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7 Ways Duets Can Make Teaching (and Studying) Easier!

4/2/2022

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​-Myanna Harvey

My teacher and I never played duets in our lessons when I was growing up. We stuck to hard-core exercise and etude books like Sevcik and Schradieck, Wohlfahrt and Kreutzer, and all the other great books that have been helping people improve at the violin for a hundred years.
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As a result, my technique was great, but I could never count at all. Well into high school, rhythm remained a tantalizing mystery reserved for wind players and those who were naturally blessed with having “good rhythm”. I learned all my repertoire rhythm by hearing it, including the ins and outs of orchestral music. Eventually a theory class forced me to actually learn how to make sense of what I saw on the page before I heard it, and the Great Mystery became just a math problem. Thank you Mr. Wilensky!
But when I started teaching, I needed a way to help my students count better that worked in the lessons. I started assigning duets in addition to technical studies,  etudes, and solo repertoire and immediately saw my students improve!

Here are some of the benefits I’ve noticed from playing duets in the lessons with my own students over the years:

1. Duets improve rhythm!

  • Duets are often written in score form, which gives your students a chance to see how the parts fit together and what each note is “worth."
  • Duets let the teacher establish and insist on a tempo that the student learns to follow. Students can feel pulse and phrasing from the teacher. 
  • Because duets don't work unless the student counts correctly, they can hear why they need to count. 
  • Duets are usually the very first chamber music that students experience. Hearing another part at the same time that they are playing can be initially confusing but it is so important for students to get used to that!​
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2. Duets help sight-reading.

Sight-reading was another big mystery to me as a kid. Having students sight-read through duets that are a few levels below their current solo repertoire gives them hands-on guided experience in real-time playing. They get weekly chances (with just a little bit of "in-lesson pressure") to tackle the challenges in reading music and making sound from what they see on the page.
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3. Duets help tone and overall sound.

When you play with your students, they subconsciously rise to the sound you are creating together. If you use vibrato, they’ll use more. If you are playing with a confident, beautiful tone, they’ll find themselves matching you. If you use longer bows, they will too. Hearing you play alongside them will have a greater effect on their playing than all the explaining, exhorting, and general nagging I usually resort to.
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4. Duet-playing improves morale.

  • When I use duets that are shorter and easier than their concerto or sonata, it’s an easy win; my students can learn an assigned duet in a week or two and feel like they’re really succeeding at something. Solo repertoire takes longer to master and it can be discouraging to be in the middle of learning a long piece without shorter, less-intense music to bring some joy to the lessons.​
  • ​When we play together, the students sound much better than they do alone; it’s a tangible difference that they and their parents can hear right away.
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5. Duet-playing in recitals helps avoid stage fright.

Nervous performers (including some adult learners) can benefit immensely from performing with their teacher in a duet! Duet performances give the student a safety-net and the sense that they aren't alone up on stage!
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6. Duets help build a strong student-teacher relationship.

Cassia and I both had awesome and awe-inspiring teachers. We never felt comfortable talking to them as if they were actual human beings. Because of this, I am convinced that lessons were more stressful than they needed to be. Duets help your students realize that it isn’t you against them; you’re in this together! 
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7. Duets are just plain fun!

  • Trading rhythms...
  • Taking turns on melody and harmony...
  • Feeding off each other’s energy...
  • Celebrating the social part of music...
  • Playing music that sounds good, no matter what the level!
​I usually play duets with my students either at the end of the lesson, or after exercises and before solo rep, and it always works as a mood booster. When we can achieve joy in a lesson, as well as musical improvement, to me, that’s success!​
​-Myanna
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Browse Violin Duets
Browse Viola Duets
Browse Cello Duets

Check out some of these duet books to
​make your teaching easier!

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

3/11/2022

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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. ​
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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.  
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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!

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

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

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

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

    Want to print these?

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

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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!  
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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

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

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

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

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 4

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

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

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

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 6

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

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 7

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

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 8

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

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

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 9

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

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 10

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

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

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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. ​
Harvey String Teaching Summer Chamber Camp
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.)
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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.)
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Here's a concert photo of one of our Summer Fiddle groups playing a tune from the Blackberry Blossom Fiddle Books!

Harvey String Teaching Summer Chamber Camp
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

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

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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. 
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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. ​
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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! 
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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!​
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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!

Christmas Duets for Two Violins - A Mini Ebook

Christmas Duets for Two Violins -Free Sheet Music

Manger Lullaby - a Free Violin Christmas Duet

Manger Lullaby - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Manger Lullaby - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

Masters In This Hall - a Free Violin Christmas Duet

Masters In This Hall - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Masters in the Hall - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

O Tannenbaum - a Free Violin Christmas Duet

O Tannenbaum - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
O Tannenbaum - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

Christmas Duets for Two Violas - A Mini Ebook

Christmas Duets for Two Violas -Free Sheet Music

Manger Lullaby - a Free Viola Christmas Duet

Manger Lullaby - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Manger Lullaby - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

Masters In This Hall - a Free Viola Christmas Duet

Masters In This Hall - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Masters in the Hall - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

O Tannenbaum - a Free Viola Christmas Duet

O Tannenbaum - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
O Tannenbaum - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

​Christmas Duets for Two Cellos - A Mini Ebook

Christmas Duets for Two Cellos -Free Sheet Music

Manger Lullaby - a Free Cello Christmas Duet

Manger Lullaby - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Manger Lullaby - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

Masters In This Hall - a Free Cello Christmas Duet

Masters In This Hall - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Masters in the Hall - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

O Tannenbaum - a Free Cello Christmas Duet

O Tannenbaum - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
O Tannenbaum - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

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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.
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(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

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

A-flat Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

A Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

B-flat Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

B Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

C Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

D-flat Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

D Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

E-flat Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

E Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

F Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Violin Scale Spaces

F-sharp Major
​Violin Scale Spaces

Three-Octave 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. 1

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 2

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. 3

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 4

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 1

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. 5

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 6

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. 7

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 8

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. 9

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 10

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 1
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.

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

Open String Bow Workouts for Violin
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Alternative to O Come Little Children

8/23/2018

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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 Beginning Violin

​Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Viola

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Beginning Viola
Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Beginning Viola

​Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Cello

Spring Melody - Free Sheet Music for Beginning 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: ​Long Bows and Tone

Violin Scale Variation:
Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation: Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation:
Intonation

Violin Scale Variation: Intonation

Violin Scale Variation:
More Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation: More Bow Rhythms

Violin Scale Variation:
Slurs Without String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation: Slurs Without String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:
Triplets

Violin Scale Variation: Triplets

Violin Scale Variation:
Staccato

Violin Scale Variation: Staccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Staccato

Violin Scale Variation: Staccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Spiccato

Violin Scale Variation: Spiccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Spiccato

Violin Scale Variation: Spiccato

Violin Scale Variation:
Slurs with String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation: Slurs with String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:
String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation: String Crossing

Violin Scale Variation:
Fiddle Bowing

Violin Scale Variation: Fiddle Bowing

Violin Scale Variation:
Rhythmic Bowing

Violin Scale Variation: Rhythmic Bowing

Violin Scale Variation:
Combinations

Violin Scale Variation: Combinations

Violin Scale Variation:
Variation on Variation No. 6!

Violin Scale Variation: Variation on Variation No. 6!

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Adventures at the 2018 ASTA Conference

3/12/2018

1 Comment

 

A storm was headed our way...

with a projected 6-12 inches of snow! We packed the rented Ford Expedition with books and displays (thanks to amazing glassmaker John Koutsouros!) and headed out early Wednesday morning. My mom (Judy Harvey) was going to fly but we knew the flights would be canceled so she came along for the ride. 

The ride was rough for a few hours but around the time we hit Virginia, things started looking sunny.

We stopped for lunch/dinner at a delicious Mexican restaurant.

El Restaurante Ixtapa deserved every good Yelp review it got;
​the fish tacos were to die for.
Picture

When we pulled into the Hyatt Regency Atlanta,

we were absolutely exhausted and ready to sleep. However, there were only two single beds for three people. The Hyatt Regency Atlanta said they couldn't bring in a cot because of the fire codes and suggested that one person sleep on the floor. (Bear in mind that none of this was told to us at booking.) You never know what you'll get when you travel!

Anyway, Myanna headed out the next day to get an air mattress. And an air pump. That didn't work because it needed a car cigarette lighter for power. Hmm.

Judy came to the rescue with an unorthodox solution!
Picture
Never would have thought of this but it actually worked!

Conference setup day!

It's a mammoth task to unload a "tank" full of book boxes and displays, drag it all up to an exhibit hall, and set it up. This year was better because we had a proper cart.

Glamorous booth set up...

Finally set up.

Almost ready to open.

Picture

Beautiful hotel elevator ride

Picture
photo by Judy Harvey

The conference was amazing!

We met many wonderful teachers and the booth was humming with activity. I loved the chance to interact with musicians from all over the country and talk string technique. From cello shifting to violin scales, we had fabulous conversations and (happily for our aching arms and backs) came home with empty book boxes.

​If you are thinking of attending at ASTA conference, definitely try it out; there were so many great sessions and just the coolest people ever. Hope to see you next year in Albuquerque!

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    Cassia Harvey can't ever find or play enough exercises. She searches for rare and out-of-print studies and etudes in her free time. If you know of any, please let her know. Seriously; it's an obsession.

    Myanna Harvey's teacher assigned her piles of exercises when she was growing up but whenever her mother stopped listening, Myanna would quickly break away from the Sevcik to play a bit of Brahms or Beethoven she had heard on the radio. Now she practices with exercises and assigns them to students but her greatest passion is playing chamber music. 

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