Practice Chart February 2023
It’s February 2023 and if your students are like mine, they are tired of recess inside, cold weather, rainy weather, homework… With Valentine’s Day this month here is a Practice Chart for February 2023. Each day they practice they have to draw a face in the heart reflecting what their heart was like while practicing. You can get creative for your student. Some of the ideas I do with students. Weekly Goal: If they practice ___ days each week, they get _________ Month Goal: If you practice _____ days each week for every week of February, you get ______. OR If you practice every day (5 minutes minimum on the really…
9 Free Easy Christmas Songs
Here are 9 free easy Christmas songs for beginning violinists. All of these songs are in first position. They begin with the easiest finger pattern. You will find one note change in Deck the Halls. This change avoids a using a high 3rd finger on the D string. Then the songs progress to using low 2nd fingers. The final song Carol of the Bells include using a low first finger on the E string and a high 3rd finger on the D string. G Major and D Major Christmas Songs In mid-Suzuki book 1 I usually teach Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Angels We Have Heard on High, and Joy…
Violin Fingerboard Flashcards
Are you looking for a floor activity for a young student’s lesson? Or maybe mom needs an in the car activity on the way to violin lesson to get them thinking about violin. These violin fingerboard flashcards might be just what you need. Each card has a picture of the violin fingerboard. A small house is on each place on the fingerboard marking a pitch. The back of the card shows the letter name for that fingerboard house. Whether the student is reading on the staff or not, these cards help them identify and review fingerboard pitches. Choose the notes your students, and as they add new notes, add in…
Apple Orchard A & E String Activity
The Apple Orchard A & E String Activity is a way to review finger numbers and note names on the A and E string. You can easily turn it into a game or just use it as an activity. Sometimes it is nice just to not have to win! This helps students think about the fingerboard in their mind and know the name of the note that the finger is playing. If you have a student with a broken arm, wrist, or jammed finger, this might be the perfect solution for lessons or practice time. To play the Apple Orchard A & E String Activity, you’ll need a die. I…
Treble Clef Flashcards for Violin
These treble clef flashcards for violin are the perfect tool to help your students who struggle with note reading. Just download and print. You will need to have printer that prints front and back. Or another option is to print out the odd numbered pages, then put the pages back in the printer and print the even numbered pages. If you are like me, it always takes me a few tries to get the paper direction and feed correct. So you may want to do a couple test pages. I also like to use card stock when printing flashcards for students. The thicker paper prevents them from seeing the answer…
Quarter Note and Half Note Worksheet
Here is a quarter note and half note worksheet. Students help Farmer McDonald get his pigs into the correct barns. They will need to be able to recognize what a quarter note looks like and that it receives one beat. They also need to know what a half note looks like and that it gets 2 beats. It is a straightforward worksheet and it will probably be pretty quick for them to complete. So, why even take the time? First, it is an activity away from the instrument. Sometimes I like to do these quick worksheets in a lesson. I don’t want to use too much lesson time but I…
Violin Staff Note Flashcards
Go bowling with these violin staff note flashcards. These notes are all in first position. And they are for the beginning finger pattern taught in Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Suzuki Book 1. You can print them out by string. Cut the cards out along the dotted lines. Yes! Cut the staff note flashcards in half along the dotted line. Your student will then match the bowling ball with the bowling pin. Find all the pairs by matching the card halves. This means matching the letter with the note on the bowling pin. Each bowling pin shows one note using the treble clef in first position. Print out all the…
Violin Finger Number Vending Machine
I created the violin finger number vending machine worksheet for a little student who is just starting to place fingers on the fingerboard. The finger number vending machine works for viola and cello as well since they use the same finger numbers! I wanted a fun activity to help this budding violinist remember the number for each left hand finger. By seeing the number on the page and then touching the finger and thumb to an object I hope it helps remember the finger number. I also wanted to have a tactile experience of picking up an object between the thumb and finger and not squeezing. So the finger number vending machine…
First Position Card Game
Here is a first position card game for beginning violin students. It’s spring time, kids are ready to be out of school and playing outside. They are tired after all the testing. Having a variety of activities for lessons or practice can be a good thing at this time of year. What Do They Need To Know? Students will need to know the letters for the basic finger pattern position in first position on all 4 strings. 1st finger a whole step above the open string, 2nd finger a whole step above 1st finger, 3rd finger a half step above 2nd finger and 4th finger a whole step above 3rd…
Pick A Daisy – G String Game
Here is fingerboard game called Pick A Daisy a G string game. Reinforce fingerboard letters with a fun game away from the violin. This game covers the pitches in first position on the G string for 1st finger – A, 2nd finger – B, 3rd finger – C and 4th finger – D. You can also use Pick A Daisy G string game with viola students. Since the pitches and finger numbers on both instruments, students can play together. And you can play Pick A Daisy while listening to your recording! A win, win! Fingerboard ID on the G String Since I use the Suzuki violin method the first piece…
