Making Violin Fun & Simple
A little bit of support at home — even 5 to 10 minutes a day — makes a massive difference in building confidence and skill.
These resources are designed to be:
- Easy to follow — clear, bite-sized steps (no music degree needed!)
- Encouraging — celebrating progress, even the tiny wins
- Supportive for helpers — you don't need to be musical to guide a beginner
Remember: Short, regular practice with a bit of encouragement goes way further than long, stressful sessions.
Tune Your Violin
First things first!
An in-tune violin is much easier to play! This is an important first step for helpers to assist with before each practice session.
What We'll Cover:
- Using a tuner (there's an app for that!)
- Turning pegs very slowly and gently — no Hulk hands!
- Making small, safe adjustments to get close to the correct pitch
Tuning Resource:
Below, Andrea shows a simple way to tune your violin:
Check out Andrea's channel: The Sydney String Centre
Helper's Tuning Tip
Don't worry about getting it perfect at first. The goal is to get close enough! Small adjustments are safer for the strings.
Free tuner apps:
Getting To Know Your Case
Your violin's cozy home
Before we make beautiful sounds, let's learn to safely and gently handle your violin and bow. Think of the case as your instrument's bedroom — we want to tuck it in nicely!
What We'll Cover:
- Opening the case slowly and carefully (no surprises!)
- Taking out your violin and bow securely
- Tucking them safely back into their spots
More from Jen: Her YouTube channel
Practice Tip
Learning happens with repetition. Practicing taking your violin out and putting it away safely each day builds excellent habits. It's like brushing your teeth — do it enough and you won't even think about it!
Know Your Violin & Bow
Learn the lingo!
Time to learn all the different names of the parts of your fiddle and bow! This helps us talk about your instrument like true, knowledgeable musicians. (Fancy, right?)
Violin Parts Diagram:
This video from Practicing Musician walks you through everything:
Reinforce Your Learning
Repetition is key! Use the quiz game with a helper to master the parts. Come back to it often — it's like a video game, but for your violin brain!
The Pencil Hold
Secret weapon: a pencil!
One of the best ways to develop a beautiful bow hold can be practiced with just a simple pen or pencil! No violin needed for this one.
More tips: Let's Talk Violin
Practice Tip
This exercise builds a great foundation for a good bow hold. The best part? You can practice while watching TV, waiting for dinner, or pretending to do homework!
Mastering the Bow Hold
The real deal!
Learning to hold the actual bow correctly is one of the trickiest, but also the most rewarding parts of playing the fiddle. You've got this!
More from Julia: Julia's Violin Academy
Practice Tip
Mastering the bow hold is a journey of daily practice. Work on this skill every day, and remember: every practice session is another step towards making beautiful music!
The Bow Games
Exercise time!
These games are powerful exercises designed to build dexterity and control with the bow. Think of them as gym workouts... but way more fun!
Game 1: Bunny Flips
Game 2: Pinky Push-Ups
Game 3: Spider Crawl
Game 4: Curling & Straightening
More from Kimberly: Hope Violin Studio
Daily Bow Workout
These games are your daily workout for a flexible and strong bow hand. Have fun building your skills one day at a time!
How to Hold the Violin
Balance & relaxation
This lesson is about balance and relaxation, ensuring your instrument feels like a natural extension of yourself. No tension allowed!
More posture tips: Julia's Violin Academy
Posture & Practice
A relaxed posture comes from consistent practice. Practice holding your violin correctly each day to build a foundation for playing! Your shoulders will thank you.
Let the Strings Sing!
Playing Open Strings
It's exciting to hear the clear, rich tones of your G, D, A, and E strings. This is where the magic starts happening!
Remember G, D, A, E with:
Grumpy Donkeys And Elephants
Continue with Julia: Her full YouTube channel
Practice Your Tone
Making a beautiful sound is a wonderful feeling! Practice playing your open strings every day. Each session will make your tone even better.
The Fiddle Hold
Preparing Your Left Hand
Time to bring your left hand to its important role! A relaxed and correct left-hand position is vital for future success.
Dive deeper: Julia's Violin Academy
Prepare for Success
A comfortable left hand is key to playing notes with ease. Work on this relaxed position every day. No death grip allowed!
First Notes & Finger Placement
The moment you've been waiting for!
Now it's time to play your first notes with finger placement and a simple scale. This is a BIG deal!
More lessons: from Julia here
A Milestone!
This is a huge milestone! Practice playing your first notes and the simple scale consistently. It will feel more natural every time. You're officially making music!
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Your first real song!
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"! This is a HUGE step forward. You're playing an actual song now!
What We'll Cover:
- Reviewing open strings
- Finger placement for the B note
Watch this video to start playing "Twinkle Twinkle" step-by-step!
Jingle Bells
Holiday vibes all year round!
Time to learn a festive classic! (Don't worry, you can play it in July too — we won't tell anyone.)
What We'll Cover:
- One verse of Jingle Bells
- Finger placement for the C note
Watch this video to start playing "Jingle Bells" step-by-step!
Recap: Bunny Flips & Open Strings
A quick refresher on the fundamentals
Let's recap two important concepts: Bunny Flips (finger, wrist, and hand control from Lesson 5) and Open Strings (your starting notes from Lesson 7).
Keep Reviewing!
Regular review of key techniques will make your violin journey smoother and more enjoyable. Come back to this whenever you need a refresher!
You're Doing Amazing!
Every lesson completed is a step closer to making beautiful music.
Keep practicing, stay curious, and most importantly — have fun!