(This page is part of a set. Click here to return to the main violin page.)

I. Introduction, About the Violin, Practice Before Playing

Welcome; introduction to the violin; choosing a violin; the bow; caring for a violin; the strings; tuning the violin; Up and Down Plucking Song; holding a “box” violin; holding a “stick” bow; bow exercises using a pencil; preparing fingers to play; bow exercises using a straw; chin rest pad; holding the violin; tightening and loosening the bow hair; how to rosin the bow hair; holding the bow

II. Clap and Sing, Playing Your First Songs

I Like You – clap and sing; get ready to play; I Like You – each string; Which String is This? Game; more songs for each string; make up your own song; Magic Songs Game – One String; songs for string crossing; make up a string-crossing song; songs for two strings played together; Magic Songs Game – Two Strings

III. Using the Left Hand Fingers; Songs for Fingers 1, 2, and 3

Numbering the left-hand fingers; using the Finger Tracker; adding the 1st finger; songs for the 1st finger; Magic Songs Game – 1st Finger; adding the 2nd finger; songs for the 2nd finger; Magic Songs Game – 2nd finger; adding the 3rd finger; songs for the 3rd finger; Magic Songs Game – 3rd finger

IV. New Songs, Adding the 4th Finger, First Scales

Alouette; Hot Cross Buns; Mary Had a Little Lamb, playing short strokes, Mark Is Jumping, What Sign Is This? Game; adding the 4th finger; On the Bridge at Avignon; Sleep, Baby, Sleep; A Major scale; Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Jingle Bells; D Major scale; London Bridge is Falling Down; Which Part of the Bow Is It? Game; wrist motion; Rain Dance; G Major scale; Magic Songs Game – Pick the Strings; Go Tell Aunt Rhody; Sneaky Fox; Lightly Row

V. Introduction to Reading Notation

Notes; rhythm; The Rhythm Note Game; time signatures; bar lines; measures; the Note System Game; the strings; Open Strings Songs; Which String is This? Game; names of notes; fingering chart; notes on E and A strings; songs for E and A strings include: Lazy Mary, Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Au Clair de la Lune, and more.

VI. Introduction to Reading Notation

Notes on D and G strings; rests; D Major scale; the D String Game; rests; the Rhythm Rest Game; Magic Songs Game – Reading Notes; G Major scale; the G String Game: Magic Songs Game – All Strings; songs for D and G strings include: Long, Long Ago; Diddle, Diddle Dumpling; When the Saints Go Marching In; the Wedding March; Jolly Old St. Nicholas; Teasing Song; Old MacDonald Had a Farm; Brother John; Row, Row, Row Your Boat; and more.