Course Overview
Have you ever wanted to play the violin? With this course you can! This course is the equivalent to the first two years of school violin lessons. The course will start with the basics and will guide the student through learning the techniques and theory necessary to achieve an intermediate level of musicianship on the violin. Students will learn these techniques through the context of different classical and fiddle songs.
This course includes:
6 UNITS
40 LESSONS
40 ONLINE QUIZZES
OVER 50 ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS/EXERCISES/MUSIC
OVER 12 HOURS OF VIDEO-LESSONS
Course Goals
Upon course completion, you will be able to play the violin at an intermediate level, plucking the instrument as well as using the bow to perform full songs with proper posture and good tone. You will be able to tune and properly care for the violin. Finally, you will know how to apply music theory principles to read notes and rhythms on the musical staff.
Target Audience
This video-course is primarily intended for students, age 8-12, who have little to no previous musical experience. Although this is the target audience, advanced younger students as well as beginning older students will benefit from taking this course as well.
Course Requirements
Students will need a properly fitting/working violin and bow, rosin, and music stand to successfully complete this course. Directions for these will be given in the first lesson.
COURSE TOPICS
Unit 1. Getting Started
Lessons
Getting the right instrument
Proper setup of the violin
Getting to know the violin
Taking care of the instrument
Practicing good posture
Pizzicato across all four strings
Learning notes names and the D major scale
Left-hand patterns and shapes
Learning songs to apply notes
Reading key signatures and time signatures
Unit 2. Sound production
Lessons
Taking care of the bow
Learning the proper bow hold
Bow exercises to increase flexibility and coordination
Getting good tone production with the bow
Songs using the bow
Using rhythms to increase right-hand agility
Unit 3. Tone quality
Lessons
Tuning the instrument
Keeping a steady pulse and reading rhythms
Bow speed and placement
Rhythm repetition
Note and rhythm reading through learning songs
Using the fourth finger
Using the 2/4 and ¾ time signatures
Unit 4. Fluency in reading and executing musical techniques
Lessons
Playing articulations with the bow
Musical terms and description
Knowing and playing notes on the G string
Playing the arpeggio
Feeling pick-up notes and the large beats
Application of skills through learning songs
Unit 5. Solidifying violin proficiency and dexterity
Lessons
Reading accidentals in music
Achieving effective dynamics
Song structure
Crossing strings with slurs
Demystifying the dotted quarter note
Extended key signatures
Knowing and playing notes on the E string
Application of skills through learning songs
Unit 6. Putting it all together
Lessons
Good practice techniques
Skills to learn other music
Left-hand pizzicato
Double stops
Seeing basic rhythms in harder music
Application of skills through learning Orange Blossom Special
