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String Comment
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(To go directly to the Violin pages click <<here>> I believe it of great value for young violinists/violists to join in school music making; but only if the music they play is suitable for them, and especially if they are to join in pieces where the melody line is too difficult for them. In "String - and Percussion - Hosanna!" (and its companion volume "Celebration String Hosanna!") my aim has been to provide for each song a second musical line which is actually a short violin/viola piece in its own right, with its own focus and characteristics and point of interest. This may be a rhythmic or melodic pattern, or even a bowing or fingering sequence. These parts are specifically for beginner violinists/violists, some suitable from the very first term, others only a year or even two later. They work equally well with just the piano accompaniment, or as instrumental duets with other melody instruments. In "String - and Percussion - Hosanna!" a percussion accompaniment is also provided, so that as many children as possible can be involved in the music making. The music aims to offer an interesting musical stimulus of some originality, which will reward and encourage the pupils involved from the very beginning. From the school's perspective, it should certainly enhance the occasion and performance of children's class and school assemblies. The songs and hymns were selected because they were the ones schools themselves were using, and in their keys. Different pieces would suggest or lend themselves to a particular focal point for the string part, so that the degree of difficulty varies from piece to piece. Looked at together, these points of interest obviously reflect some of my own preferences for what should be included in a beginner curriculum - for example, half-way harmonics, left-hand pizzicato, slurring across open strings, open string - 3rd finger placement, rhythms to encourage free bowing, easy spiccato and open string double stops, etc. Some of these ideas are developed further in "Images and Imagination" (also on the Ardross House website), which provides a further sixteen pages of material to download (in both treble and alto clefs). If nothing else I hope that these suggestions may further stimulate teachers' own ideas. |