Learning to play a String Instrument 101

Arts Celebration Day

March 10, 2012

The Grand Plan

Introduction to String Instruments: Arik Hopson

Learn from your student

Mini- performance: Cripple Creek

Question and answer

Violin for Beginners

By:

Arik Keegan HopsonThe complete slide show for

violin.

Step 1:NOTES

There are 4 strings. They play notes. E string plays the E note. A string plays the A note. D string plays the D note. G string plays the G note.

E is the highest, A is the second highest, D is the second lowest, and G is the lowest.

E

G D

A

Viola and Cello strings: A stringD stringG stringC string

THE BOW

NOTES (continued) THE VIOLIN

Step 2:BODY MOTION

Feel the beat. Go with the flow. You’re no pro at this and neither are we. If you make a mistake, don’t stop, play the next notes. Practice makes almost perfect; determination finishes it up. Feel the music and dance while playing.

Soon you’ll blossom like a flower and be a star!

You can achieve any thing with courage, bravery, determination, focus, and practice. Sheet music too, because you need to know the notes for the song you’re playing. YOU’LL BE A STAR!

Now it’s

your turn

to learn…

What is this called?

Introduce one new part at a time-Scroll

-Bridge

-Pegs

-Neck

-f-holes

-Fingerboard

-Fine tuners

**Violin/viola: chin rest

**Cello: endpin

Review game: Around the World

How do you hold it?

Violin/viola:– Rest position– Feet position– Circle up

Cello– Rest position– Feet, knees, back, sternum

How do I make a sound?

“Pizzicato” = Pluck the string Arco = Use the bow

**Today, we are only going to pizzicato, not arco**

Introduce your parent to Fingerboard

Fred: what he likes and what he does

not like

Follow the Leader

Help your parent learn the open strings by playing a quick game of Follow the Leader

For example:

I play: D D A

Mom plays: D D A

--------------------------

Mom plays: G D A

I play: G D A

Violin:

E A DG

Violin:

E A DG

Viola/Cello:

A DG C

Try playing this song: The D-A-D Stomp

A: D A D(Stomp)

A: D A D(Stomp)

B: D D A A

A: D A D(Stomp)

How do I change notes on the D string?

Violin/Viola:

1st finger = E

2nd finger = F#

3rd finger = G

Cello:

1st finger = E

3rd finger = F#

4th finger = G

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: ABA

A: D D A A B B A-----

G G F# F# E E D-----

____________________________________________________

B: A A G G F# F# G-----

A A G G F# F# G-----

____________________________________________________

A: D D A A B B A-----

G G F# F# E E D-----

Mini- performance

Cripple Creek

This is a traditional fiddle

tune we are learning

Questions, anyone?

Thank you for coming today and also for supporting your child’s music

education!