Mel Bay First Lessons Violin Book/CD Set

Mel Bay First Lessons Violin Book/CD Set
by Craig Duncan

Mel Bay First Lessons Violin Book/CD Set
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Book Summary Information

Author: Craig Duncan
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2002-01-23
ISBN: 0786618051
Number of pages: 32
Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc.

Book Reviews of Mel Bay First Lessons Violin Book/CD Set

Book Review: great adult beginner book
Summary: 4 Stars

Background: I'd studied suzuki style for all of one month before firing my teacher because I couldn't sing another nursery rhyme. I didn't read music, or understand what a key signature was, and in the 3 years since the Suzuki method, I couldn't remember which was the upstroke sign and which the down, so while I wasn't an ABSOLUTE beginner, I had more bad habits than good. I've also TRIED and failed to learn piano and guitar, so I do have SOME music theory background.

The Bad:
As a beginner I rely on having my neck taped so I know my finger placements. (no frets ;) ) This book does not tell you where or how to do that, so getting finger placement right if you have no one to help you will be difficult. Beyond this, I'm loving the book.

The Good:

1.) This has the simplest and easiest notation I've ever seen for learning to read music. I tried and failed many times before with piano and guitar books both to learn to read real musical notation, and failed every time. A week into the book and I'm already sight reading some simpler pieces. (very simple, as in 2 strings, but reading them none the less)

2.) Some of the music doesn't suck. Now, being a beginners book, you're going to be stuck with twinkle twinkle little star, just like every other beginners book, but finding "Ode to Joy" on the second lesson of actual play made my day. :)

3.) The big graph on the top of all the first lessons makes it easy to remember which strings and finger placements are which notes.

4.) you learn to find key signatures slowly and simply while you learn the scales and notes on each string. Once again, this is something I'd read about alot in other books, but in this book it was shown simply and only one example at a time as you worked your way up the strings and scales played on them, so it finally made sense to me.

In conclusion: While I'm not an absolute newbie to music, I really am to the fiddle, and after throwing away a few books I found absolutely useless and giving up on learning under a teacher who targeted 5 year olds, I've found a book I'm REALLY happy with and which is helping me make progress.

-- James

Summary of Mel Bay First Lessons Violin Book/CD Set

This text presents beginning violin technique and basic music-reading fundamentals, with an emphasis on the use of melodies and classical pieces to teach each new concept. The 28 lessons include basic technique and reading skills, scales in the keys of A, D, G, and C as well as bowing techniques such as dynamic contrast, slurs, accents, and staccato bowing. There are 47 melodies presented including works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Handel, Mozart and other classical composers. The companion CD features all of the exercises and pieces recorded with solo violin and piano accompaniment.

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