Category: Free String Class Music

Free Christmas Solo and Duet: Good Christian Men, Rejoice! (In dulci jubilo)

11/20/2022

New Album Release for Violin and Cello!

Music + Baby = Fun but Exhausting Rehearsals

People say that having a baby changes everything. It most certainly has changed Myanna's life completely. But it has also changed our writing and publishing and performing and teaching. We had the idea for String Duo Christmas nearly two years ago, and started mapping out the project.

While Myanna was expecting, we were in the

middle of intense recording sessions. We finished the final recording session just in time: three weeks before the baby was born.

Lilya has heard more Christmas music in her life than she knows what to do with. In fact, between the album and the new Advent books that are being released this fall, and all the Christmas-themed rehearsals and lessons she will listed to, she will probably think that Christmas is year-round...

She was (almost) as excited as we were when the CDs came...

You can learn more about the album here:

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Once the restocking issues are worked out in a week or so, we encourage you to purchase and review the album on Amazon because we really need reviews!

This year, we are releasing three Advent study books!

These books have warm-up exercises, carol melodies, and carol variations for every day of the Christmas season; a sort of music advent calendar!

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Looking for a stress-free solo or duo gig book this holiday season? Whether you want just the basics or something a little fancier, these tunes and variations are all completely sight-readable. With interchangeable harmonies so both instruments can take the lead, and an easy-to-read layout for those low light situations, these books are an effortless way to expand your holiday rep!

Violin Takes the Lead!

Cello Takes the Lead!

To celebrate these releases, here is a free compatible solo and duet version of Good Christian Men, Rejoice! (In dulci jubilo)

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 1: Free Violin Christmas Carol

Free Violin Christmas Solo and Duet: Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 2: Free Violin Christmas Carol

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 1: Free Viola Christmas Carol

Free Viola Christmas Solo and Duet: Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 2: Free Viola Christmas Carol

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 1: Free Cello Christmas Carol

Free Cello Christmas Solo and Duet: Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

Good Christian Men, Rejoice, Page 2: Free Cello Christmas Carol

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Forked Deer: Free Mini Fiddle Tune Booklet for Violin, Viola, Cello, and String Bass!

10/4/2020

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All of the music was ready. The snacks, the chairs, the stands; we were ready for anything. Myanna and I had spent hours arranging music, making chamber groups out of names (level often unknown), answering emails, cleaning, and so much more. Summer string camp was about to begin!

Harvey String Teaching Summer Chamber Camp

The doorbell rang and the first student came in, always looking a little uncertain. It's hard to be first! But then the deluge would happen and soon our front porch would be covered with violin, viola, cello, and bass cases and no matter how prepared we had planned to be, chaos would reign for that entire first session.

We have always had students at a range of ages and levels sign up for Summer Chamber Camp, from first year players to high schoolers in advanced string quartets. But by far, the most challenging issue has been finding music for our "Blackberry Blossom" groups: first and second year students in larger groups who want to play with their friends (even if levels aren't compatible) and have fun playing!

The level range inside of these groups has been astonishing. Some students only know a few notes while others can play fluently in first position (but aren't quite ready for the early-intermediate trios and quartets at the next level.)

Problem-solving is pretty much our favorite thing. So Myanna wrote some easy, flexible tune arrangements for these groups.

First, there's a Regular Exercise and a Basic Exercise that can both be played together at the same time (and with all the instruments.)

Then, for each tune, there's an Advanced Melody, a Stress-Free Melody, a Basic Harmony, and a Teacher Harmony (plus, a piano accompaniment and full score, available separately.)

Here's a concert photo of one of our Summer Fiddle groups playing a tune from the Blackberry Blossom Fiddle Books!

We weren't able to have a summer camp this year due to Covid. But now, we're using these books both with in-person and remote string classes and lessons. And we're excited about how flexible the books are, both with level and instrumentation.

And now for the free booklets!

To give you an idea of how the books work, Myanna and I have put together a free set of exercises and tune arrangement of Forked Deer in exactly the same format as the Blackberry Blossom Fiddle Books.

This is an all-new tune that isn't in the books! Feel free to copy and hand out to students or fellow musicians.

Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for Violin

Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for Viola

Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for Cello

Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for String Bass

Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for String Class

Here are Free Play-Along Tracks for Forked Deer:

C. Harvey Publications · Forked Deer First Exercise

C. Harvey Publications · Forked Deer Second Exercise

C. Harvey Publications · Forked Deer Tune

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Free Sousa Duet for Strings to Celebrate the Release of Fiddles on the Bandstand, Book One!

7/2/2020

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Free Liberty Bell March for Violins, Violas, Cellos but Sousa

So we're a little over halfway through 2020 and it's been quite a year! We hope that all of you are healthy and safe and able to still make music.

About a month ago, just as the weather was turning warmer, Myanna realized we all could all use some light-hearted, earnest, outdoor-belonging, inspiring, beautiful, rhythmic, toe-tapping, nostalgic, FUN music!

As usual, Myanna told me nothing about what she was writing, but as I walked out of the studio to my car one day, I passed Myanna and our mother playing some Sousa on two violins and I just had to stop and listen.

They kept playing through the book and somehow I couldn't leave. And that's how the Fiddles on the Bandstand books were born!

Fiddles on the Bandstand Duets: Fully Compatible Between Instruments

Fiddles on the Bandstand: Fun Duets for Two Violins

Fiddles on the Bandstand: Fun Duets for Two Violas

Fiddles on the Bandstand: Fun Duets for Two Cellos

Here's What's In the Books:

Fiddles on the Bandstand: Fun Duets for Strings

These are the tunes people hum, the tunes we remember from "somewhere", the tunes we might even want to share with our neighbors in an impromptu outdoor concert!

Some years ago, Myanna and I ran a youth orchestra and when they were asked to play outside after a parade, we quickly realized that there is an entire genre of lighthearted music that is perfect for that situation. Some of the tunes that inspired us back then have made an appearance in this book.

In the past week, as the books have arrived from the printer, I have started to play the duets in outdoor lessons with my students. And I can say that there's nothing quite like the beauty of these cello duets gently floating out in the breeze.

To Celebrate the New Books,
Here's a Brand New Arrangement of
Sousa's Liberty Bell March!

John Philip Sousa

Did you know that Sousa began his career playing violin?

Sample Pages from the Free March:
(Full March Available Through the Contact Form Below.)

The violin duet is mainly in first position with a small amount of third position.
The viola duet is in first and third positions.
The cello part is in first through fourth positions and is all in bass clef.
The duets are compatible between instruments.

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Free Christmas Duets to Celebrate New Book Releases!

12/10/2019

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How three new duet books made it to press in the middle of a super busy fall...

In the middle of way too many scheduled performances and tons of teaching, Myanna was writing the books in the Dancing Into Bethlehem series.

Now, I just have to say that Myanna is wonderfully secretive. She never reveals what books she'll write next; no group-think or input from anyone ever inspires what will be written.

However, I can tell something new is coming when I hear strains of her duets wafting up from the studio below mine. Myanna's music is just so inventive, evoking film scores and folk dances, that I always know when I'm hearing her arrangements.

Writing is just the first part. After that she figures out bowings, edits the books, plays through the books many times, tries the duets out with her many students, and finally sends the books to me. Yay.

Although I've figured out that new books are coming, I can only prepare so much. Most of the work I do can't start until I actually have the manuscripts.

I pick the titles, design the covers, set up the layouts, do more proofreading, register the ISBNs, send the books to our various printers, make book cover and sample page images for the website, write the book descriptions, design the webpages, order the books, and finally start letting everyone know.

Let's just say that Black Friday shopping didn't happen. I didn't even have time to do Cyber Monday shopping! Instead, I caught a few of those "Cyber Monday Extended" sales. Yep, those extended sales are just about perfect for us.

As an aside, I'd like to thank our wonderful UPS, USPS, and Fedex, and AmazonFresh delivery people, without whom this company (and these hungry musicians) would not be able to run!

Here's a little bit about the new books:

All duets are compatible between instruments (violin and viola, violin and cello, and viola and cello can play together!)
All duets are intermediate. The violin and viola books are all in first position but are musically and technically challenging. The cello book uses first through fourth positions (but no tenor clef.)
Myanna picked a really neat selection of carols and Christmas music! I love her other Christmas duet book, Sailing Into Bethlehem, and I'm excited to have new music to play with my students this year.
These duets can be played for gigs, in lessons, or just for fun. They bring an enchanting, lively warmth to the Christmas season!

And to Celebrate the Release,

Here Are Some Free Mini Books of Carols!

These free violin, viola, and cello duets are compatible between instruments, just like the duets in Sailing Into Bethlehem and Dancing Into Bethlehem.
These duets are not included in either of the two Christmas duet books; they're only available here!