Aerobics & Warm–Ups for Fiddlers & Violinists is not for the sophisticated violinist with years of classical training. It has been created especially for the more casual player who is sincerely interested in getting maximum benefit from a minimum of effort. Aerobics & Warm–Ups for Fiddlers & Violinists helps to fill this need for technical studies applicable to both the worlds of classical violin and fiddling. I first tested these scales and exercises on myself for six months, faithfully using them for about 20 minutes as warm–ups to my daily practice. I was rewarded with a definite improvement in my technique. I was actually surprised to see my dexterity grow as I charted my metronomic progress on a calendar. I remember thinking, I will never be able to play faster than this. But then a couple of weeks later I would indeed climb a notch higher!Through the years I have used these exercises in countless fiddle workshops and with private students. the letters of thanks and positive feedback from students who were thrilled with improved fiddle technique have brought me great satisfaction. I sincerely believe that these exercises, when faithfully practiced, will help violinists improve their playing skills. the exercises will help develop and strengthen muscles used for finger dexterity, clarity of notes, tone, bowing–arm control, intonation, double stops and a flexible bowing arm wrist.Companion free Audio Tracks available online.

Warm-ups for the Violist is an adaptation of Warm-ups for the Violinist. It is targeted to help build, strengthen and develop the muscles and techniques needed for viola playing. It is especially suited and created for the more casual violist who is sincerely interested in getting maximum benefit from a minimum of effort.I first tested these scales and exercises on myself for six months, faithfully using them for about 20 minutes as warm-ups to my daily practice. I was rewarded with a definite improvement in my technique. I was actually surprised to see my dexterity grow as I charted my metronomic progress on a calendar. I remember thinking, I will never be able to play faster than this. But then a couple of weeks later I would indeed climb a notch higher!Through the years I have used these exercises in countless workshops and with private students. the letters of thanks and positive feedback from students who were thrilled with improved violin and fiddle technique have brought me great satisfaction. Progress with these exercises is like the progress of a body builder. Body builders do not get up in the morning and think, I am going to develop and build my muscles today, and instantly look like Mr. Atlas. It takes weeks, months and for some, years, to attain results. It must be done over a period of time. Like all diets and exercise programs, determination and dedication are most important to success!I sincerely believe that these exercises, when faithfully practiced, will help violists improve their skills. the exercises will help develop and strengthen muscles used for finger dexterity, clarity of notes, tone, bowing-arm control, intonation, double stops, and a flexible bowing-arm wrist.A companion audio play-along recording is available online.

This collection will fill the need for those fiddlers who are searching for a better understanding of fiddle styles. Conveniently gathered together, is a collection of fiddle tunes in many styles, from different locations and from a variety of fiddlers. Each tune is Carol Ann's favorite arrangement with her own personal touch. You will benefit from 20 years of experience in the violin world and 30 years in the fiddle world. the author has won fiddle contests in Old time, Canadian, Texas, Scottish, plus trick and fancy divisions. In one collection, you will have access to a collection of a lifetime.

For more than a century, violinists have played jazz, swing, blues and similar improvisational styles. With its rich tone, considerable range, and bowed rhythms and phrasing, the violin offers a unique opportunity for a creative and personal statement as a musician. This book presents a broad sampling of the styles of major jazz violinists, from blues to bebop, from jug band to jazzgrass, from big-band swing to Texas swing. Tunes represent the styles of Stéphane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Stuff Smith, Eddie South, Mark O'Connor, Benny Thomasson, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Darol Anger. Helpful jazz theory sections with exercises alternate with tunes that show how the theory works in practice. This book has two objectives; first, to present a broad, roughly chronological sampling of major jazz violinists and the styles associated with them, and secondly, to introduce the basics of jazz theory as applied to the violin. Whether consciously or intuitively, through critical listening or by practicing jazz patterns and exercises, the more knowledge of jazz you acquire, the better you will be able to think about the content of your playing without being bound by technical and theoretical aspects. This anthology was written to help provide that foundation. Interspersed with pragmatic jazz theory lessons, you’ll find 28 original tunes in the style of various jazz violin luminaries. The book ends with an extensive discography of recommended jazz recordings with a violin focus. Mandolinists as well as other instrumentalists will find a wealth of useful information in this outstanding collection. Delightful broadcast-quality recordings of the repertoire are available online. Includes access to online audio. Wirtten for intermediate to advanced violinists.

Take a (violin) bow and let your inner musician shine! You don’t have to be a genius to start fiddling around! Violin For Dummies helps budding violinists of all ages begin to play. If you’ve never read a note of music, this book will show you how to turn those little black dots into beautiful notes. Start slow as you learn how to hold the instrument, use the bow, finger notes, and play in tune. Watch yourself blossom into a musician with tips on technique and style. When you’re ready to go further, this book will help you find the people and resources that can help you get just a little closer to virtuoso! Your own private lessons are right inside this book, with the included online video and audio instruction, plus recordings that will help you develop your “ear.” This book takes the guesswork out of learning an instrument, so you’ll be ready to join the band when the time comes! Choose a violin and learn the basics of holding the instrument and playing notes Start reading music with this fast-and-easy introduction to musical notation Improve your musicianship and start to play in groups Explore different music styles and legendary violin composers The violin is a beautiful thing—adding melody everywhere from orchestras to folk and pop tunes. With Violin For Dummies, you can make the music your own, even if you’re a total music beginner.

How can musicians express themselves and recreate the great masterworks with ease and expressiveness and yet avoid injury in the process? Musicians face many challenges: a highly competitive environment, performance anxiety, demanding repertoire, years of solitary practice, and awkward postures. The hectic pace of rehearsals and performances when added to the mix often results in the very real risk of physical pain and injury. This book is a readable and comprehensive guide and reference for all concerned with pain in musical work: professional and amateur musicians, teachers and students, doctors and therapists. This book is essential for all musicians. String, keyboard, percussion, harp, brass and wind players will play better and feel better. Read about: Why it may hurt to play; Injury susceptibility quiz; Risk factors & danger signals; Hearing, back, disc, arm and shoulder problems; 10 onstage tricks; TMJ, teeth, larynx and joint laxity; Stretching & strengthening; Rehabilitation & work-hardening; Musician's survival kit; 10 do's & don'ts; Instrument modifications; Guide to safe practicing.

Eleven-year-old Benny Feldman spends his days at Sieberling School obeying his number-one rule for surviving sixth grade: blend into the background. So when he signs up his klezmer band to play in the school talent show, his classmates are shocked. Teased by guitar superstar and former friend Jason Conroy, Benny vows to win the trophy and erase the embarrassing nickname that has haunted him since his disastrous debut performance in an first-grade Sabbath play. But, there is a problem. Benny Feldman's All-Star Klezmer Band is only a figment of Benny's imagination. He loves the traditional klezmer music of Eastern Europe, but how is he going to find other players to join him? With the show a few months away, Benny, an accomplished fiddler, embarks on a quest to assemble a band that will beat Jason's rock group at the talent show. His search takes him to an arcade convention, a potato chip factory, an oddities shop, and a storage room stacked with cans of creamed corn and succotash. Along the way he meets Jennifer, a jazz-loving drummer; Royce, a bow-tie-wearing clarinet prodigy; and Stuart, a braggart accordion player from Cajun Country. He also learns a great deal about the joys and sorrows that lie at the heart of klezmer and discovers that being different can be wonderful. Eventually, the ragtag and renamed "Klez Misfits" mount the stage and the tension-filled climax will have young readers wondering until the end if Benny and his band can pull off a miracle. This fun, feel-good story shows how friends, family, history and culture can all build confidence. Benny learns to believe in himself and has fun and finds love along the way.

Performance Success teaches a set of skills so that a musician can be ready to go out and sing or play at his or her highest level, working with energies that might otherwise be wasted in unproductive ways. This is a book of skills and exercises, prepared by a master teacher.