FOR VIOLIN - VIOLA - Cello
Beginners
Tuneful start
Make Music brings together independent materials for beginners' lessons. Independent in the sense that Make Music is not tied to any specific method — it is fully compatible with all commonly used teaching approaches. The core idea is to complement existing concepts, not to replace them.
Tuneful is the first series of teaching materials designed for very young beginners on the violin, viola, and cello. It is intended for children aged approximately 4–10/11 years. The idea is to begin in fourth position, allowing teachers to address common challenges by taking advantage of the child’s natural physical and cognitive conditions. These include:
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inward rotation of the left arm (violin/viola),
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fear of shifting positions,
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developing a sense of tone quality from the very beginning, and
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learning appropriate finger pressure and the ability to "let it go" it.
Volume 1
Tuneful from day one
Volume 1 for violin, viola, and cello contains 44 teaching units, each divided into three sections:
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The first section focuses on developing the fingers of the left hand and establishing basic coordination.
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The second section concentrates on the development of bow technique.
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The third section focuses on making music with the skills and means already available.
Special features
The booklet is characterised by a number of special features:
- Divided into teaching units with three areas each.
- Equal attention to left-hand technique, bowing technique and "music-making".
- Students start in the middle of the fingerboard.
- Children play pieces and songs using open strings, harmonics, pizzicato, and other musical means — exploring and gradually mastering the entire fingerboard.
Ways of using in tuition
Volume 1 can be used in different ways:
- Alongside other instructional guides
- as an independent guide
- as volume 1 for later or simultaneous beginning in the 4th position (violin/viola) / beginning in a position other than the 1st position (cello)
Notation
The notation is color-coded throughout the book, with the final units gradually introducing the transition to standard black-and-white notation. Practice suggestions for the students are represented with simple, easy-to-understand symbols.
Volume 2
Tuneful in 4th and 1st position
At the heart of the booklet are 109 children’s songs from 26 countries (in their original traditional languages), closely combined with Fitness Labs that support the development of instrumental technique. An optional teacher’s guide includes lyrics, information about each song, and an accompanying part for songs with two voices.
Special features
Volume 2 is characterised by a number of special features:
- Divided into two sections, for 4th and 1st position each.
- Equal attention to left-hand technique, bowing technique and "music-making".
- Contains Fitness Labs.
- Children mainly play songs from 26 different countries.
- Optional: Accompanied booklet for teachers.
Ways of using in tuition
Volume 2 can be used in different ways:
- Alongside other instructional guides possible, but
- contains everything that is needed as an independent guide
Notation
The notation is standard black-and-white (with only a few exceptions). Practice suggestions for the students are represented with simple, easy-to-understand symbols.
Coming next in Tuneful
The next volumes are currently in their final stages of preparation. We’ll be happy to keep you informed through emaNews as soon as they are released. Here’s what’s coming next:
- Volume 2: Tuneful in 4th and 1st position (for violin already published, for viola: expected in autumn)
- Volume 3: Tuneful in 3rd and 2nd position
- Volume 4: Tuneful in 1st - 4th position
All upcoming volumes are based on songs from around the world. Selected sections also include dedicated technique pages in Fitness Labs.
Additional volumes: Tuneful Throughout the year | Tuneful in the keys