Super Strings

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 28
At a glance
Powered by AI
The document introduces the Super Strings program which aims to make learning the violin fun by introducing basic techniques like bowing the open strings and playing simple rhythms with the help of cartoon characters.

Super Strings aims to introduce young violinists to basic techniques like bow hold, open strings, and rhythms in a fun way using cartoon characters to keep students motivated as they learn.

Some of the main characters introduced are Rocky the Rhythm Rabbit who teaches rhythms, and Toby the Teddy Bear who encourages students to compose tunes using open strings.

SUPER STRINGS !

Learn to play the Violin


with
Rocky the Rhythm Rabbit and his Friends!

Super Strings aims to make learning to play the violin as much


fun as possible. It is an introduction to bowing on the open strings,
elementary rhythmWritten
and playing in an ensemble.
by Iona Hassan Playing
for along with
backing tracks by ‘The Bouncing Bunnies’ and ‘The String Breakers’,
Super Strings should have you making music in no time!

Written by Iona Hassan for

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


WELCOME
to
SUPER STRINGS !

You lucky thing, you’re going to be


learning the VIOLIN !!

Over the next few months we will be


learning to play the violin! It can be tricky
sometimes, but with a bit of practice and
some help from our friends we’ll get better
and better as we go along!

There are a lot of characters who can’t wait


to meet you - turn the page and see who
you meet!

HAVE FUN !!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


SUPER STRINGS !

Your violin likes to be


picked up by it’s neck
with your LEFT HAND !!

When you have picked up your violin raise it above


your head and lower it gently onto your left shoulder like
a UFO!!! - your teacher will have shown you this in your
lesson.
(Practice the UFO trick a few times every day.)

Now put your chin on the chin-rest and you’re ready


to start some plucking!!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


THE OPEN STRINGS.

Your Violin has 4 strings.

G D A and E

Lowest string Highest string

Put your violin up on your shoulder like we did on the


first page.

Try plucking each string starting with the lowest, G, then


D, A, then the highest string, E. Then go back down
again!!

*Pluck the strings with your 1st finger on your RIGHT


hand.

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


Now that we have found out where all the open strings
are try plucking them four at a time.... don’t lose count!

GGGG DDDD AAAA EEEE

Now try in groups of 3 !

GGG DDD AAA EEE

Ok dokey..... now try to pluck the strings in a different


order. You’re teacher might try to catch you out so
be careful !!

1. G A D E E D A G

2. G E A D A E D G

If you get stuck look at the little diagram below !

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


This is TOBY the TEDDY-BEAR!!

He likes to play his violin too!

*He would like you to try and write


him a tune using the OPEN STRINGS.
The strings can be plucked in any order
it’s up to you!!!

____ ____ ____ ____

This tune was written by _________

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


This is ROCKY THE RHYTHM RABBIT !!

Rocky wants to help us


learn about the rhythms
that we use when we
play our violins.

Before we learn some fun rhythms we have to learn


what the different note lengths are called.

We will start with...a CROTCHET or 1 beat note.

It looks like this - e


Try MARCHING on the spot like a soldier.
*Each step is 1 beat.
*If there are 4 beats in a bar you count to four then back
to 1 again.

*Try counting out loud as you MARCH!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


Rocky likes to hop everywhere he goes!!
He wants us to learn about...QUAVERS!!

There are 2 quavers in 1 crotchet.

2 Quavers last for 1 Crotchet

ROCKY’S 1ST CHALLENGE


Try clapping these rhythms :

Hop ping Rab bit Hop ping Rab bit


bit

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


This is TAMMY the TORTOISE!!

She would like us to


learn about..

the MINIM or 2 beat note

A MINIM looks like this - w


w = e e
1 MINIM lasts for 2 CROTCHETS

ROCKY’S CHALLENGE 2
Try clapping, then plucking, this rhythm :

w w e e e e w w e e e e
Slowly Slowly Tam-my Tor - toise Slowly Slowly Tam-my Tor - toise

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


Now we can put ROCKY and TAMMY’S
rhythms together!!

TRY ROCKY’S CHALLENGE 3

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


ROCKY and TAMMY’S MINI QUIZ !!
If you can get all the answers right you will win a
BRONZE STAR !

1. There are 4 strings on your violin. Can you tell me


what they are ?

_ , _ , _ and _

2. w This is a M_ _ _ _.

3. How many beats does it get? _

4. e This is a C _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

5. How many beats does this add up to? w e e

6. Can you write a rhythm that adds up to 4 beats?

7. Who is your favourite character so far?

Can you remember their rhythm? Write it below if you


can!!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


WELL DONE!!

CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !

You have gained a Bronze Star.

ROCKY and TAMMY are SO impressed by your clapping that they

want you to try and play the rhythms on


on your violin!

Carry on and try to win your SILVER and GOLD STARs too

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


BOWING on OPEN STRINGS!!
Do you remember Rocky the Rhythm Rabbit who
helped us with our rhythms earlier ?

He wants to help us
again with our
BOW HOLD !

The first thing that we need to do is make sure that the


bow is not too tight and not too loose!!
Before we pick up our bow we need to try and make a
rabbit shape with our RIGHT hand.
Have a look at the picture below and try to copy it!!

It’s time to try it with your bow !!


- Hold onto the stick with your Left Hand.
- Put your thumb LIGHTLY in the space between the Frog and
the finger-rest.
- Now put your middle fingers over the stick onto the frog, making
a CIRCLE.
- Now put the 2 EARS down ! 1st finger on finger rest and Pinkie
on top (try to keep it curved too)

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


BOWING GAMES!!

The WINDSCREEN WIPER

First pick up your bow - make sure you have a nice bow
hold!

Rotate your wrist until the bow is


pointing upwards then make the
wiper go back down again!
(Do this as many times as you need
to clean your windscreen!!)

Try the CATERPILLAR TRICK!!

Hold your bow so that the tip is pointing UPWARDS.


Now wriggle your fingers up the stick, making sure that
you DON’T DROP IT!!
NO CHEATING - don’t just drop it and grab it again!!

In the next lesson you can have a CATERPILLAR RACE


with your teacher!!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


THE ROCKY HOP ! !

Now that we are holding our bows nicely


we can try playing the ‘Rocky Hop!’

Do you remember the rhythms that we were


learning with Rocky earlier?

Try clapping this one again -

Roc ky Hop Roc ky Hop

You’re ready to try the Rocky Hop !

Try it in 2 teams !!
Team 1 try doing the Rocky Hop Rhythm
Team 2 try hopping ! Hop, hop, hop, hop! DON’T RUSH

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


Now try HOP ROCKY !

Hop Roc ky Hop Roc ky

Split into 2 teams again and see if you can get


to the end at the same time!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


ROCKY says that you are ready to play
THE ROCKY STOMP !!
If you can get from the start to the end together you will
earn your next STAR !! (CD - Tracks 1 to 4)

Try it on A, E and D strings too! See Extras Section.

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


Hello again !! I have some
friends called…..
THE BOUNCING BUNNIES !
They play the violin too. Using the
Rocky Stomp Violin Part try and
play this Scottish tune along with
them!

ROCKY’S CHALLENGE 4

LISTEN TO TRACK 5, 6 or 7 of your CD.


Track 5 - Slow
Track 6 - Faster
Track 7 - Really Fast !

If you can play along with


‘THE BOUNCING BUNNIES’
you will get a SILVER STAR !!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !

You have gained a Silver Star.

Carry on to the next section and earn


your GOLD STAR !!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


Now it’s time to get our bows moving
a little bit FASTER !

Can you clap the


‘Hopping Hopping Rabbit’ ?

When you have remembered it try bowing the


rhythm on the A string then the E string.

Great. . . now we’re up to speed we might be


ready to try playing along with some more of
Rocky’s friends-

THE STRING BREAKERS !!


They practice their violins every day and have
lots of fun together !!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


THE STRING BREAKERS !! would like you to try
one of Rocky’s challenges before they play
with you !

ROCKY’S CHALLENGE 5
Can you play the Hopping Hopping Rabbit Rhythm
on A, G and E ?
Copy your teacher !!

WELL DONE !
Try it first with THE Bouncing Bunnies !!
Play along with Track 8 then 9 on your CD !

Now try it really fast with THE STRING BREAKERS !!


They play lots of variations - see if you can stick with them !

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


This is Toby the Teddy Bear’s friend –
WALTZING MATILDA !

Matilda LOVES to dance and


her favourite dance of all is –
the WALTZ !

The easiest way to learn about the WALTZ is to


get up and do it !

LETS TRY IT !!

1. Grab a partner !
2. Put one hand around your partner’s
waist – gently ! Now join hands.
3. March on the spot, starting with your
Right foot !
4. Now put a stronger step on the 1st
step of every 3.

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


FANTASTIC….now lets try some
rhythms with our bows !

Do you remember this rhythm, try and clap it –

r r e e r r e e
Hop-ping Rab-bit Hop-ping Rab-bit

Try the 1st half of the tune below, split into teams, Bowing on D + A

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


Now try the 2nd half – it uses SLOWLY HOP !

Lets try clapping then bowing it –

w e w e
Slowly Hop Slowly Hop

Great…. Matilda thinks we’re ready to try


the whole tune now….imagine her dancing
as you play through it !!

Try it with THE STRING BREAKERS !!


Slowly first - Track 11, then faster with Track 12 !

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School
CONGRATULATIONS ! ! !
You have gained your Gold Star.

Rocky and his friends hope that you have had


fun learning to play on the VIOLIN. If you keep
practicing really hard maybe they will come
back and play some more games with you
again!

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


EXTRAS !

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School


QUICK NOTE TO TEACHERS !

This pack aims at helping to keep young string players


motivated in the earliest stages
stages of violin playing.

It can be very difficult, when beginning any instrument, to


keep our spirits up and persevere when we do not sound
quite as good as we might like - especially on the violin!
SUPER STRINGS aims at having fun, learning in groups
and covering
covering the basics with Rocky the Rhythm Rabbit and
his friends!

This pack can be used in conjunction with whichever


teaching method you adhere to. It should help to develop a
solid bowing action and confidence in playing in a large
group. It also encourages
encourages a good all round musical
awareness in your young players. The overall aim of
SUPER STRINGS is to supplement what you do in lessons
and to give the students more fun opportunities to play
together. Hopefully making it less lonely than it sometimes
can be !

Copyright © 2007 Wells Cathedral School

You might also like