Halla Hilborn

MUS 447
Dr. Kroesche
17 June 2014


Strings Curriculum Guide


Beginner - first two years of instruction

Learn how to tune the instrument
Good posture and hand positions
Understanding of first position
Establishment of daily practice routine of 5-15 minutes per day
Understand basic instrument care and maintenance
Able to produce a clear tone with good string crossings
Know the musical alphabet and accidentals
Understand how to read notation and note values
Knowledge of major scale pattern and all major scales in one octave
By end of beginning stage, the student is preparing to start memorizing and
performing

Method Books

String Explorer, Book 1
All for Strings, Book 1
Suzuki Book 1, 2
Flor I Like to Play Scales for the Violin
Wheeler Aerobics for Fiddlers


Intermediate years three and four of instruction

Increased practice time of 15-30 minutes per day
Introduction of shifting in positions 2 and 3 while working towards 4
th
pos
Student will learn how to use guide notes as they learn shifting
Ability to play with relaxed hand positions
Can play all major one octave scales with arpeggios and begin working on
two octave major scales and introduction to minor scales
Introduction to double stops and chord playing
Learn proper vibrato technique
Establish a daily technical routine to be practiced during students practice
time
Understanding of key signatures and the circle of fifths
Student is able to memorize pieces and are accustomed to public
performances
The student will be able to sight read Beginner level music
Ideas of thinking musically and musical phrasing are introduced
Student begins working on bowing articulations such as: double downs,
double ups, and accents

Method Books

String Explorer, Book 2
All for Strings, Book 2
Suzuki Book 3, 4
Schradieck School of Violin Technics, Book 1
Sevcik Preparatory Exercises in Double Stopping, Op. 9
Sitt, Etudes for the Violin, Book II
Wessely Comprehensive Scale Manual for Violin
Wohlfahrt Sixty Studies for the volin


Advanced years five and six of instruction

Increased practice time of approximately one hour per day
Vibrato and musical expression are to become more developed
More advanced bowing articulations such as: staccato, marcato, and spiccato
are incorporated
The student will be able to shift fluently between all positions with guide
notes
Student can play all minor scales and arpeggios in two octaves while working
towards playing all major/minor scales and arpeggios in three octaves
Extended techniques such as artificial harmonics, octave scales, and tenths
will be introduced

Method Books

Kreutzer Forty-Two Studies or Caprices for the Violin
Carl Flesch Scale System
De Beriot Method for the Violin, Part II
Dont Twenty-Four Etudes and Caprices
Rode Twenty-four Caprices