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Talent is not the only ingredient to succeed in the journey of violin playing. It takes patience, a lot of practice, and reliable violin books to inspire and guide you on training.
Although there may be various methods for learning the instrument, books can help you answer any specific questions about playing as well as get inspiration from history, biography, and other written knowledge about any music from the composer’s or professional’s point of view.
Most violin books have instructions and tutorials that make the steps of learning or mastering the violin so much easier. By using any violin book, be it a technique book or a history book about violin origins, and a skilled music teacher, violin playing can be so much simpler.
Like any academic books, it is always necessary to read a good book by level to start with the basics before moving on to a more advanced stage.
Let’s start with the best violin books for beginners:
What are the Best Violin Books for Beginners?
All For Strings Book 1: Violin by Robert Frost and Gerald Anderson
“All for Strings: Violin” is a comprehensive violin method book. It is a contemporary work focusing on skills and techniques in violin playing suitable for beginners.
It explains the system of scales (including whole-and-half-step systems), correct positioning of fingers on the strings, and other music fundamentals.
The book also features various diagrams of violin, indicating its parts and every notable part of the instrument.
Students can also see pictures of correct bow hold, proper positioning, and fingering chart exercises to strengthen the basic skills in playing by applying music theories.
The practice routines are easy-to-follow, each section begins with simple instructions, and continue to practice pieces that help students to have an awareness of the staff system.
Aside from basic practice exercises, rhythm exercises are also given; these can help students make their ways through passages with different note values.
Certain classics such as “Long, Long Ago” and the theme of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto are simplified in the book, allowing children to get to know about classical music and violin repertoire in an easy way.
Violin-care techniques are also acknowledged and discussed in a separate section of the book, as well as various items or various accessories that may be of help for beginners in playing, granting students a practical checklist by which to keep track of their stuff.
Essential Elements for Strings by Hal Leonard
This book is an excellent violin book for beginners. It includes songs that are common to most students that make practice really engaging for both kids or teenagers (even adult starters) in violin playing.
The exercises are focused on songs that are intended for violin playing which can be a beneficial option for those who just want to focus on the unique characteristics of the violin.
Violin for Dummies by Katharine Rapoport
“Violin for Dummies,” unlike what the title of the book suggests, is not really for dummies (so you don’t need to be embarrassed by buying the book).
This book is a very useful violin resource book as it is aimed for newbies or absolute beginners in violin playing.
Starters who have not played the violin before or students who just want to read the very basics of the violin can benefit a lot from this book.
Topics included in the book discusses violin parts, proper positioning, correct bow hold, bowing techniques, and violin care.
Whether in conjunction with other violin music books for beginners, this book is one of the must read!
Suzuki Violin School Volume 1 by Shinichi Suzuki
The “Suzuki Violin Book” was conceived by Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki in the mid-20th century.
It is initially intended to teach children on how to play the violin and bring beauty to their lives after the devastating results of World War II.
Suzuki pioneered the idea that children can learn to play the instrument if the process is easy-to-follow and if the violin is small enough to fit the children’s body built.
This book consists of various pieces that can be practiced and mastered by students through continued practice sessions and diligent instructions. It offers instructional texts, photos, and sheet music to hone the student’s skills.
The prices included in the book are handpicked by Suzuki himself based on the level and the difficulty in learning each piece.
Because the book is well explained and organized, it is a good beginner violin book for kids or new students and adults who would like to know how to play the violin.
The ABC’s of Violin for the Absolute Beginner by Janice Tucker Rhoda
The “ABC’s of Violin for the Absolute Beginner” is a best-selling instruction book for beginners in the world of violin playing.
It is an essential violin book for those who want to learn the basics of the violin while practicing musical pieces such as popular melodies, folk songs, classic, and fiddle music.
It includes warm-up exercises, worksheets, and study pieces that are technically easy and enjoyable for beginners.
Graphs and images on left-hand finger placement are also discussed in the book, as well as topics on scales, note reading, instructions on playing on a duet, music symbols or patterns, and a glossary of musical terminologies and definitions.
If you want a book that teaches violin playing in the simplest way, this might be the best beginner violin book that you are looking for!
What are the Best Violin Books for Intermediate Players?
All for Strings Book (2 and 3): Violin by Robert Frost and Gerald Anderson
This book is the second and third installment of the All for Strings: Violin. It explores advanced concepts such as musical phrases and composing.
In addition to the notes, clefs, time, and key signatures discussed in Book 1, musical puzzles and math games are also found in the book.
All for Strings Book 2
All For Strings Book 3
It also explores even advanced musical concepts, such as octaves, double-stops, and arpeggios – patterns that are usually called for in auditions.
These advanced techniques assist dedicated learners to be familiar with normal melodic lines.
So, if you have “All for Strings Book 1: Violin” (and are looking for violin books for intermediate players), be sure to order this book online. You can also head to the nearest music bookstore and buy!
Suzuki Violin School (Volumes 2-4) by Shinichi Suzuki
The Suzuki Violin Books (Volumes 2-4) are part of the violin method series by Shinichi Suzuki. The books can be bought separately by volume with an accompanying CD for piano accompaniment and recorded a violin-piano duet.
Aside from the fact that the Suzuki method is heralded around the globe as one of the most effective ways of learning the violin, the books consist of various pieces by famous classical composers. Each lesson is approached by studying each piece, which is offered through a structured approach.
Suzuki Violin School – Volume 2
Suzuki Violin School – Volume 3
Suzuki Violin School – Volume 4
The different learning styles are applied to each lesson, preparing the students to develop musical skills that can be used for recitals which also gives the students a specific objective to aim for each year.
Also, note reading is introduced on these volumes, which helps a lot in ear training. As the students practice regularly, the pieces become ingrained in the student’s minds by the virtue of rote learning.
Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching by Ivan Galamian
This book, Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching is not intended for beginners.
Violin instructors claim that this book is great for intermediate to advanced student violinists because it uses words and examples that are not easy to understand if you know nothing about violin playing.
The book contains exercises and theories improving bow-hand or finger flexibility. It discusses many ideologies in practicing correctly and doing high-quality exercises.
Specific bowing/stroking issues are taken into consideration including the most common mistakes in positioning.
Other techniques of violin playing are also discussed, offering different views to widen the scope of violin playing and improve the musical mind.
In the book, Galamian used words that are engaging, as well as intelligent explanations on the process or how-tos of playing to inspire dedicated students.
The Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching, can, for sure, charm any reader. No doubt, it is one of the best violin technique books ever written for aspiring musicians.
Conclusion
If you are in the early stages of learning the violin and are looking for the best violin books for beginners or intermediate players, you can get one of the books listed above.
These books tackle violin playing using different approaches if you can’t pick a specific book and you have a budget for your learning process, you can even get two, three, or all of the books to improve your skills!
Remember, books are incredibly helpful. While some skills and techniques can be mastered by physically practicing and doing things, some abilities can be surely developed by putting theory into practice with the use of a good violin book.