Beginner Violin

"First Lessons Violin" by Craig Duncan

(Book/CD Set)

Rhiannon's favourite book to start a new violinist in lessons.

A great book for the beginner violinist who wants to play the classics. The 28 lessons include basic technique and reading skills, scales in the keys of A, D, G, and C as well as bowing techniques such as dynamic contrast, slurs, accents, and staccato bowing.

There are 47 melodies presented including works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Handel, Mozart and other classical composers. The companion CD features all of the exercises and pieces recorded with solo violin and piano accompaniment.

BEST SELLER • Beginning • 32pp • Retail $9.95 • Fiddleheads Violins Price ONLY $7.95 USD - Save 20%

"All For Strings - Violin" by Robert Frost and Gerald Anderson

(Book Series)

These books are used for all new students at Fiddleheads Violin School and are Rhiannon's personal favourites for beginners.

All For Strings is a complete curriculum which covers virtually every aspect of beginning through intermediate string study, emphasizing technical skills, rhythmic understanding, and quality musical experiences.

Book 1 provides a well-rounded course of study for all beginning string students. It begins with "Starting by Rote" and "Starting by Note" approaches to music reading. Photos, diagrams, and logos intergrated throughout the book reinforce all new concepts introduced. Carefully selected and composed technical materials and musical selections provide excellent opportunities for learning and growth. Rhythm exercises and theory games are also provided, as well as duets, trios, and ensembles.

Book 2 devotes many exercises and musical selections to the development of major and minor left hand finger patterns for all string players. Introducing new bowing styles and more advanced rhythm patterns. As in Book 1, a great variety of solos, duets, trios. and ensembles are included - perfect for performance!

We also sell Theory Workbook 1 - Theory Workbook 2

BEST SELLERS • Beginning

Retail $5.50 USD

Classical Violin

"Violin Duet Classics Made Playable" by Mary Ann Harbar

(Book/CD)

Retail $22.95

"Tunes for Three- Violin " by Keith Stent

(Book)

Tunes for Three is an imaginative and entertaining way of introducing violin ensemble playing for all ages. Keith Stent's arrangements of 18 well-known classic melodies ensure that the interest is spread across all three parts and often everybody gets to have a go at the tune.

Beginning-Int • 48pp • Fiddleheads Violins Price

Retail $13.50 USD

"Royal Conservatory Violin Series: Third Edition " by various composers

(Book, violin part & piano score)

A comprehensive collection of works, carefully selected and edited to reflect a broad range of composers and styles. This third edition, just released this Spring, includes pieces not published in this series before.

Includes piano and violin parts (2 mini books per grade). Grades Intro to 8. Complete piece listing and details, click here.

"Royal Sequence" CD Set

The much anticipated audio recordings of the "Violin Series" Introductory Level to Grade 5 Repertoire. To be used with the Royal Conservatory Violin Series (see above).

Featuring a performance and practice (piano only) track for each piece! Available for purchase via our site.

Fiddle

"You Can Teach Yourself Fiddling" by Craig Duncan

(Book/CD Set)

This book, used in our Fiddleheads Ensemble classes, presents 36 lessons on basic techniques by applying them to fiddle tunes.

Lessons are explained step by step and fingerings are given for every note. Each version builds on the previous one and helps students to create their own arrangements. Includes a split- track CD. Forty-eight songs from the book are on the CD.

BEST SELLER • Beginning to Int • 80pp

Retail $19.95 USD

"Scottish Fire: Traditional and Original Tunes for Fiddle from 1762 to the Present" by Bonnie Rideout

(Book)

Retail $14.95

"Mel Bay's Fiddle Pocketbook"

(Small Book)

This cute and handy pocket-sized instructional book which contains a wealth of information on chords, songs, and playing techniques. A tremendous value for the price and can be kept as a daily practice guide and reference manual.

Great for stocking stuffers, student gifts or as a small token of appreciation.

Beginning • 32pp • Fiddleheads Violins Price $1.25 USD

Blues & Improvisation

"Blues Violin for the Young Beginner" by Marty Laster

(Book/CD Set)

This is Rhiannon's favourite fun book to introduce to her students of all ages.

Not just for kids, this book introduces players to bluesy violin techniques in a ground-breaking way that is both structured and fun.

As the author said to Fiddleheads.ca in correspondence, "I enjoyed your web site and believe we are kindred spirits as far as an eclectic individualized approach to teaching. And yes, children learn best when enjoying themselves. I am thrilled to see my book on your web site..."

In this book you will learn to slide the fingers using exercises and original composition that move from simple to intermediate levels. Blue notes are explored as well as blues bowings. Suitable for adults as well and a real blast to play.

Includes play-along CD.

Beginning-Int • 32pp • Fiddleheads Violins Price $14.95 USD

"Getting into Blues Violin" by Marty Laster

(Book/CD Set)

This book offers a comprehensive workshop in Blues violin and specifically, improvisation techniques. Licks, scales, patterns, ear training and rhythmic exercises are introduced and reinforced on the book CD.

Original tunes by the author that address the various technical challenges in addition to old blues standards for building repertoire are also found throughout the book. The influence of the Blues on Swing, Bluegrass, Cajun and Gypsy styles is shown followed by tributes to the great blues violinists of the past and present and includes a brief bio of each.

Finally, a section touches on more advanced ways to create and vary a break. This book is generally on an intermediate level and both violinists who have been playing for a few years and serious classical players can benefit from this book. It offers an easygoing and at times, humorous touch.

Includes play-along CD. Beginners will prefer Laster's other book, "Blues Violin for the Young Beginner."

Int-Advanced • 88pp • Fiddleheads Violins Price $17.95 USD

Technique & Theory

Third Position Easy and Melodic Violin Etudes" by Stephanie Hack Swoveland

(Book)

Retail $5.95

"Concept and Study for the Violinist: The Lobko Method" by Mikhail Lobko

(Book)

Retail $14.95 USD

"Shifting: 30 Studies for Young Violinists" by Yaakov Geringas

(Book)

This Royal Conservatory approved technical study album introduces shifting gradually and easily. Students overcome the problems of string crossing and shifting to produce a smoother sound and greater variety of tone colours. Descriptive titles combined with imaginative drawings make shifting fun for young players.

An essential book for music students of all ages.

Beginner - Int • Fiddleheads Violins Price $7.95 USD

"All For Strings - Violin Theory Workbooks" by Robert Frost and Gerald Anderson

(Book Series)

These books are used for all new students at Fiddleheads Violin School and are Rhiannon's personal favourites for beginners.

All For Strings is a complete curriculum which covers virtually every aspect of beginning through intermediate string study, emphasizing technical skills, rhythmic understanding, and quality musical experiences.

Theory Workbooks 1 and 2 are correlated with the All for Strings method books and are suitable for classroom or individual use. Each page features exercises and games which encompass music fundamentals introduced in the method books.

Students start by learning the piano keyboard to increase their understanding of the intervals. They also work with fingering chart exercises so that basic theory can be immediately applied to their instrument. In addition to drawing clefs, notes, key and time signatures, students learn about musical phrases and begin composing. Puzzles and musical math games are also included.

We sell the violin books: Method Book 1 - Method Book 2 - Theory Workbook 1 - Theory Workbook 2

BEST SELLERS • Beginning • Fiddleheads Violins Price $4.50 USD each

"Beginner Violin Theory For Children" Books One and Two by Melanie Smith

(Book)

Rhiannon uses these books in lessons: kids love "violin homework." Rhiannon prefers book 2 as it applies more to lessons.

Concepts in Book One include: learning the parts of the violin; learning about line and space notes; learning musical symbols; and how to draw whole to sixteenth notes.

Concepts in Book Two include: ranges of notes for the violin; note and rest values: time signatures; and musical terms. The final section includes a comprehensive review of all instructional concepts covered in the book.

Older kids may prefer the All for Strings Theory Workbooks.

Beginning • 84pp/ 134pp • Fiddleheads Violins Price $9.95 USD / $14.95 USD

Christmas Carols

"My Very Best Christmas" arranged and edited by  Karen Khanagov

Violin Edition - Viola Edition

(Book/CD Set)

The seventeen Christmas songs in this volume, arranged in comfortable keys, can be used for players at different levels and for all kinds of occasions.

All editions (Violin, Viola, etc) include two parts for either solo or duet performance and piano accompaniment. The books are all compatible so that ensembles may mix and match parts as desired. Suzuki groups may particularly enjoy these arrangements.

The CD provides the piano accompaniments alone. It can be used for back-up, improvisatory play-along, or for pleasant listening by itself.

Beginning-Int • 88pp • Fiddleheads Violins Price $19.95 USD

"The Ultimate Christmas Fakebook" by Hal Leonard

(Spiral Bound Book)

Retail $24.95

"A Fiddling Christmas" by Craig Duncan

(Violin Part / Piano Part)

Retail $14.95