Ballet - Opera -  Violin - Guitar... and much more coming soon!


​

Violin Sampler Lessons
by
Jonita Aadland
​Online - Interactive

  


Lesson 1:
Overview of the instrument, watch instructor play to see how it works
Learn parts of the violin and bow
Maintenance/proper care of the violin and bow
Show how to hold the violin, high on shoulder, chin on chin rest
Proper bow hold
Teacher plays some songs we will be learning, class sings along
Show proper way to put violin and bow in case

Lesson 2
Review lesson 1
Learn names of the strings.
Pluck strings with fingers on right hand (pizzicato) and try placing the fingers of left hand on the strings.  Learn proper straight wrist alignment on left arm so fingers easily fall into place on the strings on the tips of the fingers. 
“Wormhole”
Place bow on strings to learn “silent teeter totter” to show elbow elevation determines which string bow is on.  Show how bow needs to be on same string as fingers and how to get a clear sound. 
Play long bows on open strings, show proper bow placement between the bridge and fingerboard.
“Pepperoni Pizza” bowing
Assign listening to Suzuki Book 1 CD to get the songs in head for easy learning.  Play along with CD on open A string to learn rhythms.

Lesson 3
Review Lesson 2
Have students play along to instructor playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Twinkle variations, Lightly Row, etc. to get the feel of how it works.
Focus on bow sound and playing in the middle of the bow to get best sound.  Weight of the bow.  Proper hold and finger flexibility.  Spider fingers up and down bow.  Smiling thumb.  Bunny rabbit.
Practice rhythms and singing Suzuki songs to assure the students know how they should sound.  Emphasis the listening importance since it is like learning a new language.  You must hear how it sounds and mimic before attempting to read!
Show how to play Twinkle with fingers. 
Assign learning Twinkle theme with fingers.

Lesson 4
Review Lesson 3
Play Twinkle Twinkle with fingerings.  See if everyone is playing on tips of fingers, straight wrist, “wormhole.”  Long bows.  Bowing coordinated with fingers on proper string.
Discuss up and down bow markings.
Demonstrate Twinkle Variation 1 “Pepperoni Pizza” bowing.
Have students play “Pepperoni Pizza” bowing on A string while teacher plays Twinkle variation 1 with fingers.
Assign playing Twinkle Variation 1 at home with fingers and also playing rhythms to CD tracks on A string.  Work out a timesheet/repetition chart to keep track of number of times per day student plays Twinkle and Twinkle Variation 1 and rhythms with CD.  Emphasize no progress happens without repetitions! J

Lesson 5
Review Lesson 4
Check progress on the assignment.  Look for posture issues, violin hold, bow hold, string crossing/elbow elevation right arm.  Are the fingers on tips?  Is there space/wormhole on left hand?  Is left wrist straight?
Address any issues to correct technique.  Either reassign Lesson 4 or move on to next Twinkle Rhythm and possibly “Lightly Row.”  Emphasize that we never “move on” to next song but we “add” to our repertoire!  So, we never leave “Twinkle” behind.  We always start with Twinkle and play on through the book.
Assign as needed based on whether to review old material or adding new.

Lesson 6
Review/Questions
Play through material starting with Twinkle.  Watch for technique issues.
This might be a good place to address proper bow hold.  Show how best bow hold is when arm falls naturally to side.  Loose fingers, relaxed.  No “mountain fingers”   Bunny rabbit?   “Up like a rocket” poem.  Spider fingers.  “Windshield wipers” for bow control and balance and weight.  Address as much as can be digested by student…………this will vary based on ability and progress.  But important to continually show what the goal is and the right way to hold the bow and working joints, etc.
Teacher shows good bowing technique.
Assign regular practice of repertoire but add bowing exercises……. Long bows conscious of finger movement on bow.  Fingers “ride” the bow.

Lesson 7
Review/Questions about practice and issues students are running into.
Discuss the color chart of fingerings.  Learn an A major scale.
Talk about intonation and bow speed to get the best sound.
Play repertoire up to this point.
Assign next tune accordingly, maybe new Twinkle Rhythms

Lesson 8
Review/Questions
Play A major scale together slowly.  Work on intonation.
Play through repertoire.
Deal with technique issues as needed.  Posture, etc.
Discuss importance of practice and getting the most out of practice time.
Discuss ring tones.
Assign next song “Song of the Wind”  Explain staccato bowing and circle bows.

Lesson 9
Review/Questions
Play  repertoire starting with Twinkle.  Ask if issues/questions regarding “Song of the Wind” 
Review scale.  Add D major scale. 
Go over some of the technique exercises in Suzuki book.
Assign next song if ready.

Lesson 10
Review/Questions
Play repertoire up through “Go tell Aunt Rhody”
Learn G major scale.  Learn G major arpeggio.  Discuss what arpeggio is.  Show also D and A arpeggios.
Questions/technique work.  Have students try to hear the ring tones.
Discuss dynamics and playing with feeling.
Assign “O Come Little Children”  Explain repeat sign since this is the first time using it and also the “pick up” note which starts piece with an up bow for the first time.  All other songs began with down bows.  Emphasize the beauty of the song and how it should be played with feeling like a lullaby.