Violin Études: What Is The Usual Progression of Violin Études?
Violin Études: What Is The Usual Progression of Violin Études?
Violin Études: What Is The Usual Progression of Violin Études?
There are really no hard and fast rules; what a teacher must be is sensitive to what the student needs,
their interests and how they learn, and use materials appropriate for them, rather than everything the
same for everyone. I normally start with the Suzuki book 1, but use an eclectic combination of
materials: at the Minuets in the first Suzuki book, I add Laoureux, A Practical Method for Violin Part 1
and the Tune A Day Scale Book (an excellent book!). For the smallest children I use Mary Cohen's
Bags of Tunes.
I introduce Wohlfahrt Book 1 at the beginning of Suzuki Book 4 (Seitz concerti - see pdf: Suzuki
Violin Repertoire List), and the progression after that is Wohlfahrt Book 2-Kayser-Dont Op. 37-Mazas-
Kreutzer, followed by Rode, Gavinies and Dont Op. 35.
Along with the first Wohlfahrt, I add Trott Melodious Doublstops Bk. 1 and then Bk. 2, and the
Whistler, Introducing the Positions, Bk. 1 and then Bk. 2. At Book 2 in those series, we can begin to
add Schradieck (Book 1, Book 2, Book 3). Along with the Schradieck, I introduce Carl Flesch Scale
Studies.
It should be noted that there are violin teachers (Dr. Schmeider at Rice and later, at USC, is I believe an
example) who don't use any tudes at all, in their teaching, and they have great results with students.
On the other end of the spectrum are teachers who load you up with evck, endless hours of purely
mechanical study, and some people swear by this method.
Scale Books:
After the Tune a Day Scale book, I use Hrimaly. Between the Hrimaly and the Carl Flesh, I've started
using the Barbara Barber Scales for Advanced Violinists or Scales for Advanced Violists. I use the first
two pages, with all the different bowings, applied to all keys in three octaves. I have a small box with
small cards with all the major and minor keys written on them, and the student picks a card, which is
their scale for the week. In order to develop a consistency in the fingering, I have the students shift up
into third position on the A (or D on viola) string, and then shift down on the top string. Every three
octave scale starting with a 2nd finger has the same fingering. Thus the students are easily able to
memorize all the scales in every key. See:
Handout: Violin/Viola, Piano - 3 octave scale fingerings
Handout: Analysis of Carl Flesch Scale System
John Krakenberger: Galamian Scale System - Methodology
Free one- to three-octave Printable Violin and Viola Scales
Two Octave Major and Minor scales for violin, viola, cello and bass
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evck:
The use of evck exercises is somewhat controversial, I think. I recently purchased a complete set of
violin and viola works, and in examining these, I think they are incredibly useful. See:
evck for Violin:
evck for Viola:
Op.1, Bk. 1, Op.1, Bk. 2, Op.1, Bk. 3, Op.1, Bk. 4
Selected Studies in First Position
evck for Violin (Scales and Arpeggios)
School of Bowing Technics: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
School of Bowing Technics: Bk. 1, Bk. 2
School of Technique: Part 1, Part 2, Parts 3 & 4.
Preparatory Trill Studies, Op. 7: Bk. 1, Bk. 2
Preparatory Trill Studies, Op. 7 - Part 1
Shifting the Position and Preparatory Scale
Changes Of Position And Preparatory Scale
Studies, Op. 8
Studies
Preparatory Exercises in Double-Stopping, Op. 9
Preparatory Exercises in Double-Stopping, Op. 9
Also see:
John Krakenberger: Violin-Viola Pedagogy: evck yes or evck no One way of acquiring many of
these materials inexpensively is to purchase the CD Sheetmusic CD which has the etudes. Contents are
listed here: Violin Methods, the Ultimate Collection. This has Hohman and Sitt, which are great, and
Secvik, Dont Op. 35 and 37, Hrimaly, Kreutzer, Schradieck, Rode, Fiorillo. If you don't mind printing
this stuff out yourself, it's worth getting. Bear in mind that after three downloads of the software, it
locks. So you only want to download it with that in mind.
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Nicolas Laoureux,
A Practical Method for Violin
Nicolas Laoureux: Biographical Notes - Essay by Lynn Wallisch
Latest UPDATE including three new photos!
Excellent books to use in conjunction with the Suzuki materials: Nicolas Laoureux, A
Practical Method for Violin. The open string approach at the beginning of the first book is
very effective in teaching good sound production, proper bow alignment and rhythmic
accuracy in reading: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Supplement to Part 1, Supplement to Part
2. Note that I was unable to find a copy of Part 4, but a print-out may be purchased directly
from the publisher, $29.00 plus Shipping. Email: [email protected]. Part 3 also available
for download: Part 3.
I ordered the Supplement to Part II, and the Part IV, from the publisher, as these two books
were not available for sale online anywhere that I could locate. Schirmers sent them in book
form; in other words, I thought they might send me an array of printed sheets that I would
need to three-hole punch and put in a notebook, but instead, they sent printed copies in book
form which are like the actual other books, just clearly printed out but beautifully put
together. It's nice to have the complete set to examine:
Supplement 2 Part 4
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The Doflein Method:
Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5.
Charles Dancla:
20 tudes Brillantes & Caracteristiques Op. 73
School of Mechanism Op. 74
36 Studi Op. 84
Six Airs Varies Op. 89
Franz Wohlfahrt:
Op. 38: Easiest Elementary Method for Beginners
Op. 45: Sixty Studies for the Violin, Bk. 1
Op. 45: Sixty Studies for the Violin, Bk. 2
Op. 54: 40 Elementary Studies
Op. 74: Fifty Easy Melodious Studies for the Violin, Bks. 1 & 2
Kayser - violin
Jacques Mazas:
Bk. 1, Bk. 2, Bk. 3
Dont Op. 37
Kreutzer - violin, Galamian ed.
Rode: 24 Caprices
Dounis
Gavinies
Fiorillo
Dont Op. 35
Paganini Caprices
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School of Bowing Technics: Bk. 1, Bk. 2
Preparatory Trill Studies, Op. 7: Bk. 1, Bk. 2
Shifting the Position and Preparatory Scale Studies, Op. 8
Preparatory Exercises in Double-Stopping, Op. 9
Sheila Nelson:
Moving Up Violin/Keyboard
Moving Up Again Violin/Keyboard
Lisa Berman: Violin Scales and Arpeggios in One, Two, and Three Octaves: Based on Carl Flesch
Susan Brown: Two Octave Scales And Bowings For The Violin
JoAnne Erwin, Kathleen Horvath: A Scale In Time
Simon Fischer: Scales
William Fitzpatrick: Scale Workbook (2 Octaves)
Carl Flesch: Scale Studies - violin
Ivan Galamian Contemporary Violin Technique: Vol. 1, Vol. 2
C. Paul Herfurth: A Tune A Day Beginning Scales for Violin
Jan Hrimaly: Scale Book - violin
Paul Rolland, James Starr: Three Octave Scale Fingering Alternatives
Henry Schradieck: School Of Violin Technics: Bk. 1, Bk. 2, Bk. 3
Hans Sitt: Scales Studies For Violin, Op. 41
William Starr: Scales Plus!
Ritter-Stoessel: Scale and Chord Exercises for the Violin
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Accidentals Happen! Scale Books by William H. Somach
Major & Minor, Modes, Dominant 7th, Pentatonic & Ethnic, Diminished & Augmented, Whole Tone,
Jazz & Blues, Chromatic
VIOLIN:
Scales for Violin in First Position
Scales for Violin in One Octave
Scales for Violin in Two Octaves
Scales for Violin in Three Octaves
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Recordings of tudes