Every violinist began as a beginning violin student. Time passes quickly, therefore violinists must make the best use of their study time.
These are some suggested music books that can be used when you are teaching (guiding) a student through learning to play the violin. These are some I use and like.
I have observed students being successful who have used these guides. I am certain some of you have others that you are pleased with that are not on this list. There are many solos for the violin, and wonderful studies too. A good rule is to try to experience playing music from the different periods and composers.
Most of the music can be purchased in different editions, and what you use will probably be what you are most familiar with, unless you would like to blaze a new path.
STRING BUILDER BOOK I by Belwin Company = I have tried many violin method books for beginners. I have a drawer full of them. I like the String Builder Book I because it is clean to read
and moves slowly, and orderly in a path to reading and playing violin music. The pages are not distracting. I think too much on a page is hard for beginning students to follow, especially the little ones.
SUZUKI BOOK I, II, III, IV, and sometimes V & VI; it depends on the student and where their skills
are after they finish book IV
FIRST ETUDE ALBUM by Harvey Whistler = This has etudes that are only 4 lines long. It has all the keys and different bowings and rhythms. It is clean to look at, I think that is important for young or new violinists. I use this book along with Book I and II Suzuki. This
book is good for teaching note reading and for the first metronome efforts.
BUILDING TECHNIC WITH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC BOOK I by Samuel Applebaum Belwin Company = I think this is excellent for learning to read music. The piano accompaniment is not difficult and you can use one or two of the selections for each lesson.
It has all the different keys and also explanations of what the piece can teach on the top of each page. The selections in the front of the book have more fingerings on them than the ones later in the book.
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF GRADED PIECES by famous Composers by Paul Herfurth, Boston Music Company = This is a really nice little first position book of 15 solos with easy piano accompaniment. The solos are by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, etc.
These solos can be used for recitals.
SOLOS FOR YOUNG VIOLINISTS by Barbara Barber. This is a series of six volumes. CD's are also available. The solos tend to become hard fairly quickly. I like the scales provided with the solo in the beginning pieces. The solos are appropriate for recitals.
INTRODUCING THE POSITIONS BOOK I Third and Fifth Position by Harvey S. Whistler, Rubank, Inc. = I have tried many different books to learn third position, but
I found that in the long haul, those students who had used this book did the best.
BUILDING TECHNIC WITH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC BOOK III by Samuel Applebaum Belwin Company = This has some nice short, familiar, pieces in the third position.
FUN WITH SOLOS by Evelyn Avasharian, the Children's Music series = This is a must have book for intermediate students.
It contains, *Concertino by Perlman, *Moto Perpetuo by Bohm, *Hungarian Dance #5 by Brahms, *Concertino by Kuchler, *Student Concertino#4 by Huber, *Pupil's Concerto #2 by Seitz, *Sarabande by Bohm, *Fantasia, The Boy Paganini by Mollenhauer, * Duet,Concerto Grosso Op3#11 by Vivaldi; there is a tape available of this book
FAIRFIELD FIDDLE FARM FIDDLE BOOKS I and II by Charles Hall
Also THE AMERICAN FIDDLE METHOD BOOKS by Brian Wickland = is excellent for teaching fiddle music to beginners. CD's can be purchased. This is very helpful for beginners to hear the music while learning it.
These are solos I use for my students and I find them to be useful teaching aids.
They are enjoyable for the students to play and are all appropriate for recitals.
Toy Soldiers March by Kreisler = Charles Foley, Inc.
Dance Espagnol by Davey = Waterloo Music
The Puppet Show by Josephine Trott = Schirmer
Huber Student Concertino in G major Op6, No.2 by Adolf Huber = Carl Fischer
Vivaldi Concerto in G major by Vivaldi = Hug edition
Introduction and Polonaise from Arabesques, No. 12 by Bohm = Carl Fischer
Reiding Concertino in G Major Op. 24 by Reiding = Bosworth
Millionaires Hoedown by Clebanoff = Sam Fox Publishing
Kuchler Concertino in D Major Op. 12 by Kuchler = Bosworth
Polish Dance by Severn = Carl Fischer
Tempo di Minuetto by Kreisler = this was out of print, but I think they are it again.
Mazurka by Mlynarski = Carl Fischer
Allegro by Fiocco
Accolay Concerto in A minor by Accolay
Scene de Ballet op.100 Fantasia by de Beriot
Etudes to guide the violin students
Etudes are not always a violin student's favorite music to practice.
However, they are the music that will probably make the biggest difference in the student's ability to do technic in advanced solos.
There is a progression/order for learning the etudes. However, there is also some allowance for switching back and forth. Most teachers select etudes within the books
by assessing each lesson week what the student needs to work on.
WOHLFAHRT = There are several Wohlfahrt Studies/Etudes Books. Choose the one that meets the students needs. Some studnets need to remain in these etudes longer than others, before moving to more difficult works.
MAZAS Seventy-five Melodious and Progressive Studies = The International Edition of this has more difficult and possibly more musical fingerings, the Fischer edition has easier fingers, staying mostly in the 1,2,3 positions. I have and do use both, it depends on the student.
I have heard teachers say this is too melodious and not enough work type etudes. I like them because I think if the student enjoys the music they are more likely to practice it.
KREUTZER 42 Studies = I have used both the Schirmer and International editions. The fingerings are very different. larger shifts from 1 to 3 in the Schirmer and the more subtle shifts of 1-2-3-2-1 in the International
Music to guide advanced violin students
After many years of study and hours of practice, the reward comes and the violin students are ready to play the advanced literature written for the violin.
I have listed a few.
Bach A minor Concerto Johann Sebastian Bach 1695-1750 was a German composer. His music is considered baroque period. The first movement is the Allegro moderato, the second is an andante, with an ostinato style theme, and the third is allegro assai.
Haydn G Major Concerto No.2 Franz Josef Haydn 1732-1809 wrote his G Major Violin Concerto around 1767. The first movement is Allegro Moderato, the second Adagio, the third Allegro. He also wrote a C Major Concerto for violin and an A Major concerto for violin. The C Major is also an excellent solo selection.
Viotti Concerto No. 22 in A minor & Viotti Concerto No.23 in G Major Giovanni Battista Viotti 1755 - 1824 was an Italian violinist. He wrote twenty-nine violin concertos. The best known of these is No 22 in A minor.
Beethoven Romance in F Op.50
Bach Concerto in E. Major by Bach
Csardas Vittorio Monti 1868-1922 was an Italian composer. He wrote his Csárdás which is Hungarian Gypsy music.
Vitali Chaconne Tomaso Antonio Vitali 1663-1745 wrote his Chaconne/Ciaconne which is a set of variations over a ground. Most people record the Leopold Charlier version.
Rumanian Folk dances by Bartok Bela Bartok a Hungarian composer, 1881-1945 wrote the The Rumanian Folk Dances in 1915. It is based on folksongs and dances collected from peasants and gypsies during his trips through Hungary. It was first arranged for solo piano. The Rumanian Folk Dances presents seven dances, the sixth movement is two folk tunes. The first dance, Joc Cu Bata, dance with a stick, is from the Maros-Torda region. The Brŕul is a sash dance.
During the third dance, Pe Loc, the violin imitates the sound of a flute, while the piano is the drone. Both of these dances are from Torontŕl. Next is the melody, Buciumeana, a dance of the Buscum People from Torda-Aranyos. Next is a Rumanian Polka, Poarga Romaneasca, from Bihar. The Maeuntel is made up of two fast dances; Manuntelul for couples, from Behar and a Piu Allegro, Torda-Aranyos.
Mozart Concerto in G major K.216 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756-1791 wrote this concerto in 1775. It is in three movments. In the first movement, Allegro, the main theme played by the orchestra is a melody borrowed from his Il re pastore. The second movement is an Adagio and the third a Rondeau: Allegro.
Mendelssohn Concerto in E minor Op.64 Felix Mendelssohn 1809-1847 wrote this lovely violin concerto in 1844. It was first first performed March 13th, 1845 in Leipzig by Ferdinand David,. The three movements move from one to next with no break between them. The first movement is the Allegro Molto Appassionato. The Second movement is the lyrical Andante in C Major. The third movement is the Allegretto Non Troppo Allegro Molto Vivace a virtuoso section which returns to the key of E. However, this time in the E Major mode for the finale. The cadenzas are written by the composer and are to be played as written instead of
the violinist creating his own version.
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STRING BUILDER BOOK I by Belwin Company = I have tried many violin method books for beginners. I have a drawer full of them. I like the String Builder Book I because it is clean to read
and moves slowly, and orderly in a path to reading and playing violin music. The pages are not distracting. I think too much on a page is hard for beginning students to follow, especially the little ones.
Solos to guide
Toy Soldiers March by Kreisler = Charles Foley, Inc.
Etudes to guide
WOHLFAHRT = There are several Wohlfahrt Studies/Etudes Books. Choose the one that meets the students needs. Some studnets need to remain in these etudes longer than others, before moving to more difficult works.
Music to guide 