Pedagogy
Our approach to violin study is based on the pedagogy of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998) who has transformed the world of music education through his understanding of how musical abilities are acquired. Dr. Suzuki’s approach to the study of an instrument is based on his studies of the factors involved in a child’s development of language. When Dr. Suzuki realized how beautifully all children learn to speak their native language he understood how the same principles could be applied to music education. He has shown how all children can develop musical ability if we work to create the same environment for music that we automatically provide for language. The most important factor in his approach is that the students must be in an environment where music (classical literature) is heard and enjoyed.
We set goals with each student based on a variety of factors including start age, skill, and desire.
Levels
-
Twinkle - Variation A
Twinkle - Variation B
Twinkle - Variation C
Twinkle - Variation D
Twinkle - Theme
Boil ‘em Cabbage Down
Shortnin’ Bread
Cripple Creek
Lightly Row
Song of the Wind
Camptown Races
Go Tell Aunt Rhody
O Come, Little Children
Angelina Baker
May Song
Buffalo Gals
Long, Long Ago
Allegro
Cindy
Perpetual Motion
Crawdad Song -
Allegretto
Old Joe Clark
Andantino
Soldier’s Joy
Arran Boat Song
Etude
Minuet No. 1
Merrily We Roll Along
Lavender’s Blue
Lightly Row
French Folk Tune
Au Clair De La Lune
Rocking
Little Donkey
Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone
If You’re Happy And You Know It
Reading 1-10
Reading 11-20
Reading 21-30
Reading 31-40 -
Minuet No. 3
Bonaparte’s Retreat
Country Waltz
Minuet No. 2
Red Haired Boy
Girl I Left Behind Me
The Happy Farmer
Southwind
Hickory Dickory Dock
Daisy
Sailors Hornpipe
Cradle Song
Soldiers’ March
My Grandfather’s Clock
Greensleeves
Reading 41-50
Reading Bk.2 - #1-25
Magic I and II
Magic III and IV
Magic V, VI, and VII -
Chorus from “Judas Maccabaeus”
Musette
Hunters’ Corus
Red Wing
Long, Long, Ago
Waltz
Cairo
Gavotte by Gossec
Bourrée
Tunes you Know, Bk. 2 - top part p.5, p.10, p.15
I Can Read Music, Bk. 2 p.33, p.40, p.50
Fiddle Magic VII, IX, X -
Turkey in the Straw
The Two Grenadiers
Grandfather’s Clock
Theme from “Witches’ Dance”
Wise Old Friend
Gavotte from “Mignon”
Stinky’s Blues
Gavotte - Lully
Tunes You Know, Book 1 - bottom part p.5, p.10, p15
I Can Read Music p.57, p.67, p.75
Fiddle Magic XI, XII, XIII -
Minuet - Beethoven
Minuet - Boccherini
Gavotte - Martini
Minuet - J.S. Bach
Gavotte in G minor
Humoresque
I Can Read Music Book 2 - p.83, p.90, p.100
Tunes You Know Book 2 Bottom Part - p.5, p.10, p.15
Fiddle Magic - XIV#6, XIV#12, XV -
At this level, students’ technique will begin to take off
They will Master:● All three-octave major and minor scales and triads
● Sevcik bowing
● Vibrato
● Whistler – Introducing the Positions – Bk. 1And complete the following Repertoire:
Bach-Gounod - Ave Maria
Kreisler - Tempo di Minuetto
Mlynarski - Mazurka
Seitz - Concerto No. 5, 3rd Mvt.
Veracini - Gigue
Vivaldi - Concerto in A minor – all
Vivaldi - Concerto in G minor – allOptional Repertoire:
Bohm - Perpetual Mobile (BB3)
Dancla - 5th Air Vatie (BB3)
Folk Song - Two Guitars (Album)
Massenet - Elegie (Album)
Mondonville - Tambourin (Gingold)
Moszowski - Spanish Dance (Album)
Rebel - The Bells (Gingold)
Senaille - Allegro Spiritoso
Martinu - Sonatina
Telemann - Six Partitas -
Students will complete the following Repertoire:
Vivaldi - Concerto in A minor, 1st Mvt.
Seitz - Concerto No. 5, 3rd Mvt.
Vivaldi - Concerto in A minor, 3rd Mvt.
Vivaldi - Concerto in A minor, 2nd Mvt.
Mlynarski - Mazurka
Bach-Gounod - Ave Maria
Vivaldi - Concerto in G minor, 1st Mvt.
Kreisler - Tempo di Minuetto – Kreisler
Vivaldi - Concerto in G minor, 2nd Mvt.
Veracini - Gigue
Vivaldi - Concerto in G minor, 3rd Mvt. -
Students will complete the following Repertoire:
Handel - Sonata in F major, 1st Mvt.
Handel - Sonata in F major, 2nd Mvt.
Bohm - Introduction and Polonaise
Eccles - Sonata in G minor, 1st Mvt. Eccles - Sonata in G minor, 2nd Mvt.
Jardanyi - Concertino
Handel - Sonata in F major, 3rd Mvt.
Handel - Sonata in F major, 4th Mvt.
Severn - Polish Dance
Eccles - Sonata in G minor, 3rd Mvt.
Eccles - Sonata in G minor, 4th Mvt.
Potstock - Souvenir de SarasateOptional Repertoire:
Schubert - Allegro (Gingold)
Fiocco - Allegro (Suzuki 6)
Corelli - La Folia (Suzuki 6)
Kreisler-Gluck - Melodie (Barbara Barber 4)
Kreisler - Rondino (Barbara Barber 4)
Paradis - Sicilienne
Bohm - The Rain -
Students will complete the following Repertoire:
Handel - Sonata in D or A major
Martinu - Rhythmic Etudes 1&2
Martinu - 5 Madrigal Stanzas
Massenet - Meditation from “Thais”(BB5)
Pugnani - Largo Espressivo (S8)
Ten Have - Allegro Brillante
Veracini - Sonata (S8)
Vivaldi - Sonatas
Weber - Waltz (BB5) -
Students will complete the following Repertoire:
Accolay - Concerto
Bach - Allegro (S8)
Berio - Concerto No. 9, 1st Mvt.
Brahms - Hungarian Dance #2
Dvorak - Sonatina
Haydn - Concerto in G major
Kelar-Bela - The Son of the Puszta (36 Pieces)
Kreisler - Sicilienne and Rigaudon (BB5)
Lloyd - Three Pieces
Marais - Five Old French Dances
Martinu - Rhythmic Etudes 3&4
Tartini - Fugue (BB5)
Viotti - Concerto 23 (BB5)
Vivaldi - Sonatas -
Students will complete the following Repertoire:
Bach - Concerto in A minor
Berio - Scene de Ballet
Kabelevsky - Concerto
Kreisler - Schol Rosmarin
Kreisler - Liebesleid
Kreisler - La Gitana
Kreisler - Liebesfreud
Mozart - Concerto in G major
Rachmaninoff - Vocalise
Stevens - Sonatina No. 3
Wieniawski - Obertass
Music Major Repertoire:
-
Bach - Sonatas
Bach - Concerto in E major
Bartok - Rumanian Folk Dances
Bruch - Concerto in G minor
Debussy - La Fille Aux Cheveax De Lin
Debussy - Golliwogs Cakewalk
Hubay - Hejre Kati
Kreisler - Praeludium und Allegro
Kreisler-Mozart - Rondo
Kroll - Banjo and Fiddle
LeClair - Sonata in D major
Martinu - Rhythmic Etudes
Mozart - Concerto in D major
Ries - Perpetuum Mobile
Schubert - The Bee
Vitali - Chaconne -
Bach - Sonatas
Hindemith - Sonate in E
Kreisler - Tambourin Chinois
Mendelssohn - Concerto
Mozart - Concerto in A major
Novacek - Perpetual Motion -
Bach - Sonatas
Barber - Concerto
Bartok - First Rhapsody
Bloch - Baal-Shem Suite
Prokofieff - 5 Melodies
Saint-Saens - Concerto
Stravinsky - Suite Italienne
Goals
We take each student at their own pace, and every program is customized to the student's unique skills and needs. That said, goal setting provides direction and encourages students to excel.
Here are some typical goal paths for students at the conservatory:
Main Goal
To be a competent amateur musician by high school graduation – able to play standard string quartet literature. This goal would enable a music minor in college and shows a strong commitment to an artistic endeavor over a long period of time.
Progression
Third Grade
Level 3
Fourth Grade
Level 4
Fifth Grade
Level 7
Seventh Grade
Level 8
Ninth Grade
Level 9
Easier Goal
To be able to play Baroque trio sonatas by high school graduation. This would not qualify you as a music minor, or as having made sufficient progress for a strong letter of recommendation for your college application.
Progression
Fifth Grade
Level 3
Sixth Grade
Level 4
Ninth Grade
Level 7
Eleventh Grade
Level 9
Basic Goal
To be able to read simple music accurately, with good intonation, and good musical expression. Allows you to play simple folk music, church music, and duet literature.
Progression
Fifth Grade
Level 3
Sixth Grade
Level 4
Ninth Grade
Level 7
Music Major Program
To be able to enter a major conservatory as a violin performance major
Progression
1st Grade
Level 3
2nd Grade
Level 4
3rd Grade
Level 7
5th Grade
Level 8
7th Grade
Level 9
10th Grade
Music Major Pedagogy
Child Prodigy
Complete the entire music major pedagogy by age 12
Progression
Sixth Grade
Music Major Pedagogy