Violin Method Books for Children

In my research on the most popular violin method books being used to teach young beginners, I discovered that there is a wealth of tried and tested resources available. Here are the Top Violin Method Books for Children.

1. Suzuki Violin School: Violin Part (Volume 1)

This is the first volume from the Suzuki Violin School repertoire. The first volume lays a solid foundation for beginning violin students and includes timeless masterpieces to learn. I recommend purchasing the accompanying cd as well. If you choose the Suzuki method, it is important that you learn under the instruction of a Suzuki teacher.

2. Strictly Strings: A Comprehensive String Method Book 1 : Violin

A beginning violin method book for children that begins with instructions on how to hold the violin and bow, progressing to nice music pieces for the student to learn. There is also a choice of purchasing the accompanying cd.

3. Stepping Stones Violin

Published by Boosey & Hawkes, it contains 26 music pieces for beginners.

4. Fiddle Time Joggers Violin Book 1 With CD

A first book of very easy violin pieces that has an accompanying cd for further learning.

5. All For Strings Book I

A comprehensive string method that has lessons on standard notation, bowing and fingerings accompanied by illustrations.

6. String Explorer Book 1 Violin

By Alfred's Publishing, a violin string method written by Andrew Dabczynski, Richard Meyer and Bob Phillips. Students are guided through the structured lessons by the characters Arco Dakota and Rosalyn Le Bow.

7. Musicland Violin Book 1

Created by Caroline Lumsden, the lessons are guided by lovable characters kids will adore.

8. Solos for Young Violinists, Violin Part and Piano Accompaniment. Volume 1

A graded series of music pieces from elementary to advanced levels. Includes various techniques and styles in music and has an accompanying cd for piano tracks.

9. The Essential String Method Violin - Book 1

Teaches creativity, musical awareness and technical development from the very beginning.

10. Maia Bang Violin Method - Book 1

This is the first in a series of 6 numbered books. Features compositions by Leopold Auer.

Violin Methods

Suzuki Method

There are various techniques used by music educators when it comes to teaching students how to play the violin. This article will shed some light into the most popular violin teaching methods.

· Suzuki Method

Origin - The Suzuki method was developed by the late Shinichi Suzuki, a Japanese who was an accomplished violinist. He played for the Imperial Court of Japan and formed the Suzuki Quartet with his siblings. Dr. Shinichi Suzuki then went on to start a music school and in 1964, the Suzuki method was introduced to the United States. Shinichi Suzuki died on January 27, 1998.

Philosophy - The method was based on Suzuki's observation of children when he was in Germany. He observed that children are able to learn their mother tongue with no difficulty. He noted that children who are born in German households naturally learn to speak the German language. Children who are born in a Japanese household would naturally adapt their native language. He concluded that a child's environment greatly influences his/her development.

Technique - Using the "Talent Education Movement", children start taking violin lessons by age 2 or 3. Suzuki students are first exposed to great classical recordings and music pieces that they will eventually learn. Background music will constantly be playing while children are at school to immerse them in music. The belief behind this is that children will learn to develop good musical ears, able to detect changes in pitch, timing, tone, etc. Students learn by observation, they learn as a group. Social interaction and cooperation is fostered among students.

Parent's Role - The Suzuki method stresses the importance of parental influence and involvment. Parents and teachers work together to achieve a common goal. Parents are expected to attend lessons and serve as teachers at home.

Top 10 Musical Instruments for Beginners

There are some musical instruments that are easier to learn than others and are suitable for beginners. Here are the top 10 instruments for beginners in no particular order.

1) Violin

Violins are fairly easy to start learning and is mostly suitable for children 6 years and older. They come in a variety of sizes, from full size to 1/16, depending on the age of the learner. Violins are very popular and in demand so if you become a professional player it wouldn't be hard to join an orchestra or any musical group. Remember to opt for non-electric violins as it is more adequate for beginning students.

2) Cello

Another instrument that is fairly easy to start and suitable for kids 6 years and older. It is essentially a large violin but its' body is thicker. It is played the same way as the violin, by rubbing the bow across the string. But where you can play the violin standing up, the cello is played sitting down while holding it between your legs. It also comes in different sizes from full size to 1/4.

3) Double Bass

This instrument is like a huge cello and is played the same way, by rubbing the bow across the strings. Another way of playing it is by plucking or striking the strings. Double bass can be played while standing up or sitting down and is suitable for kids 11 years and older. It also comes in various sizes from full size, 3/4, 1/2 and smaller. The double bass isn't as popular as other string instruments but is essential in most kinds of ensemble especially jazz bands.

4) Flute

Flutes are very popular and suitable for children to learn at age 10 upwards. Since it is very popular, there will be a lot of competition out there if you do decide to continue professionally. But don't let this fact dishearten you. The flute is one of the easiest instrument to learn, easy to transport, not hard on the budget and fun to play.

5) Clarinet

Another instrument of the woodwind family that is easy to start for kids 10 years and older. Like the flute, it is very popular and you will find opportunities to play it professionally if you desire. There are students who start off with the clarinet and take another instrument like a saxophone and have no problems with the transition.

6) Saxophone

Saxophones come in a variety of sizes and types: like the soprano saxophone, the alto sax, tenor sax and the baritone sax. It is suitable for kids age 12 years and older. The alto saxophone is advisable for beginners. You will have a lot of opportunities to play the saxophone as it is needed in most school orchestras.

7) Trumpet

The trumpet belongs to the brass family of instruments and is quite easy to start for students age 10 and older. Trumpets are orchestral instruments mostly used in jazz bands. It is easy to learn, easy to transport, fun to play and not very expensive. Remember to avoid buying a trumpet with a painted finish as the paint will chip.

8) Guitar

The guitar is one of the most popular instruments and is suitable for students age 6 years upwards. Folk style is easier to start with for beginners and remember to opt for non-electric guitars if you're just starting out. Guitars come in a variety of sizes and styles to suit any students need. Guitars are a mainstay in most music ensembles and you can also play it solo and still sound appealing.

9) Piano

Suitable for kids 6 years and older. The piano takes a lot of time and patience to master, but once you do, it is worth it. The piano is one of the most versatile instruments out there and one of the most beautiful sounding. Traditional pianos are more suitable for beginners but there are a lot of electronic pianos out in the market right now that sound and feel like a real piano and cost almost the same.

10) Harp

The harp is surprisingly easy to start. There are piano students who learn to play the harp with little difficulty because both instruments require reading music pieces in double-stave. Harps come in small sizes for kids age 8 years upwards and bigger harps for students 12 years and older. There are not a lot of people who play the harp and finding a teacher may be difficult. Nevertheless, it is one of the most ancient and beautiful sounding instrument and it's worth learning if you desire.

Taking Care of Your Violin

If you want your musical instrument to perform well, you should take good care of it. The violin can be a very expensive purchase, depending on your budget. Thus, it makes perfect sense that you shouldn't only learn how to play it, but should also learn how to maintain it.

Some of the common damages that happens to a violin are:

• The tailpiece might break.
• The fingerboard might come unglued.
• The bridge of the violin might snap.
• The bow might snap.

Here are some tips on how to take care of your violin:

Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Do not store your violin in or near areas that have extreme changes in temperature, such as in the basement or attic. Violins are very fragile instruments, when they are continuously exposed to temperature changes and humidity, it will eventually break and fall apart.

Good Storage
When you're not using your violin, put it inside a good quality case to ensure protection. Most damages a violin undergo is because of the owner's neglect, such as placing it in areas where it's more exposed to possibilities of damage, like near the sink or behind a bedroom door.

Too Much Rosin
Rosin is applied to the bow hair causing it to grip the violin strings when playing. Without it, the bow hair will slide across the string without producing any sound. There are two types of rosin: Light Rosin is best suited for warm climates. It's harder and not as sticky as the dark rosin. Dark Rosin is most suited for cool climates, it is softer than the light rosin. Avoid putting too much rosin on the bow as it will drip onto the violin and cause staining.

Invest on Quality Strings
Cheap strings will cause tension on the violin resulting in cracks, warping and other damage.

Do Not Ignore Minor Problems
If you notice a slight damage on your violin, don't wait. Go to an experienced luthier immediately. Most damages that start out little become huge, not only to the violin, but also to your wallet.

Go to a Luthier
If you need repairs for your violin go to an experienced luthier. These people have been trained and are experts in repairing stringed instruments that are either bowed or plucked, including violins. Of course, you must do your research first before going to one. Ask for recommendations from trusted family, friends and music teachers.

3 Tips on Buying a Used Instrument

There are advantages to buying a used music instrument. For one, you can find a good quality instrument at a lower price than buying a new one. On the other hand, there are also some risks involved when buying a used instrument. One downside is you don't get any warranties, unless the used instrument is fairly new.

When buying a used musical instrument there are three things you should keep in mind:

1. Who and Where
A good factor to determine an instruments' condition is to know who previously owned it. If you're buying it from a garage sale, then you might be able to meet the owner and ask him why he's selling it, how long he used it, etc. If you're buyng it from an online shop, make sure they have a good customer satisfaction rating or better, a return policy. If you're buying it from a music store, ask the salesperson if it's possible to know the name of its previous owner, how long it's been in the store, etc.

2. Overall Condition
If possible, ask someone who knows a lot about music instruments to accompany you. Maybe you have a friend who plays the instrument you want to learn or a music teacher in your area who's willng to help you. They can help assess whether the instrument is in good condition by playing it, listening to how it sounds and how it feels while they're playing it.

3. Value for your Money
Make sure that the money you're paying for the used instrument is worth it. Research first how much the instrument costs if it's brand new, go to different shops, compare prices, compare the condition of the used instruments and assess whether it's truly a good deal.

Before You Buy a Violin

Your mind is set, you are going to buy your first violin and start taking lessons. But before you do, here are some tips to guide you on your purchase.

Budget

You will hear me saying this often. As with any special purchase you make, the first thing to determine is your budget. How much or how little can you spend on buying a violin? A helpful tip is to give yourself a timeframe to save up enough money so you can buy a decent, good quality violin.

Where to Shop

Ask for recommendations from music teachers, family and friends who have been playing a musical instrument for some time, research online shops and go to music stores in your area. Compare prices and the quality of the instrument before you decide on which one to buy.

What to Look For

Look for a violin that is properly set up, meaning, every single part of the instrument down to its minutest detail must be made and functioning correctly. Tone and power are some of the qualities you should look for in a violin. Bring someone knowledgeable about this when you go shopping.

Try Before You Buy

Most shop owners will let you try their merchandise before you buy. I strongly suggest you do so, or bring along someone you know who's been playing the violin for sometime. That way you'll have added input on the instruments' feel and performance.

Violin Accessories

Sometimes you need to buy the violin accessories separately. Don't forget to look at the quality of the bow. A quality bow has a good weight, balance and flexibility. Also, don't forget to purchase a case, extremely important especially when you have to travel for your lessons.

Classified Period or Era Violins

Violins amy also be classified by period or era:

1. Baroque Violin - The violin of this period had a shallower angle and neck, there was not much thought given to chin and shoulder rests and the strings were strung in gut with equal tension.
2. Classical Violin - The violin of this period had a thinner neck and smaller heels than that of the Baroque period.
3. Modern Violin - The neck of the modern violin is more sharply angled, the wood used is thinner and smaller and the strings are tuned higher.

Violins may also be classified by the country from which it originated such as China, Korea, Hungary, Germany and Italy. People who make violins are called luthier. Less expensive violins often come from China, while the most expensive, the Stradivarius, (named after Antonio Stradivari) comes from Italy.

Types of Violins

There are many violin makers from all across the world who create violins for specific name brands. Generally, there are two types of violins:

1. Acoustic or Non-Electric Violin - This is the traditional violin that is more suitable for beginners. The violin is a bowed string instrument that has the highest tune and is the smallest among the violin family of instruments. It is also called the fiddle when used to play traditional or folk music.

2. Electric Violin - As the name implies, electric violins use an electronic signal output and is suited for more advanced players. The sound of an electric violin is sharper than that of an acoustic.

Sizes of Violin

The violin is one of the most user-friendly musical instruments because it comes with varying sizes to suit the age of the player. Here are the various sizes and types of violins:

Sizes of Violins

1. 1/16 - Suitable for young children age 3 to five years old. with an arm length of 14 to 15 3/8 inches.
2. 1/10 - Also for young musicians age 3 to 5 years old, with an arm length of 15 3/8 to 17 inches.
3. 1/8 - Again, for young violin enthusiasts age 3 to 5 years old with an arm length of 17.1 to 17.5 inches.
4. 1/4 - With an arm length of 17.6 to 20 inches, this violin is suitable for children 4 to 7 years old.
5. 1/2 - For children ages 6 to 10 years old, with an arm length of 20 to 22 inches.
6. 3/4 - Children 9 to 11 years old with an arm length of 22 to 23.5 inches will enjoy playing this size violin.
7. 4/4 or Full Size Violin - For violinists age 9 and above with an arm length of 23.5 and up. This is the size for adults.

Parts of the Violin

In order to learn how to play the violin, you must first be well acquainted with the different parts of the violin and the specific functions of those parts. The parts of the violin are named just like a human body. It has a neck, belly (front of the violin), back and ribs (the sides of the violin). The other parts of the violin are:

1. Scroll - This is located at the top of the violin. It is a decorative part, mostly hand carved.
2. Pegbox - This is where the pegs are inserted. The pegs are adjusted to tune the violin.
3. Nut - Helps keep the distance of the strings and supports the strings so that it has a good height from the fingerboard.
4. Strings - It has 4 strings that are tuned a fifth apart.
5. Bridge - The position of the bridge is essential as it directly relates to the quality of sound produced by the violin. The bridge is held in place by the strings' tension. When the string vibrates, the bridge also vibrates.
6. Fingerboard - It is a strip of wood on the neck of the violin where the strings are. When a violinist plays, he presses down the strings on the fingerboard, thus changing the pitch.
7. Sounding Post - Located under the bridge, it supports the pressure inside the violin. The bridge and sounding post are directly related, when the violin vibrates, the bridge, body and sounding post vibrates as well.
8. F Holes - Is located in the middle of the violin. It is called F Hole because it is shaped like an F in Italics. It allows sound to come out of the violin. Altering the F Hole, such as its length, can affect the sound of the violin.
9. Tailpiece - Holds the strings so that it has a good distance from the bridge.
10. Chin Rest - It helps the violinist hold the instrument in place. While playing, the violinist can use his chin to hold the violin, thus freeing up his hands.
    

History

It is believed that the violin originated from Italy in the early 1500s. It evolved from the fiddle and rebec, both were bowed string instruments from the Medieval period. The violin also emerged from the lira da braccio, a violin-like instrument of the Renaissance period. The viol, which came before the violin, is also closely related.

It is Andrea Amati who is the known developer of the violin. Amati apprenticed as a lute maker and in 1525, he became a master instrument maker.

The earliest noted violin makers were Gasparo da Salò and Giovanni Maggini, both Italians, but it is during the 17th and early 18th centuries that the art of violin making reached its peak. The Italians Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri as well as the Austrian Jacob Stainer are most noted during this period. Stradivari was an apprentice to Nicolo Amati, Andrea Amati's grandson.

Earliest Form

The earliest form of the violin is very different from that of today. The early violins had a neck that was shorter, thicker and less angled. The fingerboard was likewise shorter, the bridge was flatter and the strings were made of gut.

At first the violin wasn't popular, in fact, it was considered a musical instrument of low status. But by the 1800s such well-known composers as Claudio Monteverdi used the violin in his operas, thus the violins' status grew. The violins' prestige continued to rise during the Baroque period, made more notable by such celebrated figures in music as Antonio Vivaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach.

By the mid-18th century, the violin enjoyed a vital place in instrumental music ensembles. In the 19th century, the violins' rise to fame continued in the hands of virtuoso violinists such as Nicolò Paganini and Pablo de Sarasate. In the 20th century the violin reached new heights both in technical and artistic aspects. Isaac Stern and Fritz Kreisler are some of the well-known icons of this time. Truly, the violin has come a long way.

Well Known Composers for the Violin

• Baroque and Classical Period - Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven
• Romantic Period - Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
• 20th Century - Claude Debussy, Arnold Schoenberg, Bela Bartok and Igor Stravinsky.