye Ol' Fiddle Shop (Pensacola). Books
are not necessary for the first several weeks since there are many
preliminary things to learn at first like parts of the instrument,
proper posture, ear training, note reading, etc. Please provide
your child with a three ring binder (one inch wide)
with an additional zipper pocket inside to bring to their first and
each subsequent lesson. Every week your child will be given a
music assignment, sheet music, and flash cards to add to this
notebook. Each phase of the music program normally takes
9-12 months to complete. Some students will spend a year
while others will work for two years depending on his/her learning
style, abilities, and home schedule.
Here are listed some of the books used on this level:
EASY BOOKS
- for players in their first through third years of experience (see
introductory page for detail)
Technique: Young Strings in Action Vol. 1 OR String Builder Vol. 1-2;
Wohlfhart Vol. 1, etc.
Classical: Suzuki Vol. 1-3, Fun with Solos (Shar), Building Technique
with Beautiful Music Vol 1-2; Easy Solos for Beginning Violin Level 1,
Solo Pieces for the Beginning Violinist, Violinist’s First Solo
Album
Duet & Ensemble: Sacred Settings, Strings Extraordinaire, 25
Beautiful International Christmas Carols Book 1-2, Christmas
Kaleidoscope I, Joy to the World: Easy violin duets for Christmas,
etc.
Holiday: Fun with Christmas, Easy Christmas Favorites for Violin,
Christmas Solos for Beginning Violin, Christmas Classics,
Sacred: Ten Easy Hymns for Violin (Latham), Sacred Settings,
Sacred Violin Solos (Melbay), Easy, 15 Very Easy Hymns, Praise &
Worship Hymn Solos, Gloria Solos for Easter, 25 Worship Songs for
Violin, Violin Hymn arrangements by Latham Publishers, etc.
Phase One
The String Builder book 1 for violin by Samuel Applebaum (Ye Ol Fiddle
Shop or any local violin music supplier)
First Lessons for the Violin by Craig Duncan (available through
private teachers)
Finger Positions for the violin by Tom Gilland (available through
private teachers)
Suzuki Violin book 1 (Ye Ol Fiddle Shop or any local violin music
supplier)
Solos Pieces for the Beginning Violinist by Craig Duncan (available
through private teachers)
Workbook for Strings volume 1 –violin by Forest Etling (Ye Ol
Fiddle Shop, SHAR, orJoyful Noise)
Fun with Basics III by Evelyn Ashvarian (SHAR or Joyful Noise)
Technical Studies for Beginning Violin by Craig Duncan (available
through private teachers)
Folk Songs for Schools and Camps by Jerry Silverman (available through
private teachers)
Fiddle America Volume 1 by Greg Baker (available through private
teachers)
Fairfield Fiddle Farm Fiddle Book volume 2 by Charles Hall
(SHAR, Ye Ol Fiddle Shop, or Joyful Noise)
Ten Easy Hymns published by Latham (SHAR or Joyful
Noise)
Fun with Christmas by Evelyn Ashvarian (SHAR or Joyful
Noise)
My Very Best Christmas violin edition by Kaaren Khanagov (available
through private teachers)
Christmas Solos for Beginning Violin by Craig Duncan (available
through private teachers)
Duet & Ensemble Music:
Duets for Strings volume 1 & 2 by Samuel Applebaum (Ye Ol
Fiddle Shop, Joyful Noise or SHAR)
Easy Classics for the Violin by Peter Spitzer (available
through private teachers)
Easy Violin Duets in First Position by Burton Isaac (available
through private teachers)
Sheet Music:
The Violin Teacher (12 pieces by A. von Ahn Carse) book 1 & 2
(mail order sheet music)
