9 Must-Have Violin Books for Beginners
Learning an instrument can be an exciting time in a child’s life. It’s a new skill they can devote time to developing and learning. A musical instrument actually comes with a lot of individual benefits such as stress reduction, improved productivity and feelings of responsibility. Learning an instrument is also a great way for kids to form closer bonds with their parents and new bonds with teachers, maybe even their peers.
Supporting your child when learning the violin can initially seem overwhelming, especially if you don’t know anything about the violin yourself. Chances are you’ve already found your child a music teacher, invested in renting or buying a violin and ordered the accessories. However, there are more resources you can give your child to support them on their musical journey.
One of the biggest concerns parents have is how to help their child when the music lesson is over. Interactive and literary resources are a really valuable tool for helping your child further their skills outside of taught sessions and many violin teachers use these violin books to assist their teachings.
But which books are the most helpful for beginners? Find out nine great examples below. Warning – talent and fun times spent reading may follow.
1) Ultimate Beginner Series: Violin Basics
The Ultimate Beginner Series: Violin Basics has helped many aspiring musicians begin experiencing the fun of playing the violin in the simplest, most direct manner possible.
By using this book, your child has access to all the graphics and information they need to learn the basics of:
- Holding the instrument and bow
- Hands and fingers positions
- Tuning the instrument
- Reading music
The step-by-step explanations, photographs, diagrams of every concept, and the correlating DVD, make this book a must-have for anyone learning to play the violin.
As an ultimate beginner series, this book and DVD set includes a real mix of information for the beginner violinist. Not only will it assist in teaching them how to play a scale but it provides titbits of history and maintenance tips to give a really rounded introduction to the esteemed instrument.
Find The Ultimate Beginner Series: Violin Basics right here.
2) Violin Star student’s book 1 with CD
The Violin Star student’s book 1 with CD, arranged by Edward Huws Jones, is the first in the three-book series offering beginner violinists a refreshing and inspirational choice of pieces to help build confidence and musical skills. The repertoire is imaginatively tailored to develop specific techniques through an exciting range of musical styles.
Violin Star student’s book 1 contains:
- The solo violin parts,
- Colourful illustrations
- Activities and play-along CD
Help engage your child on multiple mediums, both visual and audible to get their passion for playing development. Not to mention this book is all about learning to play different moods and styles of music that, using the CD, the child can hear for themselves.
This book and CD is useful for beginner level through to Grade 2.
Find The Violin Star student’s book 1 with CD here.
3) Superstart Violin (with CD)
Superstart Violin is a break-through for beginner violinists, full of exciting music and fun activities from the very first lesson to inspire and stimulate pupils and teachers. Mary Cohen is one of Britain’s leading string teachers and this new edition is a collective of her many years of teaching and research. So many fantastic moments all in one great book.
From the outset, complete violin technique is featured providing a solid foundation with forward-thinking toward the player developing to grade one level. Each chapter goes over a clear technical point through expertly written pieces, providing the student with a true musical experience at each tiny step.
The best thing is that Mary takes an imaginative child-orientated approach to allow beginners to learn in a positive way. It encourages interaction and the exploration of new sound worlds through a superb variety of music.
Read about the Superstart Violin (with CD) here.
4) A Flying Start for Strings
Everyone wants to give their child the best start so why not give them a flying one? Flying start for strings Violin book 1 is ideal for getting young beginners to do just that.
The early part of the book can be used flexibly, accommodating the approach preferred by the teacher and suited to the progress of the student.
Learning areas may be introduced separately and combined when ready. It’s great if your child can develop with their resources because it means that the products you buy aren’t just good for one use and can then be discarded. Beginners can use literary devices such as this one throughout their musical journey.
Discover A Flying Start For Strings here.
5) Vamoosh Violin Book 1 (Book & CD)
Vamoosh violin book 1 is a fun, friendly book of original compositions and arrangements by Thomas Gregory for beginner violin players. These books are the ideal material for both individual and group learning which are compatible with the other instruments and include a free backing CD.
As your child progresses, this series has several books in the series to keep your little violinist going. Violin book 1.5 can even be the perfect compliment for book 1 and includes rounds and duets to take your child a little further.
See the Vamoosh Violin Book 1 (Book & CD) here.
6) Hey Presto! For Violin Book 1 (Book & CD)
The phrase ‘Hey presto!’ suggests that something has been done so easily that it seems to be magic. With this book, your child can find out exactly how that feels.
This book and CD set for complete beginners features the characters Presto, Bravo and Poco, who take the beginning violinist on an exciting journey of musical discovery. It all begins with plucked open strings and by the end of the book, the student will be playing simple bowed pieces using three fingers.
Hey Presto! For Violin is a comprehensive step-by-step series for all young beginners. With attractive pieces, amusing characters and illustrations, and clear, concise explanations, this is a highly effective and enjoyable way to learn the violin.
Book 1 and book 2 take the beginner to a high grade 1 standard. Book 3 and book 4 take you on from there. The book is full of need-to-know topics like rhythm exercises, playing strings and notations.
Best of all, you can finish it all off with a certificate to congratulate your child for working hard to get through the book!
See the Hey Presto! For Violin Book 1 (Book & CD) here.
7) New Tune a day Violin book 1
A New Tune a day Violin book 1 has clear explanatory diagrams and photographs to help guide you through the lessons and achieve the very best in tone, technique and posture. Getting these ‘small’ things right from the beginning will put your child in good stead for going forward.
The selection of music is fresh and exciting, to inspire the student and ensure that those vital practise hours are never boring! The last thing you need is for your little musician to get bored.
In this text, you can find advice on your instrument and the related equipment as well as for instructions on technique and comfort when playing.
The book now comes with Soundcheck audio, video, ebook software, featuring a virtuoso performance and backing track for each piece, as well as recorded examples to support the lessons.
Find The New Tune A Day Violin Book 1 here.
8) Violin Playtime Book 1
With Violin Playtime Book 1, the beginner violinist can make music from the very first lessons. In the three books that make up the series, there are over a hundred little pieces, a treasure-trove of attractive tunes – some traditional, some by composers of the past, some newly composed. This is more than just an easy anthology, as the underlying approach is ‘learn as you play’, and a carefully devised ground plan of technical development makes it a manual in disguise. In many ways, it’s just what you need away from your music teacher because it’s a tutor without text.
This book takes a player from the very beginning to about Grade 1. Lively illustrations contribute visually to the excitement of learning the violin. Violin Playtime Book 2 caters for players at around Grade 1, while Violin Playtime Book 3 is for those approaching Grade 2.
The Violin Playtime Book 1 can be found here.
9) The Greatest Showman Violin Playalong
This is the Greatest Show. Does your child sing This is me from dusk until dawn? Do they want to recreate the aerial acrobatics from Rewrite the Stars? Finding music your child can engage with is a wonderful way to help them progress.
Although not exclusively designed for beginners, it’s an ideal way to give your budding musician something to look forward to being able to play when they’re older.
The Greatest Showman Violin play along contains NINE songs from this blockbuster hit. The book features online access to audio demonstration and play-along tracks for download or streaming to help you hear how the song should sound and then play along and sound like a pro!
Discover The Greatest Showman Violin Playalong here.
Violin books can’t replace the teachings a child can receive from a professional violin teacher but they can certainly help to bolster your child’s confidence at home. With so many engaging texts available, you can always find ways to let your child advance or pick the style that’s most suited for them.
Caswell’s offer a large stock of products perfect for helping your child advance. From violin accessories to violin strings, we’ve got all the violin products to help your child advance to Grade-level violin.
Want to find out more about our great range of violin resources? Contact Caswell’s today on +44 (0) 1280 707 140 or email us at sales@caswellsstrings.com
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This article was checked by the director of Caswell’s Strings, Lance Tunley who is an experienced purveyor of stringed instruments and accessories with over 30 years of experience in the field.
