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Violin and Piano Music Teacher Resources
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I have done a few versions of I am a Child of God for violin over the years, but I lose them on my computer.
Here are two. One is ‘fancier looking’, and the other is just plain and simple with larger notes.
I do the piano accompaniment straight out of the hymn book, as it’s in the same key.
Another String Group favourite.
We rehearsed this during String Group, and played it with our percussion section (aka parents and siblings) at the end. Such a great way to end the year!
Here are the parts:-
Hot off the press, here’s this year’s arrangement of Jingle Bells for 3 violins, and a triangle. The triangle because…have to involve the parents 
Score: Jingle Bells December 2017 3 VIOLINS AND TRIANGLE
Vln 1: Jingle Bells December 2017 Violin 1
Vln 2: Jingle Bells December 2017 Violin 2
Vln 3: Jingle Bells December 2017 Violin 3
Triangle: Jingle Bells December 2017 Triangle
I was looking at some other violin teacher resources sites, and found this drawing, labelling the parts of the violin and bow beautifully. I found it on a site called violinteachingresources.wordpress.com which links where they originally got the drawing from, but unfortunately the original site is no longer visible on the Web. It’s such a shame because someone obviously spent quite a bit of time creating it.
Use it as a poster in your studio, as a reference for beginner violins to paste in a book or as a general handout.
I have adjusted the handout so that you can print out 2 to a page, or one on a larger page here. I also included the first source at the bottom of the pdf’s:
I came across a poster in Pinterest (of course!) that I really liked, but I couldn’t find the source anywhere (apologies to the brilliant teacher who initially put the photo up). So I made my own one for my studio wall.
Here’s a pdf of my version. I printed it out much larger for my wall, but it’s also easy to print out small and stick into student’s workbooks. 3 Ways to Read Music poster
Another fun String Group song. This one introduces triplets.
I recommend singing it first, to get the feel of the triplets, then clapping it.
The violin 3 part is fantastic for beginners. Violin 1 and 2 are perfect for 1st and 2nd year students.
Here’s the score of The Frog in the Bog:
This is a really simple open string and 1st finger song I wrote for my beginner students to play in their String Group.
I played first, and had them all copy me. I gave them all the score (not separate parts) so that they could learn to follow along what was being played. I had them sing it:
“Co-py me” for the first line.
“Co-py co-py” for the second line
“Me. Me”. for the third line
and “Co-py me” again for the last line.
Then we played it together. It was effective.
Here’s a copy (haha) of the music:
This is an easy song I wrote for my String Group (aka violin ensemble).
Most are beginners, with some into their second year of playing. Because they’re sight reading, I need to keep it simple but effective for them. My higher grade students will play Vln 1.
Here’s my arrangement of Ode to Joy for three violins:-
Ode to Joy for three violins Score 1
Ode to Joy for three violins Violin 1
Ode to Joy for three violins Violin 2
Ode to Joy for three violins Violin 3
My ‘String Group’ (violin ensemble) started back up this month. As I have many beginners, I decided the repertoire had to be really simple. We concentrated on listening to each other, and playing in tune.
After spending 5 mins tuning everyone up, we started.
Our first song:
Those who wish to play open strings can do so. Everyone else plays the scale on top.
Variations:
- Ask what people are having for dinner. Play to that rhythm.
- Play as a round, eliminating the second G top note.
Our second song:
Instructions on variations are written on the music.
Our third song:
Copy Me open strings and 1st finger
Again, a very simple song using open G and D, and the first fingers on those strings. I had some students reading the notes as “G or D”, and others reading them as “Do or So”.
We finished with The Irish Washerwoman (type that in the search bar on my blog, and it will come up).
It was an awesome no stress night for my beginner students. Very simple, no-one got embarrassed, and everyone was pretty much in tune.
I had this theme stuck in my mind since the beginning of the year and I wasn’t sure why, as I hadn’t watched the movie for many, many years. ‘Beethoven’ is about a family who ends up with a very cheeky, loveable and protective Saint Bernard named ‘Beethoven’.
The music is written by Randy Edelman, and I have arranged a section of it for my string Group. It is in A major, and there is a part for very new beginners, doing pizz on two open strings. Here is Beethoven’s Opening Theme Excerpt: