Introducing Note Reading to Pre-Reading Students

Teaching note reading to students who are pre-reading (not just with musical notes, but pre-reading in their language) can sometimes be difficult.  The Suzuki method teaches new pieces by ear, which is useful in ear training and developing a good musical ear.  Even if you use this method, however, there comes a point when a student is ready to move toward note reading.  This is a process, and can't happen overnight, so it is important to know what steps to take.  I like these flashcards (they also come laminated and in a mini size).  These work well in lessons for different types of games and compositions (post on these coming soon!) and also for home practice.

Beyond the flashcards, I've tried the idea that involves writing the finger numbers alone on a sheet of paper in order to introduce reading, but I also don't like the student to get too used to using only numbers.  I've found they get stuck on this, and it makes the transition to note reading more difficult in some cases.  As a transitional option in lieu of this, I like to introduce notes without the lines of the staff.  This seems to be a less overwhelming option than using a full staff, and allows the student to get used to seeing notes and to become familiar with note values, without the visual confusion of the lines.  I like that it can still show the relative positioning of the notes, as they would appear on the staff normally - higher or lower relative to one another - but removes an element that can be potentially overwhelming for very young students (lines, lines, and more lines!).  

String Quartet no. 556b for Strings in A minor (Motoring Accident) Decomposed by John Stump

Now check out this option instead:

Introducing Note Reading to Pre-Reading Students (No Staff Lines)

See?  Isn't this much nicer?!  The students can still read finger numbers if needed, but they are not relying solely on numbers, and have an opportunity to see and "read" notes often as they transition to "real" note reading.  Obviously you don't want to stay here forever either, but it is a nice stepping stone to fluent note reading.

As an example, I've posted some beginning violin sheet music for you to download for free!  I've made an arrangement of Mary Had a Little Lamb violin duet, with a simple 1st violin part and a very simple 2nd violin part (open strings only).  I have two versions, one without staff lines and one with staff lines.  I hope you can read it okay.  Somehow it lost quality when converting to PDF.

Mary Had a Little Lamb With Staff Lines
Mary Had a Little Lamb Without Staff Lines

Let me know how it goes with your students.  Also, feel free to comment and let me know if there are other pieces you'd like me to arrange this way.

UPDATE:
I now also have arrangements of Hot Cross Buns available for free download!

Hot Cross Buns With Staff Lines
Hot Cross Buns Without Staff Lines

Ground Rules for String Instrument Handling

When I was in seventh grade, I was putting my violin away backstage after my junior high orchestra concert.  I’m pretty sure we had just nailed the simplified version of whatever piece we were playing that night.  As I was loosening my bow, a random audience member, who should not have been allowed backstage, walked by carelessly, letting her legs trample whatever path they pleased, and although it shouldn't have happened, and I was being careful with my instrument, I suddenly heard a heart-stopping *SNAP!*.    My bow stick had snapped in half!

Broken Violin Bow

I was HOR-RI-FIED!  Not only was my bow broken, my mom was going to KILL ME!!  Well, things turned out in the bow department (they glued that cheap bow back together, and my mom bought me a [no joke] $30 bow to take to school), and in the mom department (well, I’m still alive, so…), but the moral of this story is: stringed instruments are very fragile, so don’t break your instrument. :)

When I start a new student, I find it a good idea to establish some Ground Rules for caring for their instrument.  This is especially important for young children to avoid any instrumental disasters.  This is in addition to the routine care, such as how to rosin the bow, clean rosin from the instrument, tighten/loosen the bow, etc.  Here are my rules:

1.  Your violin is yours.  No one else’s.  Don’t let friends or siblings play it/play with it.  I reinforce this by always asking the student for permission to tune their instrument or make any adjustments, to give them a sense of ownership and responsibility for their instrument.

2.  When you are not playing your violin, it needs to either be in rest position or in your case.  Don’t leave it lying around, especially on the ground!

3.  Your instrument is NOT a toy.  No sword fighting or other such nonsense.  (Don’t show your students my logo with the two pirate kids sword fighting with bows.  Bad idea.)

Broken Violin

Those are the main three that I like to stress from the very beginning.  There may be other important things that I am forgetting.  What sort of ground rules do you set with your students with regards to instrument handling and care?