My Next Pieces, following on from My First Pieces, has been devised to guide developing string players to an intermediate level of playing. As in My First Pieces, an important feature is that the teacher may accompany the student for each piece on their instrument of choice with a separate part. Many teachers have found this musical and personal connection to be a significant contribution to each student’s focus, progress, and enjoyment in playing music. Additionally, audio recordings of the piano accompaniments for each piece may be downloaded freely from
As always, it is advisable to consistently check students’ posture, bow hold and the position of their left hand each time they attend lessons. Important information appears throughout the book as the need arises and it is best to revise this regularly with students during lessons. A glossary can be found at the back of the book so that students can quickly find the meaning of the terms they have learned.
Throughout the book there are “Teacher’s Notes” which you may find useful when tackling a new idea or work. However, this is by no means the definitive way of explaining things as there are many different and valid ways of communicating essential information.
- REVISION OF THE D, G AND C MAJOR SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS.
- OVERVIEW OF DIFFERENT BOWING STYLES: SLURRED NOTES, RETAKES, MARTELÉ, DIVISIONS, HOOK STROKE, ZIG-ZAG BOWING AND SPICCATO.
- REVISION PIECES THAT USE THE ABOVE SCALES AND FAMILIAR RHYTHMS.
- TWO – TWO OR CUT COMMON TIME.
- VIBRATO.
- POSITION CHANGING (1) – TO A HARMONIC, USE OF AN OPEN STRING, AND THE SAME FINGER.
- SPICCATO.
- SYNCOPATION.
- REPEATED STRING CROSSING USING BOTH SEPARATE AND SLURRED BOWINGS.
- CHROMATIC SLIDES WITH THE FIRST FINGER.
- SEMIQUAVERS.
- C SHARP AND G SHARP.
- THE KEYS OF A MAJOR AND A MINOR.
- ADDITIONAL SEMIQUAVER GROUPS.
- POSITION CHANGING (2) – USING DIFFERENT FINGERS.
- TRIPLETS.
- SIX – EIGHT TIME.
- SWING STYLE.
- THE KEYS OF F MAJOR AND D MINOR.
- THREE – TWO TIME.
- THE KEYS OF B FLAT MAJOR AND G MINOR.
- TWO OCTAVE SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS.