Mary Cohen is one of Britain's leading string teachers and this new edition is a distillation of her many years of teaching and research - a core method now in one book. Complete violin technique is introduced from the start, providing a solid foundation and taking the player up to grade one level. Carefully structured, each unit covers a clear technical point through expertly written pieces, providing the student with a true musical experience at each tiny step. Mary takes an imaginative child-orientated approach throughout, encouraging interaction and the exploration of new sound worlds through a superb variety of music. The accompanying CD provides all the piano accompaniments, with unique cue entries to help beginners get started. For extra flexibility, most of the pieces in the violin, viola and cello book are compatible, making this a great resource for individual or group teaching.
ContentsGetting Started
Positioning the Violin
Four Concertos for Open Strings:
Asturias
Habanera
Norwegian Dance
Raindrop Prelude
Introducing the Bow
Rhythm Skills
Lifting and Landing the Bow
Active Ants! Active Ants!
Dozing Dino Snores
Galloping Gazelles
Elderly Elephants
String Crossing, Glissandi, Using Harmonic Pressure, Repeat Signs
The Good Sound Guide
Introducing the First Finger
Dynamics
The Song of the Australian Bee Eater
Hungry Pengins
Pieces Using Open Strings, Harmonics and First Finger:
A Day in the Life of an Octopus:
The Octopus Wakes Up
The Octupus Yawns and Stretches
The Octopus Goes Downstairs
The Octopus Munches Breakfast
The Octopus Has a Busy Time at Work
The Octopus Comes Back Home
Moving to and from the Harmonic Fourth Finger
Maybe Abey Astronaut
Developing Rhythm Skills
Suite of Pieces Using First Finger on A and D Strings, Harmonics and Glissandi:
Strange Friends:
Batty Bats
Ratty Rats
And Black, Black Cats
Not Forgetting - Spindly, Spooky Spiders
Suite of Pieces Using the First Finger:
Gruesome Grub:
Stir-fried Centipedes
Wriggly-worm Stew
Caterpillar Dumplings
Captain Fortissimo and his Fire Engine
Introducting the Second Finger
Au clarie de la lune
Hot Cross Buns
Spells:
For Making Something Very Noisy
For Making Something Very Slippery
For Making Something Disappear Gradually
Introducing the Third Finger in an Ascending Scale Pattern
Awkward Moments:
Feeling awkward
Oops..
The Ascending Scale and Key Signatures
Time Signatures
Old MacDonald had the Blues
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat
Monsieur Arbeau's Sword Dance
Brother Jack Eats Hot Croissants by the Light of the Moon
Repertoire Using an Arpeggio:
Don't Wanna:
Hurry Up and Get Out of Bed
Make Sure You Wash Behind Your Ears!
If You Don't Get A Move On You'll Miss Breakfast!
One-octave Scales and Arpeggios
Introducing Slurs, Checking Octaves Against Open Strings or Harmonics
Merrily We Roller Blade
Rhino Roller
If You Meet an Octopus You'd Better Shake Hands Carefully
Slurs, Introducing the Fourth Finger as a Stopped Note
Ho La Hi
We Can Can-Can
Key of C Major, Quavers
Hot Cross Buns
Turkey in the Straw
Mini Concerto
Introducing More Dotted Notes, Ties
Theme from the Choral Symphony (Beethoven)
Largo From the New World Symphony (Dvorak)
Quaver Rest
Alouette
Riddle Song from Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck)
Introducing the Second Finger Patter, Naturals, Flats
All Mixed Up!
Key of A Major
All Mixed Up Again!
All Mixed Up Yet Again!
Suite of Pieces Including the Second Finger Pattern:
London Suite:
London's Buring
Oranges and Lemons
London Bridge is Falling Down
Two Octave G Major Scale and Arpeggio
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Seeing Double
Double Stopping on Open Strings, Simple Fast Playing
Take Your Partners for Double the Fun!
Concert Piece with Slurs and Long Notes
Hooked Bows
New Note Top B
Falling Asleep in the Rocking Chair
Jikele Maweni
Kalinka
Oh Susanna (Foster)
Rondeau (Purcell)
Running for the Bus, with a Violin!