Posted in Book Reviews, Method Books, Pedagogy, Repertoire, Sheet Music

Violin Method Books: A head-to-head comparison

Posted on by J Melin

The following post contains some affiliate links.
Cut to the Coda: The method book comparison chart printable!

Method books for music readers

I teach young beginner violin students to read music from the start. I use method book series to teach concepts in a logical sequence, but have yet to find “the perfect” method book that exactly matches my preferred teaching progression.

Most published violin method books in the U.S.A. were written for elementary-age mixed-instrument school music classes. So sometimes the sequence for violin students delays the introduction of the E-string notes (Essential Elements Book 1), because the cello and viola students in the class don’t have an E string. Some books advance more quickly than others, with fewer pages and examples between introductions of new concepts. Some Level 1 books leave out skills that other Level 1 books cover, like low second finger. All seem to be written for group instead of individual instruction. And most haven’t been updated for 20 years or more. Witness “String Builder,” unchanged since the 1960’s and the book used in my 3rd grade orchestra class!

An old favorite…  Continue reading “Violin Method Books: A head-to-head comparison” →

Simplified Piano Accompaniments for Violin Student Repertoire

I am not an advanced-level pianist with excellent sight-reading skills. I get finger-tied trying to play most published piano accompaniments to violin student solo pieces. But there is something so satisfying about supplying the underlying chords and harmonies when a student is learning a new piece. That piano part represents at least half of the music the composer created for us to enjoy. So I’ve come up with substitutes for the full piano score, from simplified or chorded piano parts, to turning the piano score into a violin duo part with as many double-stops as possible.

My copies of the piano accompaniment books for student repertoire are marked up with my own note reductions, chord notations, “Left hand only” warnings and alternate voicings. I use my markups to play along with a student during all stages of their learning a new piece of music. I’ll even play them at a recital in a pinch!

Would you like to be able to prepare your violin students for accompanied performances by playing piano with them on a regular basis? Is a student’s understanding of their piece lacking because they can’t hear the underlying chords when they are learning it? I’ve started transcribing my scribbles into clean, easy-to-read piano sheet music, and am now releasing it for digital download over at SheetMusicPlus. Here are four transcriptions to accompany solo pieces found in Suzuki Violin School Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 6.

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look inside		 Brahms – Waltz in G for Violin and Piano – Simplified Piano Accompaniment
Composed by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). Arranged by Paul Klengel, Jane Melin. Classical Period, Method, Repertoire. Score. 2 pages. Published by Jane Melin (S0.1021265).
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look inside		 Corelli – “La Folia” Simplified Piano Accompaniment Variations in D minor
Composed by Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). Arranged by Jane Melin. Baroque Period, Repertoire. Individual Part. 6 pages. Published by Jane Melin (S0.1039991).
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look inside		 Dvorak – Humoresque for Violin and Piano – Simplified Piano Accompaniment in D/Dm
Composed by Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904). Arranged by Jane Melin. Romantic Period, Method, Repertoire. Individual Part, Score. 6 pages. Published by Jane Melin (S0.1020641).
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look inside		 Gossec – Gavotte for Violin and Piano – Simplified Piano Accompaniment
Composed by Francois-Joseph Gossec (1734-1829). Arranged by Emil Kross, Jane Melin. Classical Period, Method, Repertoire. Individual Part, Score. 4 pages. Published by Jane Melin (S0.1021377).

I’ll have more links for you soon, including violin duos for more Suzuki selections. Check out my full Sheet Music Plus catalog as it grows!

Incentive Program Package #2: Out Of This World

star trophyMy second incentive program theme is literally Out Of This World! You could also call it Space, The Final Frontier; Into Space; or even Blast Off! I get ideas for my incentive programs from the variety of economy-priced awards I can purchase from Crown Awards. A star trophy like this one is perfect for a space theme. Crown Awards has dozens of insert graphics too, from generic “music” pictures to specific instruments. Some are embellished with glitter and others glow in the dark.

The downloadable Progress Chart has 23 spaces for logging student progress towards a variety of music study goals. See Package #1 for the downloadable/printable list of MusiQUEST Goals and the Practice Tracking Card.

Posted in Incentive Programs, Printables, Student Awards

Incentive Program Package #1: Knight’s Quest

Posted on by J Melin

cup trophyThe first incentive program theme I ever designed had a Knight’s Quest motif. Students mark their progress towards completing ten or more musicianship development goals on a chart designed to look like a map to find mythical beasts and medieval objects. The prize at the end of the year was a cup trophy like this one.

Printable Downloads for you include: Progress Chart (pictured at right), Practice Sticker Cards for tracking practice each week, and editable MusiQUEST goals list that you can fill with your own ideas. I print the goals list on the back of the Progress Chart, on sturdy card stock so it will last through the whole year.

Mark the students’ completion of the goals by putting a sticker or stamp on each number from 1 to 10 or beyond on the Progress Chart. It’s even more fun if you can find stickers to match the theme of the incentive program.

My favorite small stickers in lots of different theme designs are made by Trend Enterprises.

Beware the Knights who say Ni!

Posted in Printables, Student Awards

DIY S’mores Kit and Labels

Posted on by J Melin

diy smores kitA Do-It-Yourself S’mores Kit is my “teacher’s choice” award for my best practicers at the year-end recital.

practice card previewStudents who met their practice goal for 30 out of 36 weeks of the lesson year get this award. So do students who consistently practice over and above their minimum practice goal; usually, 15 to 20% above or more.

I used to order medals for this award, until I decided that what kids really want is something yummy to eat. So, now I make DIY S’mores Kits. The instructions are here; I modify the contents depending on the packaging I can find.

I top it off with a punny label like this one. Here’s a whole sheet of labels you can print out to create this. Use white address labels, 1″ x 2-5/8″, 30 per sheet (Avery template 8160). Stick the labels on black card stock and cut them out with about 1/4″ of card showing around each edge of the label. Punch a small hole in the upper left corner, and feed a piece of twine or raffia through it. Center the label on a length of twine long enough to tie the kit shut, with some left over for a nice bow.

Posted in Incentive Programs

Student Incentive Programs

Posted on by J Melin

What teacher doesn’t have the dream that their students will practice, improve and perform simply for the feeling of accomplishment? Since I became a parent before I became a teacher, I already had cold water dashed on this idea! From the get-go, I’ve put my creative juices to work, constantly inventing new rewards to motivate my students. Some of them are given out weekly, some about once a month, some “as earned” (maybe a couple times a year if the student works hard), and some just once a year, at the year-end recital. Awards are earned for a variety of efforts and outcomes. Almost any student can earn some awards, with younger students eligible for more awards than older ones. The most diligent students get the biggest payoff. Sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it? 🙂

Rewards are given for:

  • Meeting weekly practice goals (minutes and/or assignments)
  • Completing technique and repertoire checklists: Technique Tassels
  • Completing a menu of music-learning activities over the course of the lesson year: MusiQUEST
  • Participating in extracurricular music activities, like orchestras, competitions, festivals, etc.

For each of these areas, I’ve developed tools for students and teacher (me) to track their progress.

The first level is the weekly practice tracker and sticker card. Every time the student completes 4 weeks in a row of 100% meeting their practice goal, they earn a mini candy bar. The sticker card is also used for year-end rewards: students who received a sticker on 30 of the 36 weeks in the lesson year, get a DIY S’mores Kit with a personalized tag.

Check for other posts under this topic as I add more incentive program descriptions and resources.