Practice Tools
Drones
Drones are a fantastic tool for developing more accurate intonation. To use, figure out what key the piece of music is in that you are playing and use the first note of that key's scale as your drone. For example, if the piece of music you are playing is in the key of D major, you would use the note "D" as your drone note. Sometimes, the fifth note of the scale works well too, so if you are in D major, you could also use the note "A" as a drone note.
The trick to improving your intonation with drone notes is to make your note in tune with the drone note. Go one note at a time and listen carefully. Listen for waves that may occur between your note and the drone note. If you hear waves, it's not in tune!
Slow-Downer App
This is an amazingly useful app! It's available on both iOS and Android for free! Here is how to use it:
1. Download the app
2. Upload an MP3 file of whatever it is you need to have slowed down onto your device
3. Open the Slow-Downer app on your device and use it to access the MP3 file you just uploaded.
4. The app will let you slow it down as much as you want without changing its pitch.
This is particularly useful when used with the accompaniment tracks on the Suzuki CD's (the ones that do not have the violin playing but only have the piano by itself). A lot of the songs recorded on the Suzuki CD's can be too fast for beginners, so this app lets any student go at their own pace and enjoy playing their songs with the piano accompaniment. It's also a great way to prepare for a recital!!
Bow Hold Guide
This will help you learn how to hold your bow correctly.
Posture Checklist
A great guide for beginners and advanced students alike! Posture is something everyone of every level must always think about and further refine! Here are some general guidelines.
Parts of the Violin
A quick guide for beginners to learn all of the parts of the violin.
Rhythm Practice (Improve your sight reading!)
This is a fantastic tool for beginners and advanced students alike. It will randomly generate rhythms for you to practice. You can set it up to your own preferences to practice just certain rhythms. There are few things more important in music than having good rhythm!
Theory Exercises
This will take you to a page that has a variety of exercises. They are all created using the musictheory.net website. It's free, easy and very very useful!
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General Resources
Violin Masterclass
Great instructional videos
The Violin Site
Lots of great information about everything violin
Finale Notepad
Affordable music notation software
Free Music Theory Information
Free Blank Sheet Music
Musical Glossary
Great info on musical terms
(Just don't hold your violin like they do in the pictures ;-)
International Music Score Library Project
Free downloadable music!
Jazz Improvisation CD's from Jamey Aebersold
Arkivmusic
Excellent source for buying recordings
Violinist.com
One of the biggest online communities for violinists
Maestronet
Online community
Alexander Technique
Michelle Obrecht
Local Alexander Technique instructor
Shar
Michigan's own music accessories store
Great instructional videos
The Violin Site
Lots of great information about everything violin
Finale Notepad
Affordable music notation software
Free Music Theory Information
Free Blank Sheet Music
Musical Glossary
Great info on musical terms
(Just don't hold your violin like they do in the pictures ;-)
International Music Score Library Project
Free downloadable music!
Jazz Improvisation CD's from Jamey Aebersold
Arkivmusic
Excellent source for buying recordings
Violinist.com
One of the biggest online communities for violinists
Maestronet
Online community
Alexander Technique
Michelle Obrecht
Local Alexander Technique instructor
Shar
Michigan's own music accessories store
For Parents
Why your child should study music:
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Article 1