Violin · For current families

Violin resources

Helpful tools for practice at home: our music-reading course, slowing down the recordings, tuning, strings, metronomes and recommended reading.

Introduction to Music Reading

A video course for children in Suzuki Violin Book 1, to start reading music alongside their pieces.

Open the video course

Slowing down the recordings

When your child first plays along with a piece, it helps to slow the recording down while they get used to the speed. You'll need the tracks as audio files (for example the ones you bought from Amazon or Apple Music).

On a phone or tablet

Search your app store for a music speed changer. Music Speed Changer and Audipo both work on Android and iPhone. Music Speed Changer can remember your chosen speed for each track.

On a computer or Chromebook

Use the Music Speed Changer website, or the free VLC player on a computer.

In VLC, the speed control is hidden at first. Go to Tools → Customise interface, find Speed selector near the bottom of the list, drag it into the main toolbar, and click Close. A small "1.00x" control then appears at the bottom of the player.

Tuning the violin

Keeping the violin in tune makes a big difference to how it sounds. Many violinists tune by ear, but that takes time to learn, and a tuner makes it much easier to start with.

A tuner app (easiest for most families)

Search for "chromatic tuner", or try one of these:

Other ways to tune

You can tune to a piano, or keep a small clip-on chromatic tuner in the violin case (for example a D'Addario or Snark tuner), which is handy for a child without a phone.

The string notes

From lowest to highest, the strings are G3, D4, A4 and E5. When a string is in tune, the tuner shows just the letter and number (for example D or D4), with no # or b.

Violin strings

Strings come with the violin, but at some point one will break or start to sound dull. Strings are made in different sizes to match each violin size, and you can buy them singly or as a set of four (the E string is the cheapest, the G the most expensive).

The main types are steel-core and synthetic-core. Steel-core strings are cheaper and last longer, so they're common on student and hire violins; synthetic-core strings usually give a richer tone. We don't recommend gut strings for children.

For children's violins we suggest Vision strings. For full-size violins, Vision and Dominant are both popular, and it's worth trying a few to find the sound you like. In New Zealand you can order both from Antonio Strings.

Metronome

A metronome can help older, intermediate and advanced students. We don't suggest using one with children in Book 1.

Recommended reading

Two books by Dr Shinichi Suzuki about the philosophy behind the method:

  • Nurtured by Love
  • Ability Development from Age Zero

Both are published by Alfred Music and available from music shops and online bookstores.

Join your local Suzuki association

Suzuki associations run workshops, concerts and camps, and send newsletters for families. They're a great way for your child to meet and play with other Suzuki students.