About the MINI VIOLIN method
Questionnaire from F. Ström about Mini Violin
•What is the difference between your way of teaching groups and the way of other existing methods such as the Suzuki method?
Suzuki’s method has a song as starting point. The goal is learning the song. My method works on all occurring elements one encounters while studying this instrument. There are a lot of left hand and right hand exercises that return in every lesson, of coursein a playful way. Clapping exercises and plucking songs occur frequently.Bowing exercises on open strings return regularly. I also believe singing is very important during the first year. The singing part of the lesson allows children to express their musical feelings. Learning notes is no problem. First, the children just clap the notes. Later on, they pluck the notes. You see, a child’s visual capabilities and auditory receptivity are equally strong. And they like it! They are proud to have a book with notes like grown-ups.Each lesson has a five minute moment to play (in the sense of a game)with notes.
- MINI VIOLIN is a violin teaching method for children aged 5 & 6.
- The lessons are playful and present a host of new, memorable songs.
- Included with the first volume is a “magic wand”, to be used in the lessons to practise holding the bow.
- The MINI VIOLIN method consists of two volumes, each containing 33 lessons.
- Unique to this method is the way in which young children are introduced to music notation in a very early stage. This is done in a very playful manner, for instance by using colouring pictures. After just one season, pupils will be able to play from memory as well as from sheet music.
- Especially for the teachers, a guidebook has been written that handles each lesson separately.
- For the parents, each lesson includes a parents’ page to guide them through this week’s exercises.
- The method is suited for both individual and group education.