Category: Free Violin Sheet Music

Free Cello, Viola, or Violin Solo Fantasia on Eleanor Plunkett to Celebrate Flying Solo Book Two!

3/11/2022

Welcoming Baby Lilya!

Wow, it's been quite a few months since the last blog post! Quite a bit has happened and we are so excited to share it with you all.

We have had an addition to our publishing family! Lilya was born to Myanna and her husband this past January. Lilya was in rehearsals and onstage all fall and winter in the womb and not much has changed with her playlist now; she's already listening in on lessons, rehearsals, and editing sessions! She seems to love music already and especially perks up at hearing her grandmother play the piano.

Late-Night Creativity

Myanna is up all through the night with Lilya and has taken this time to finish editing Flying Solo Violin Book Two, Flying Solo Viola Book Two, and Flying Solo Cello Book Two. Over the past 2 months, Myanna has gotten quite good at writing with one hand and holding the baby with the other. Practicing presents even more challenges (and some funny pictures) but she is managing. We are so grateful to live 5 minutes from each other and 5 minutes from our parents; a triangle of music and art - plus the ability to help each other - that is quite a blessing!

Here are the new releases!

And to celebrate, here's an all-new Fantasia that
Myanna wrote on the Irish tune Eleanor Plunkett!

Fantasia on Eleanor Plunkett for Cello Solo, arr. Myanna Harvey

Fantasia on Eleanor Plunkett for Violin Solo, arr. Myanna Harvey

Fantasia on Eleanor Plunkett for Viola Solo, arr. Myanna Harvey

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Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

1/12/2021

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About a month after I wrote Open String Bow Workouts for the Violin, Book One, back at the end of 2019, I got the first email asking for Book Two. As more and more people started asking for Book Two, I realized that I'd like a Book Two as well and I started mapping out what a second volume would look like.

It's taken a little bit longer than I'd planned (apologies to everyone who got a January 2020 estimated release date!) but Open String Workouts for the Violin, Book Two is finally here!

To celebrate, here is a second volume of free Mini Open String Bowing Workouts for Violin! The mini violin bowing workouts below are all-new and aren't included in the book.

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 1

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 2

Because Open String Bow Workouts for Violin, Book Two focuses on articulation and bow control, these free studies work on some of the same skills that the book does: staccato, dynamics, double stop staccato, and spiccato.

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 3

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 4

Double stop staccato is a great way to get the strings ringing right away - which leads to better tone overall!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 5

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 6

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 7

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 8

And finally, here are a couple of open string violin exercises on spiccato.

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 9

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 10

Did you miss the blog post with free exercises to celebrate Book One?

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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

Learn More

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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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Learn Violin Scale Spaces - Free Sheet Music!

8/28/2019

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One of the best ways to map the fingerboard for your mind and fingers is by learning scales.

Three-octave scales, in particular, can be used to teach nearly all of the notes on the violin.

When people started asking me to write a three-octave scale book for violin, I knew I didn't want to just list the scales (or needlessly put another book out in the world.)

I only wanted write the book if it could solve a problem, or if it could help people learn scales in a new way.

So, the latest violin book we've published (see below) has been more than 5 years in the making!

In the process of writing and editing, I realized that by focusing on whole and half steps (not just half steps), we could clearly map fingerboard distances in our minds.

If we take time to think about the steps in scales and teach them to our fingers, it is possible to truly learn scales, play more in tune, and play in tune more consistently.

(When I saw how it worked, I actually got so excited by the violin book that I wrote a cello scale book that teaches scales the same way; I couldn't let violinists have all the fun!)

Three-Octave Scales for the Violin, Book One: Learning the Scales

New Release!

To celebrate the release of Three-Octave Scales for Violin, Book One: Learning the Scales, this post gives you the major scales written out with all of the whole and half steps so you can think about and remember each space.

And if this whets your appetite for scale mastery, check out the new violin scale book!

Tips for Playing Violin Three-Octave Scale Steps

Play these exercises slowly.
Think about each space as you play it.
As your mind sees the words "half step" or "whole step", try to remember how that space feels in your fingers.
Roman numerals refer to strings, not positions.

I = E string
II = A string
III = D string
IV = G string

If you have trouble playing scales in tune, study the scale exercises in Three-Octave Scales for the Violin, Book One: Learning the Scales.

G Major
Violin Scale Spaces

A-flat Major
Violin Scale Spaces

A Major
Violin Scale Spaces

B-flat Major
Violin Scale Spaces

B Major
Violin Scale Spaces

C Major
Violin Scale Spaces

D-flat Major
Violin Scale Spaces

D Major
Violin Scale Spaces

E-flat Major
Violin Scale Spaces

E Major
Violin Scale Spaces

F Major
Violin Scale Spaces

F-sharp Major
Violin Scale Spaces

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Improve Your Violin Bowing: Free Mini Open String Workouts

3/30/2019

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Free Violin Sheet Music: Open String Bowing Exercises!

This past year Theresa Villani, a wonderful cellist and cello teacher, wrote and asked if I had any exercises for bowing on open strings for one of her students. I had a few pages of an incomplete book, which I was happy to share. She wrote right back and said "Please make a book out of these!" (Incidentally, that's how a lot of books get started; share your ideas on this page.) Then, another teacher wrote and asked for a book of open string studies for violin and viola and here we are!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 1

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 2

Here are a few observations Myanna and I have made while playing and teaching with these studies:

1. Playing open strings is hard! They look easy (at least at the beginning of the book) but this is deceptive. Because the sound is so exposed, I found myself getting super picky with the sound I was producing. This in turn led me to work on fluidity in bow changes, relaxed wrist and fingers, and getting the string vibrating with the least possible motion from my hand.

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 3

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 4

2. Playing open string bow studies is a great way to isolate the bow, especially when you are struggling with note-reading. Myanna has been using Open-String Bow Workouts with some students who have trouble reading notes. Since there are just four notes in the entire book, the students could work on bowing without worrying about reading notes (and as an added bonus, their reading improved!)

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 5

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 6

3. Playing open string bow studies can help violinists at every level. We've used this book with students who had just started playing a few months earlier and also with intermediate and very advanced students. It helped them all, in different ways.

The beginning students used the book to discover what the bow can do. Pure bow technique, such as string crossing, rhythm, and slurs can be taught using this book.

The intermediate students used the book to listen more and improve their tone. At an intermediate level, it's easy to focus on the left hand and forget about the bow. Playing an Open String Bow Workout at the beginning of every lesson has helped our intermediate students build better bow control and tone.

And the advanced students played the slow exercises at an Adagio tempo and the fast exercises as fast as possible to expand the range of their bow technique.

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 7

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 8

4. Playing open string studies can really help your tone improve! When I started playing open string studies myself, I was skeptical; how much could it help? But the difference I heard in my playing and felt in my bow hand convinced me that open strings can be one of the most effective ways to practice bowing. And adding just one page a day to your studies can make a difference over time.

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 9

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 10

To celebrate the release of the new book of Open String Bow Workouts, we are offering the above mini set of (all-new) violin open string studies for free!

When you play these, focus on correct form and how you're holding the bow.

Keep the bow arm shoulder, wrist, and fingers as loose and relaxed as possible. The thumb should be gently balanced on the bow; never squeezing.

Listen for the smoothest, most even sound during each note and keep the bow moving at the same speed while you change bows so there is no variation in sound.

For more violin studies that help you play with better tone, check out this book:

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Alternative to O Come Little Children

8/23/2018

1 Comment

When a teacher mentioned that her student wasn't allowed to play O Come Little Children because of religious reasons and asked about an alternative piece, I wrote this piece as an option that still teaches many of the same techniques: string crossing, slow and fast bows, etc.

O Come Little Children, in Suzuki Book One for Violin (or Viola, or Cello), is also a Christmas carol and some teachers may be looking for a substitute when students or parents request it. Or, Spring Melody (below) can be used as a supplemental piece in addition to O Come Little Children when students need more work on these skills. Beginning violin, viola and cello adult students can enjoy this free piece as well!

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Violin

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Beginning Violin

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Viola

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Beginning Viola

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Cello

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Beginning Cello

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Free Violin Scale Bowing Variations

8/10/2018

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I love the fact that scales are such a great vehicle for learning different skills on the violin! Scales can and should be much more than just playing notes in order in a particular key in a particular set of places on the violin; they can also be used for learning rhythm and bowing skills.

Today in the blog, we're going to focus on using a simple G major scale to work on violin bowing. Now, the possibilities here are endless. I could start writing today and never ever reach the end of variations I could make with this scale. But there are other books to write and so I will stop at 15 pages for this little booklet. Of course, I'll probably come back every once in awhile with another blog post on scales; scale variations are a bit of a passion of mine!

Scales are helpful because they are so predictable. You know what's coming and the notes (at least in these scale pages) are fairly easy. But that doesn't mean you should turn off reading and play from memory just yet; I have some breaks in the pattern built into these scale pages to help keep your attention while you play.

Scale variations are a perfect way to multitask. Variations are a great way to train your left and right hands to be more coordinated and also a great way to make your practice even more efficient; you're working on multiple skills at once!

Feel free to make variations on the variations! Boredom lets you turn your brain off and can be the opening for building bad habits! Violin technique should never be taken for granted; every minute of your practice should be spent actively trying to improve. Varying the exercises can help you stay focused. I play different pages of scale exercises every day (that's one reason why I had to write so many books!) These variations can be played on any scale but they're simplest on a 2-octave scale that starts on an open string.

Violin Scale Variation:
Long Bows and Tone

Violin Scale Variation:
Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation:
Intonation

Violin Scale Variation:
More Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation:
Slurs Without String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:
Triplets

Violin Scale Variation:
Staccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Spiccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Slurs with String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:
String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:
Fiddle Bowing

Violin Scale Variation:
Rhythmic Bowing

Violin Scale Variation:
Combinations

Violin Scale Variation:
Variation on Variation No. 6!

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Welcoming Baby Lilya!

Late-Night Creativity

Here are the new releases!

And to celebrate, here's an all-new Fantasia thatMyanna wrote on the Irish tune Eleanor Plunkett!

Want to print these?​Sign Up Here to Get Your PDF copy ofEleanor Plunkett for Solo Violin, Viola, or Cello!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 1

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 2

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 3

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 4

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 5

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 6

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 7

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 8

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 9

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 10

Sign Up to Get Free PDFs of these Mini Open String Bow Workouts for Violin!

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

And now for the free booklets!

Here are Free Play-Along Tracks for Forked Deer:

Sign Up to Get Free PDFs of the Forked Deer Fiddle Booklets!

Fiddles on the Bandstand Duets: Fully Compatible Between Instruments

Here's What's In the Books:

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

Sign Up Here to Receive Your Free PDFs of the​Sousa Liberty Bell duet!

Tips for Playing Violin Three-Octave Scale Steps

G Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

A-flat Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

A Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

B-flat Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

B Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

C Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

D-flat Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

D Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

E-flat Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

E Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

F Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

F-sharp Major ​Violin Scale Spaces

Would you like a free PDF of these violin exercises?

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 1

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 2

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 3

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 4

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 5

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 6

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 7

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 8

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 9

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 10

Want to print these exercises out and play them?Sign up to get a free PDF of these exercises in Ebook form and learn about sales, discounts, and free book offers through our newsletter!

For more violin studies that help you play with better tone, check out this book:

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Violin

​Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Viola

​Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Cello

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Violin Scale Variation:​Long Bows and Tone

Violin Scale Variation:Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation:Intonation

Violin Scale Variation:More Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation:Slurs Without String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:Triplets

Violin Scale Variation:Staccato

Violin Scale Variation:Staccato

Violin Scale Variation:Spiccato

Violin Scale Variation:Spiccato

Violin Scale Variation:Slurs with String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:Fiddle Bowing

Violin Scale Variation:Rhythmic Bowing

Violin Scale Variation:Combinations

Violin Scale Variation:Variation on Variation No. 6!

Want to print these exercises out and play them?Sign up to get a free PDF of these exercises in ebook form and learn about sales, discounts, and free book offers through our newsletter!

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And to celebrate, here's an all-new Fantasia that
Myanna wrote on the Irish tune Eleanor Plunkett!

Want to print these?

Sign Up Here to Get Your PDF copy of
Eleanor Plunkett for Solo Violin, Viola, or Cello!

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

Sign Up Here to Receive Your Free PDFs of the
Sousa Liberty Bell duet!

G Major
Violin Scale Spaces

A-flat Major
Violin Scale Spaces

A Major
Violin Scale Spaces

B-flat Major
Violin Scale Spaces

B Major
Violin Scale Spaces

C Major
Violin Scale Spaces

D-flat Major
Violin Scale Spaces

D Major
Violin Scale Spaces

E-flat Major
Violin Scale Spaces

E Major
Violin Scale Spaces

F Major
Violin Scale Spaces

F-sharp Major
Violin Scale Spaces

Want to print these exercises out and play them?

Sign up to get a free PDF of these exercises in Ebook form and learn about sales, discounts, and free book offers through our newsletter!

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Viola

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Cello

Violin Scale Variation:
Long Bows and Tone

Violin Scale Variation:
Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation:
Intonation

Violin Scale Variation:
More Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation:
Slurs Without String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:
Triplets

Violin Scale Variation:
Staccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Staccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Spiccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Spiccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Slurs with String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:
String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:
Fiddle Bowing

Violin Scale Variation:
Rhythmic Bowing

Violin Scale Variation:
Combinations

Violin Scale Variation:
Variation on Variation No. 6!

Want to print these exercises out and play them?

Sign up to get a free PDF of these exercises in ebook form and learn about sales, discounts, and free book offers through our newsletter!