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| Violin | Viola | Cello | String Bass |
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| Browse by Instrument Click here and, at the bottom of the screen, enter String Bass. |
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Violin Methods for Very Young Students (3-5 year olds)
String instruments are difficult for many people and can be especially difficult for very young students. It's a very rare 3- to 5-year old who has the coordination and tenacity to play any instrument, let alone the violin. See Suzuki Method below
Before beginning an instrument, I'd suggest the parent and child take a music preparation class designed for children of this age group. (Local park districts as well as local music stores or music studios probably have such a class.)
Parents need to know that with students who don't read or have the ability to remember what has been taught at each lesson, they will need to be activate involved with music lessons. A child that age will not remember what it is he or she is supposed to practice. Also, he or she will need to be reminded to hold the instrument and bow properly. Parental involvement at all ages greatly enhances students' progress.
Books I've Used
On the plus side, these books are very colorful and have big notes. Good for young beginners (3-5 year olds or so). On the negative side, these books have photographs and instructions that show student how to hold the instrument and bow improperly. When I use the book, I cross out the photos and incorrect descriptions. |
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Suzuki method. Many people ask me about the Suzuki method. Suzuki is a very parent-intensive method for teaching young children. (They have demonstrated children 2 and 3 years old playing violin.) The children and parents go to lessons together and all learn to play violin. The Suzuki method includes games and lots of repetition to teach young students. Suzuki folks say this is a passive way to teach violin.
Parents have told me that their children have gotten bored playing the same song over and over again. (I don't know if it was the children or the parents who got bored.)
My experience with Suzuki has only been with ex-Suzuki students who wanted to study in the traditional way. And, it could be that the students I've had had bad Suzuki teacher but here's my experience (and other teachers I've talked to have had the same experience). Students have learned how to play music by rote (by imitation) and do not read music. These students can play a few songs very well and they tend to be very impressed with their playing ability. When they are asked to read music, they can't read music anywhere near their level. To begin to learn to read music, students have to "go backwards." They feel frustrated when they are forced to read music -- they want someone to "just show" them.
I do sometimes use Suzuki books because they have a nice, graded selection of music for students. (The piano accompaniment parts aren't too wonderful.) Link to Suzuki Books.
Violin Methods for Young Students (6 and up year olds)
Students are all so different it's hard (maybe impossible) to get a perfect fix. String methods seem to have holes in the instruction that the teacher will need to fill. Here are some comments you might find helpful when you are selecting a book.
| Very detailed, completed method books. Unfortuantely, these books are not as fashy as some today's students may wish. Can also be used for group instruction. |
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Violin Methods Typically Used in Schools (3rd grade and up)
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