The purpose of this book is to give teachers and students a workbook to supplement the regular method, etude, and performance piece books. As a teacher, I emphasize the importance of sight reading and understanding the finger patterns on the instrument. In the never-ending search for adequate beginning stringed instrument books, there rarely is to be found a book devoid of method. Whiting out fingerings and scratching out archaic directions in method books gets tedious for a teacher. I compiled this book from multiple handwritten exercises I have provided for my students. This workbook can serve as an introduction of new notes or finger positions, review for the more advanced beginner, or for sight reading practice for traditional or crossover Suzuki students.
The "method" for this workbook is entirely up to the user. I suggest adding the elements of guidance necessary, for example:
fingerings, bow markings, note names, half and whole step marks, "leave finger down" marks
Slurs or bow techniques
Or, simply allow the student to sight read or learn the music unencumbered.
By the way, I call first finger half step from open- "low
second finger half step from a "regular" first finger - "low"
second finger a whole step from "regular" first finger - "High"
Third finger a whole step from "high" second - "high," and
four finger half step from "regular" third - "low"
Dear students:
A quick reminder...remember that playing with proper posture and good positions is the fasted way to improve. As a clinician, I travel around the country and see many string students - the number one problem-causing difficulty that I come across is "bad positions." I truly believe that the hard work it takes to fix an improper position pays in the long run - it can help guarantee a happier, healthier player. And besides, if you are going to spend the time to play a stringed instrument, why not try to play it well?
Keep playing, Keep Practicing, Have Fun!!!
