Classical Violin Lessons

Classical violin lessons in London

Taking graded exams is not the only way to learn the violin.

Classical violin lessons offer a structured plan to mastering one of the most expressive instruments. Progressing through years of study, students develop technical skills, musicality and confidence, while exploring the violin’s rich repertoire. This article outlines the journey of a violinist from their first steps with the instrument to more advanced stages of learning, emphasizing key concepts, techniques and objectives for each year.

Year-by-Year Progress in Classical Violin Lessons

Our classical violin lessons combine technical mastery with artistic expression. Each year builds on the previous one, providing students with the tools and confidence to tackle increasingly complex challenges. From the fundamentals of holding the violin to the advanced bow strokes and performance techniques, classical violin lessons are designed to cultivate both skill and passion for music.

Year 1: Classical violin foundation

In the first year, students focus on understanding the basics of violin playing. This includes learning the parts of the instrument, developing proper posture and mastering fundamental bowing techniques. The emphasis is on sound production and coordination between the bow and the left hand.

What to learn first in classical violin lessons

  • The parts of the violin and bow. 
  • Develop proper holding techniques for both the violin and bow. 
  • Strengthen the fourth finger through specific exercises. 
  • Begin exploring pizzicato. 
  • Master basic bow strokes: détaché, martelé and legato. 
  • Focus on sound production using the full bow, with attention to contact point, pressure, and speed. 
  • Understand up-bow and down-bow techniques. 
  • Start practicing double stops and understanding string planes. 
  • Coordinate left-hand finger changes with bow direction shifts. 

Repertoire to play on the first year

  • Chants et Morceaux Book 1 by M. Crickboom
  • Elodasi Darabok 1-2 by Lanyi-Lenkei
  • Violin Music (for beginners) by G. Lenkei
  • Piece by Piece by S. Nelson

Year 2: Building on the basics

The second year focuses on consolidating the fundamentals learned in the first year while introducing new concepts like position changes, vibrato and more advanced bowing techniques.

Concepts to learn in your second year of classical violin

  • Development, assimilation and implementation of everything learned in the previous year.
  • Play on each string, strengthening each plane of the right arm, including double stops, paying attention to the right arm movement for sound development.
  • Introduction to string crossings involving string changes.
  • Aim for total body stability while standing with the violin, unaffected by the necessary movements for playing.
  • Development of pizzicato on open strings, both simple and double and with stopped notes.
  • Reinforce the bow strokes from the previous year, expanding them with more notes, using different parts of the bow by dividing it into three, two and the entire bow, including recovery strokes.
  • Exercises for the independence of the left-hand fingers. Articulation.
  • Introduction to 2nd and 3rd positions and vibrato.
  • Introduction to simple extensions.
  • Introduction to double stops with stopped and open notes.
  • Coordination of both hands, being aware of their psychomotor skills.
  • Exercises to understand the three essential elements in sound production: speed, pressure and contact point.
  • Encourage the use of memory.
  • Practice violin ensemble work and sight-reading.
  • Tuning the violin.

Repertoire for the second year

  • Chants et Morceaux Notebook 2 – M. Crickboom
  • Eloadasi Darabok Notebook 3 – Lányi-Lenkei
  • Fast Forward Wagon Wheels – S.M. Nelson
  • Albumstücke – D. Kabalevsky
  • Little School of the Melody Op. 123 Vol. 1 – C. Dancla
  • Concerto in B Minor and G Major – O. Rieding
  • Concerto in G Major in first position – A. Vivaldi
  • Easy Pieces Op. 22 – E. Elgar

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

Year 3: Refining technique and expanding repertoire

By the third year, students work on refining their technique, increasing their repertoire and performing more confidently.

Classical violin in your third year of lessons

In their third year, students will focus on refining their technique and expanding their musical capabilities. They will work on maintaining correct violin and bow posture, ensuring that their movements remain relaxed and stable. The main areas of development will include:

  • Bow Technique: Students will refine bow strokes such as detaché, martelé and legato, and work on increasing speed and complexity. They will also focus on double stops, staccato, and beginning harmonic intervals (thirds, fourths, and sixths).
  • Position Changes: Building on the second and third positions, students will perfect these and begin exploring the fourth position, expanding their range and technical ability.
  • Sound Production: Students will deepen their understanding of the violin’s timbral qualities and focus on the three essential elements for sound production: speed, pressure and point of contact.
  • Vibrato and Trills: Students will continue developing vibrato technique and apply it in studies and pieces. They will also work on increasing the speed of their trills and exploring different types.
  • Sight-Reading: They will enhance their sight-reading skills, gradually building the reflexes needed for quick and accurate responses.
  • Tuning: By the third year, students will start developing the ability to tune their violins, moving towards greater independence in their sound quality and tuning skills.
  • Performance: Students will perform in groups and solo in public, further building their confidence and stage presence.
  • Overall, this year is about consolidating technique, expanding musical understanding, and preparing for more complex repertoire and performance situations.

Repertoire to play in year 3

  • Chants et Morceaux Notebook 3 by M. Crickboom
  • Eloadasy Darabok Notebooks 4 by Lanyi-Lenkei
  • Lullaby by Shifrin
  • Masques by V. Persichetti
  • 12 Easy Fantasies Op. 86 by C. Dancla
  • Fiddle Book by Ch. Hall
  • Concertos Op. 24, 21 and 35 by O. Rieding
  • Concerto in D Major in the Style of Vivaldi by F. Küchler
  • Concerto No. 2 by F. Seitz
  • Sonatas and Concertos, or some movements by Baroque composers: Corelli, Bach, Vivaldi, Händel, Scarlatti, Telemann, Veracini… or others of appropriate difficulty and characteristics.

Year 4: Strengthening technical proficiency

The fourth year introduces greater technical challenges and continues refining existing skills, with a focus on musicality and performance.

Playing the violin for the fourth year

  • Development of position changes by increasing the interval of the shift, extending it to the fourth position, and practicing various types of shifts, such as using an open string or the same finger.
  • Use of portamento both technically and musically.
  • Introduction to studying double stops in other positions.
  • Practice of two-octave scales and arpeggios, along with the development of chromatic scales.
  • Refinement of techniques including ornaments, pizzicato, extensions, bow strokes, bow distribution, double stops, position changes, vibrato, memory, sight-reading, violin tuning and an overall review of everything learned during the beginner levels.
  • Application of vibrato in different scales.
  • Enhancement of musicality and phrasing.
  • Participation in public performances.

Classical violin repertoire for year 4

  • Chants et Morceaux Volumes 4 by M. Crickboom
  • Sonatas Op. 5 Volume 2 by A. Corelli
  • Sonatas by G.F. Händel
  • Sonatas by D. Scarlatti
  • Allegro by H. Fiocco
  • Rondino on a Theme by Beethoven by F. Kreisler
  • Concertos and Sonatinas by G.Ph. Telemann
  • Concertos and Sonatas by A. Vivaldi
  • Concertino by Járdányi
  • Study Concertos by Küchler, Millies, Rieding, and Seitz
  • 4 Pieces for Violin and Piano by D. Kabalevsky
  • Little School of Melody by C. Dancla
  • 6 Airs Variés Op. 89 by C. Dancla
Student taking classical violin lessons

Year 5: Tackling advanced techniques

The fifth year challenges students with advanced techniques and lays the groundwork for even more complex repertoire.

What you will work on the violin in year 5

  • Exercises to achieve a comfortable violin position and left-hand placement, allowing the student to handle the challenges presented during the year with ease.
  • Studies focusing on bow strokes to address the difficulties related to various bowing techniques, achieving good quality in legato and martelé and continuing work on off-the-string strokes.
  • Bow exercises to adapt to double stops while avoiding excessive pressure.
  • Strengthen position changes to master the studies and pieces introduced during the course. 
  • Continue working on finger extensions with all fingers.
  • Studies to control the three basic aspects of sound production with the bow: pressure, speed, and contact point.
  • Study of chromatic scales, if not already introduced.
  • Study of double stops, if not already addressed.
  • Begin learning left-hand pizzicato techniques.

Repertoire for the fifth year

Violin and piano pieces

  • 6 German Dances, WoO 42 by Beethoven
  • Perpetual Motion by Böhm
  • Sarabande in G Minor by Böhm
  • Introduction and Polonaise by Böhm
  • 6 Airs Variés, Op. 89 by Dancla
  • Chanson de Matin by Elgar
  • Melody by Gluck
  • Viennese Miniature March by Kreisler
  • Rondino on a Theme by Beethoven by Kreisler
  • Tempo di Menuetto (in the Style of Pugnani) by Kreisler
  • Seven Arabesques by Martinů
  • The Boy Paganini by Mollenhauer
  • Czardas by Monti
  • Mazurka in G by Mylnarski
  • Polish Dance by Severn

Violin Sonatas

  • 12 Sonatas, Op. 5 by Corelli
  • Sonata in G Minor by Eccles
  • Sonatas for Violin and Figured Bass, Op. 1 (Nos. 3, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15) by Handel
  • Sonata in D Minor, Op. 8 No. 1 by Valentini

Violin Concertos

  • Concerto No. 1 in A Minor by Accolay
  • Concerto in E Minor by Nardini
  • Concerto in G Major, Op. 24 by Rieding
  • Concertos by Seitz
  • Concerto in G Major by Telemann
  • Concerto in G Major, Op. 23 by Viotti
  • Concertos by Vivaldi

Year 6: Refining bow control and vibrato

Students in their sixth year continue honing advanced techniques, with a focus on bow control and vibrato refinement.

What to do on your sixth year taking violin lessons

  • Studies focused on bowing techniques to address difficulties related to various bow strokes, achieving good quality, speed, string crossings, and position changes in legato and martelé, while continuing to refine off-the-string bow strokes such as spiccato and sautillé.
  • Work on bow control to adapt it for double stops, avoiding excessive pressure and achieving balanced control over different sound planes.
  • Strengthen position changes to assimilate the studies and pieces presented during the course, increasing both speed and accuracy.
  • Further develop different types of vibrato through scales and studies, focusing on dynamic nuances. 
  • Study chromatic scales.
  • Study double stops, chords and an introduction to polyphony.
  • Continue studying left-hand pizzicato techniques.

Violin repertoire for year 6

Violin and piano works

  • Romances for Violin Op. 40 and 50 by Beethoven
  • Works and Transcriptions by Kreisler
  • Works and Pieces, Rondos and Minuets from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Eras

Violin Sonatas

  • Sonatas by Haëndel
  • 12 Sonatas Op. 2 by Vivaldi
  • Sonatas by Veracini
  • Sonatas by Mozart

Violin Concertos

  • Concerto in G major Op. 23 by Viotti
  • Seasons by Vivaldi
  • Concertos by Bach
  • Concertos by Kreutzer
Classical violin closeup

Year 7: Mastering advanced bowing and chords

In the seventh year, students focus on advanced bowing techniques, polyphony and expanding their range.

More concepts about the violin for year 7

  • Should demonstrate ease with the bow strokes studied.
  • Study of spiccato and sautillé. Introduction to ricochet
  • Introduction to the systematic study of intervals in double stops
  • Refine three and four-note chords.
  • Study of previously learned positions and expansion to the sixth position.
  • Practice and refinement of various ornaments.
  • Practice of scales and arpeggios in three octaves.
  • Refining sound quality through progressive improvement of vibrato and intonation.
  • Deepening the study of dynamics and precision in execution.
  • Ongoing memory training.
  • Practice of sight-reading and ensemble playing.

Repertoire for the seventh year

  • Should demonstrate ease with the bow strokes studied.
  • Study of spiccato and sautillé. Introduction to ricochet
  • Introduction to the systematic study of intervals in double stops
  • Refine three and four-note chords.
  • Study of previously learned positions and expansion to the sixth position.
  • Practice and refinement of various ornaments.
  • Practice of scales and arpeggios in three octaves.
  • Refining sound quality through progressive improvement of vibrato and intonation.
  • Deepening the study of dynamics and precision in execution.
  • Ongoing memory training.
  • Practice of sight-reading and ensemble playing.

Violin solo pieces

  • 12 Fantasien by Telemann

Violin and piano pieces

  • Malagueña by Albéniz
  • Romantische Stücke Op. 75 by Dvorak
  • Danza Española by Granados
  • Sicilienne et Rigaudon (im Stil von Francoeur) by Kreisler
  • Méditation by Massenet
  • Cantabile Op. 17 by Paganini
  • La Playera Op. 23 No. 1 by Sarasate
  • Romanza A dur (arranged by Kreisler) by Schumann
  • Obertass Op. 19 by Wieniawsky

Classical violin sonatas

  • Sonatina Op. 100 by Dvorak
  • Sonaten (KV 301-306) by Mozart
  • Sonate D 384 by Schubert
  • 12 Sonaten accademiche Op. 2 by Veracini

Classical violin concertos

  • Concierto No. 7 Op. 76 by Bériot
  • Concierto No. 9 Op. 104 by Bériot
  • Conciertos by Haydn
  • Concierto No. 7 en la mineur Op. 9 by Rode
  • Konzert No. 22 in la minore by Viotti

Year 8: Preparing for advanced performance

The eighth year emphasizes performance readiness, advanced techniques and expressive playing.

Your classical violin lessons in year 8

  • Must show ease with the ricochet.
    • Achieving different sound qualities, dynamics and expression.
    • Fluency and clarity in fast passages.
  • Study of three and four-note chords, and scales in thirds, sixths, and octaves.
  • Introduction to the study of artificial harmonics.
    • Study of previously learned positions and their transitions up to the seventh position, as well as extensions.
  • Practice of sul ponticello and sul tasto.
    • Study of phrasing and its adaptation to different styles.
    • Deciding on the most suitable fingering for each passage.
    • Maturity in performance and in front of an audience.
    • Comparative listening of different versions.

Repertoire for year 8

Piano and violin works

  • Kol Nidrei by Bruch
  • Salut d’Amour Op. 12 by Elgar
  • La Précieuse (in the Style of Couperin) by Kreisler
  • Madrigal Stanzas by Martinů
  • Gopak by Mussorgsky
  • Vocalise Op. 34 No. 14 by Rachmaninov
  • The Bee Op. 13 No. 9 by Schubert
  • Allegro Brillante by Ten Have

Violin Sonatas

  • 6 Sonatas (BWV 1014 – 1019) by Bach
  • Sonata in D Major by Leclair
  • Sonata Op. 1 No. 10 (Didone Abbandonata) by Tartini
  • Sonatas for Violin and Figured Bass Op. 1 by Handel

Advanced violin concertos

  • Concertos by Bach
  • Concertos by Haydn
  • Concertos by Mozart
  • Concerto No. 22 in A Minor by Viotti
By the end of this plan, students are prepared to perform with proficiency, confidence and musical sensitivity, whether for personal fulfillment or professional aspirations.
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