Making Violin/Fiddle Fun & Simple for Beginners
A little bit of support at home, even 5 to 10 minutes a day, makes a huge difference in building confidence and skill.
These resources are designed to be:
- ✓Easy to follow – clear, bite-sized steps.
- ✓Encouraging – celebrating progress, even small wins.
- ✓Supportive for helpers – you don’t need to be musical yourself to guide a beginner.
💡 Remember: short, regular practice with a bit of encouragement goes further than long, stressful sessions.
Lesson 0:
Tune Your Violin
An in-tune violin is much easier to play! This is an improtant first step for helpers to assist with before each practice session.
What We'll Cover:
- Using a tuner
- Turning pegs very slowly and gently.
- Making small, safe adjustments to get close to the correct pitch.
Tuning Resource:
Below Andrea shows a simple way to tune your violin.
If you'd like to check out Andreas YouTube channel, go to The Sydney String Centre.
Helper's Tuning Tip
Don't worry about getting it perfect at first. The goal is to get close! Making small adjustments is safer for the strings. Always feel free to ask your teacher for help.
You can also use a free tuner app on your phone:
Lesson 1:
Getting To Know Your Violin Case
Before we make beautiful sounds, let's learn to safely and gently handle your violin and bow. Think of it as getting to know your instrument's cozy home.
What We'll Cover:
- Opening the case slowly and carefully.
- Taking out your violin and bow securely.
- Tucking them safely back into their spots.
Violin Case Resource:
To see more of Jen’s teaching check her YouTube channel here.
Practice Tip
Learning happens over time with repetition. Practicing taking your violin out and putting it away safely each day builds excellent habits. Keep up the great work!
Lesson 2:
Getting to Know Your Violin & Bow
It’s time to learn all the different names of the parts of your fiddel and bow! This helps us talk about your instrument like true, knowledgeable musicians.
Violin Parts Resources:
This video from Practicing Musician will walk you through everything!
Reinforce Your Learning
Repetition is key! Use the 'Test Your Knowledge' quiz game with a helper to master the parts. Come back to it often to strengthen your knowledge!
Lesson 3:
The Pencil Hold
One of the best ways to develop a beautiful bow hold can be practiced with just a simple pen or pencil!
Pencil Hold Resource:
For more great tips, check out the Let's Talk Violin channel.
Practice Tip
This exercise builds a great foundation for a good bow hold. Consistent daily practice is your superpower!
Lesson 4:
Mastering the Bow Hold
Learning to hold the actual bow correctly is one of the trickiest, but also the most rewarding parts of playing the fiddle.
Bow Hold Resource:
For more from Julia, check out her channel: Julia's Violin Academy.
Practice Tip
Mastering the bow hold is a journey of daily practice. Work on this skill every day, and remember that each practice session is another step towards making beautiful music!
Lesson 5:
The Bow Games
These games are powerful exercises designed to build dexterity and control with the bow.
Bow Game Resources:
Game 1: Bunny Flips
Game 2: Pinky Push-Ups
Game 3: Spider Crawl
Game 4: Curling & Straightening
For more from Kimberly, check her YouTube channel: 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!
Lesson 6:
How to Hold the Violin
This lesson is about balance and relaxation, ensuring your instrument feels like a natural extension of yourself.
Violin Hold Resource:
For more great posture tips, explore more from 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!
Lesson 7:
Let the Strings Sing! Playing Open Strings
It’s exciting to hear the clear, rich tones of your G, D, A, and E strings.
Open Strings Resource:
To continue learning with Julia, check out 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.
Lesson 8:
The Fiddle Hold – Preparing Your Left Hand
It's time to bring your left hand to its important role. A relaxed and correct left-hand position is vital for future success!
Left Hand Resource:
Dive deeper into left hand technique at 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.
Lesson 9:
Beginning Finger Placement and Notes
Now it's time to play your first notes with finger placement and a simple scale.
First Notes Resource:
Check more lessons from Julia here.
A Milestone!
This is a big milestone! Practice playing your first notes and the simple scale consistently. It will feel more natural every time!
Lesson 10:
Recap: Bunny Flips and Open Strings
Here we recap two important concepts: Bunny Flips, which help with finger, wrist, and hand control, and Open Strings, which are the starting notes of your violin. To remember the open string names (G,D,A,E) , we use the rhyme: Grumpy Donkeys and Elephants.
Recap Resource:
Keep practicing these fundamental skills to build a strong foundation!
Practice Tip
Regular review of key techniques like Bunny Flips and knowing your open strings by heart will make your violin journey smoother and more enjoyable. Sing the rhyme often to remember your string names!
Lesson 11:
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" First part
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"! This is a huge step forward.
What We'll Cover:
- Reviewing open strings.
- Finger placement for B note.
Video Resource:
Watch this video to start playing "Twinkle Twinkle" step-by-step!
Sheet Music Resource:
You can download and print a guide to help you remember the notes and fingers:
Practice Tip
Take it slow, practice each phrase.
Keep Up the Great Work!
Come back any time to review and practice these fundamental skills. Consistent effort is the key to your success!