Teaching Violin Beginners

Teaching Violin Beginners
JOHN BERGER
MAY 3, 2014
BEGINNERS, UNCATEGORIZED
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There are so many skills to learn on the violin. For beginners, teachers need to know
which ones to focus on during those delightful first weeks. They must be learned
correctly from the start and in quick succession to establish a habit of rapid
progress, but how well should each one be perfected before adding the next one?
These are important questions for any teacher, parent or student. Some of the
answers are only gained through experience, so be patient understanding how to
teach the complex hierarchy of skills takes time. Unlearning incorrectly practised
skills is hard frustrating work. Although the ideal way is to simply build each new one
on the foundations of those already mastered, the reality is not always so clear cut.
Usually some correction and repair work is necessary, but this is not a bad thing at
all. Playing skills are never static: they are constantly improved and refined as
musical expression matures. Learning to play the violin is more of an adventurous
journey than a destination.
Getting the Point

On many occasions after watching a student performance in lessons or on stage
Suzuki commented, Very good, except for(the) weak point. Experienced teachers
automatically look for areas and points of potential improvement. In fact, a significant
part of their expertise is being able to identify imperfections and problems, to

communicate them clearly (and kindly) to students and parents, and to know how to
correct them. This is how most masterclasses are conducted. Although from the
students viewpoint it may feel like criticism, it is a very important part of their growth
as a musician. Students learn to welcome this kind of critique, and to reflect
objectively on the quality of their own playing.
Of course, lessons shouldnt consist entirely of corrections. It is more productive to
focus on one or two key weak points either technical or musical then to spend
time introducing a new skill.
The Value of Group Classes

The studio is where healthy working relationships with parents and students are
established, but beginners make the fastest progress in group classes, mainly from
watching, hearing and joining in what others are doing. They emulate the advanced
players and respond quickly to the environment and energy of the class. Young
beginners can learn skills in an hour or so that would otherwise take a week or more
of practice.
Features of the Best Group Classes:
Held weekly for continuity of goals and activities, monitoring progress,

building social connections and using the power of the group to carry everyone
forward.
Have a broad mix of levels for a significant part of the class so players
at the earlier stages learn from advanced players.
Provide opportunities for solo performances enabling young violinists

learn to play confidently in public without nerves right from the start.
Involve parents and audience in the classes becoming part of the class
activities.
Includes several teachers so students are exposed to their collective

expertise.
Planned around only one or two key points that connect to the long term
goals of the program.
The Sequence of Skills for Beginners
The list below is the sequential outline of technical skills we use for the young
beginners first 10 weeks of lessons. The duration is not fixed and varies for
individual students.
Week 1
Rest Position and taking a bow.
Bowhold. See the post: Making a great bowhold.
Week 2
Violin hold. See: A Violin Hold with Charisma.
Points to Check:
Correct position for feet
Violin on shoulder
Scroll is slightly raised
Chin placed correctly on the chin rest
Head straight
Clap and sing the rhythms together.

Weeks 3 and 4
Play the Rhythms on E string in the following order. See Five Easy Rhythms.
Busy Busy Stop Stop
Pop-Corn and Candy
Snap Crackle Snap Crackle
Fatter Than a Caterpillar
Timothy Timothy
Points to Check:
Bow is in the correct place on the string between the bridge and the
fingerboard.
Bow is at the correct angle on the string to produce a clear sound parallel to
the bridge.
Right shoulder and arm is relaxed before starting the rhythm.
The correct amount of bow being used between the markers.
Rhythms sound clear at the correct tempo.
Start playing the Pop-Corn rhythm in time with the recording.

Weeks 4 and 5
String Crossing between E and A strings. See Seamless String Crossing.
Play rhythm on E string clearly, stop, roll to A string and play rhythm clearly.
Speed up the crossings, roll to next string immediately after playing the rhythm.
Point to Check:
Relaxed right elbow dont move outwards to cross strings.
Select A string level quickly and accurately.
Weeks 5 and 6
Left Hand Position and Shape. See: The Violinists Left Hand.
Points to Check:
Straight thumb.
Fingers down precisely at tapes on the A string.
Tips of fingers at the correct angle firmly.
Straight wrist.
No squeezing between thumb and palm.
Play Rhythms with fingers down on A String.

Points to Check:
Correct left hand position.
Fingers accurately at tapes (B, C# and D) on the A string.
Little finger curved over the string not below the fingerboard.
Tips of fingers pressing firmly for clear sound.
Place B, C# and D down in ascending order.
Play Busy Busy rhythm on D and stop; lift 3rd finger and play rhythm on C#
and stop; lift 2nd finger and play rhythm on B and stop; lift 1st finger and play
open A.
Fingers are curved over the strings when playing open A.
Repeat the same process with all of the rhythms except Pop-Corn and Candy.
Begin building up the tempo of rhythms to recording tempo on open A or E in the

following order: Pop-Corn and Candy, Busy Busy Stop Stop, Fatter than a
Caterpillar, Timothy Timothy.
Weeks 7 and 8
Learn and Memorize Busy Busy Twinkles. See Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Learn the note names for A String: A, B, C#, D and E String: E, F# (Rather than A1,
A2, A3 etc).
Mark the score of Twinkles into the three separate sections for parents (4 bar
sections).
Points to Check:
Fingers still placed in ascending order on A string (B, C#, D).
Repeat first section at least 20 times each day.
Memorize first section before learning the middle section.
Repeat the middle section at least 20 times each day.
Memorize the middle section before learning the last section.
Learn the last section (it is the same as the first section).
Play Busy Busy Twinkles all through with pauses and ascending finger placement
on A string.
Week 9
Play Twinkles with all the Rhythms in the following order. See Twinkle, Twinkle Little
Star.
Busy Busy Stop Stop
Fatter Than a Caterpillar
Snap Crackle Snap Crackle
Timothy Timothy
Pop-Corn and Candy (Keep practising the rhythm on open strings but leave
Twinkles until later.)
Twinkle Twinkle Theme
Week 10
Learn to place 3rd finger independently on D on play Busy Busy Twinkles and
Twinkles with regular finger order.
Teaching 3rd Finger Check:
Form correct left hand position with fingers curled over (not touching) A string.
Play Rhythm on E string.
Stop; quickly place 3rd finger onlyon note D on A string.
Cross bow over to A string and play rhythm on D.
Repeat until fluent before proceeding with C# and B.
Weeks 10 and beyond

Play Twinkle Twinkle with the recording, starting with the Theme and adding one
rhythm at a time.
This stage is always so exciting celebrating students and parents, enjoying the
achievement of a successful performance of Twinkles, and the congratulations of
parents and students at the next group class. Beginners I love them!
Cheers,
John

Teaching Violin Beginners

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Teaching Violin Beginners

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Teaching Violin Beginners

Getting the Point

part of their expertise is being able to identify imperfections and problems, to

The Value of Group Classes

Held weekly for continuity of goals and activities, monitoring progress,

Provide opportunities for solo performances enabling young violinists

Includes several teachers so students are exposed to their collective

The Sequence of Skills for Beginners

Correct position for feet

Scroll is slightly raised

Chin placed correctly on the chin rest

Clap and sing the rhythms together.

Busy Busy Stop Stop

Pop-Corn and Candy

Snap Crackle Snap Crackle

Fatter Than a Caterpillar

Right shoulder and arm is relaxed before starting the rhythm.

The correct amount of bow being used between the markers.

Rhythms sound clear at the correct tempo.

Start playing the Pop-Corn rhythm in time with the recording.

Relaxed right elbow dont move outwards to cross strings.

Select A string level quickly and accurately.

Fingers down precisely at tapes on the A string.

Tips of fingers at the correct angle firmly.

No squeezing between thumb and palm.

Play Rhythms with fingers down on A String.

Correct left hand position.

Fingers accurately at tapes (B, C# and D) on the A string.

Tips of fingers pressing firmly for clear sound.

Place B, C# and D down in ascending order.

Fingers are curved over the strings when playing open A.

Begin building up the tempo of rhythms to recording tempo on open A or E in the

Fingers still placed in ascending order on A string (B, C#, D).

Repeat first section at least 20 times each day.

Memorize first section before learning the middle section.

Repeat the middle section at least 20 times each day.

Memorize the middle section before learning the last section.

Busy Busy Stop Stop

Fatter Than a Caterpillar

Snap Crackle Snap Crackle

Twinkle Twinkle Theme

Play Rhythm on E string.

Stop; quickly place 3rd finger onlyon note D on A string.

Cross bow over to A string and play rhythm on D.

Repeat until fluent before proceeding with C# and B.

Weeks 10 and beyond

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