SUZUKI BOOK TWO CHECK LIST
CONTENTS (Organized by Topic)
INTRODUCTION
This check list is best used by referring to it before, during and after teaching Suzuki Book Two. It is also helpful to keep your eye on the Review Check List of Book One to confirm that all Book One material has been absorbed (or reabsorbed) as you take the student through Book Two. By the end of Book Two all the following has been taught, yet again not necessarily comfortably grasped. Don’t be alarmed. Over the next months/years/decades you will see that all physical and mental challenges will be mastered with patience and with the many repetitions that are necessary to develop the musical and expressive young player.
BOW ARM
String Crossings
- Faster crossings with 16th notes under slurs (Hunters’ Chorus, Gavotte from “Mignon”)
- Repeated crossings between two strings (Long, Long Ago variation)
Bow Division
- Expanding the bow division technique begun in Book One
- New combinations of old bow divisions (Throughout Book Two)
- Varying bow speeds (Throughout Book Two)
- Development of slurs (Throughout Book Two)
- Two slurred notes followed by four stopped bows (Minuet in G)
- Three slurred notes (Minuet in G)
New Bow Strokes
- Viotti Stroke - dotted-eighth note followed by a sixteenth note (The Two Grenadiers, Theme from “Witches’ Dance”)
- Up and Down Bow Staccato (Scales, Long, Long Ago, Minuet in G)
LEFT HAND TECHNIQUE
Scales
- Bowing variations – Stopped bows and slurs
- Add playing every note three times in the LH and UH
One Octave Scales
Two Octave Scales
- G Major
- B-Flat
- A Major
- A Minor
Arpeggios - One Octave
Arpeggios can be played with one note/bow using the WB
- E Major, A Major and D Major (Theme from “Witches’ Dance”)
Arpeggios - Two Octaves
- G Major
- G Minor
- B-flat
- A Major and Minor
Shifting
- Begin preliminary shifting exercises
Trill Studies
- Measured trills with 2, 4, 6, notes using finger combinations of 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and varying the half and whole steps between the notes
Vibrato
- Continue wiggling the student’s fingers
- Begin preparatory vibrato exercises
New Finger Patterns
- Augmented 2nd (Gavotte from Mignon, Gavotte/Lully)
- Perfect 4th (Musette)
- Quick placement of high 3rd finger (Theme from Witches’ Dance)
THEORY and EAR-TRAINING
Rhythms
- Continue studying various rhythms found in Book One
- Add rhythms from Book Two
- Be able to clap, read and write simple rhythms from Book Two
- New rhythm - dotted-eighth, sixteenth note (Viotti stroke)
- Sixteenth notes
- Thirty-second notes
- Review triplets
Musical Signs
- First and second endings
- Slurs
- Trills
- Appoggiaturas
- Nachschlag
- Pizzicato
- D.C. al fine
- Fine
- Accidentals - review the purpose of sharps, flats and naturals
Note Reading
- Make sure that all the notes on all the strings in first position can be read and identified
Intervals and Chords
- Review the intervals from Book One
- Know all the intervals within an octave and how to play them
- Review major and minor triads in root position
Musical Form
- Theme and Variation
- Minuet and Trio.
- Gavotte
Musical Terms
- Maestoso
- Rallentando
- Andante pastorale
- Agitato
- Piu mosso
- Meno mosso
- Moderato
- Allargando
- Arpeggio
- Grazioso
- Poco rit.
- A tempo ma piu agitato
- Con grazia
- Espressivo
- Moderato e grazioso
Introducing Etudes
- Wohlfahrt Etudes, Op.45 are introduced at Bourree
- Bowing variations
- Left hand set-up
- Reading skills
TENSION CHECKS
Awareness of the relationship between the head, neck and back
Head free and well balanced on top of the neck
Inside of left hand should feel like a soft marshmallow
Right thumb not pressing stick
Free circles, bow wanderings, silent bow placements
Flexible knees
Well balanced stance from the ground up
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