Edward Elgar’s two pieces for violin and piano, Chanson de Nuit and Chanson de Matin, Opus 15, are among his most charming and accessible works. Composed early in his career, they showcase his nascent melodic gift and his ability to evoke distinct atmospheres within a concise format.

For many aspiring violinists, the allure of playing beautiful repertoire, a soaring Bach concerto or a fiery Paganini caprice, is the primary motivation. However, the path to truly mastering these pieces runs not only through repeated practice of the music itself but, crucially, through the seemingly monotonous routine of scale practice.

Edward Elgar, often celebrated for his grand orchestral works like the Enigma Variations and the Cello Concerto, also made significant contributions to pedagogical music. Among his lesser-known, yet valuable, works is Very Easy Melodious Exercises in the First Position for the violin, published as his Opus 22. This set of exercises, while simple in its technical demands, offers an early glimpse into Elgar's inherent melodic gift and his practical understanding of string pedag

Imagine you are standing in the middle of a busy London street over 150 years ago. Above the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages and the shouts of street sellers, a magnificent sound fills the air—the ringing of great church bells!

Learning to play the lower octave of the G major scale on the violin can be tricky for many Key Stage 2 students. This part of the scale requires careful finger placement and a good ear for pitch. Using videos that show the scale ascending and descending can make practicing easier and more effective. This post will guide you through simple steps to improve your violin scale skills, focusing on the lower octave of G major. Violin fingerboard diagram showing notes from G3 to G4

For parents watching their child embark on the exciting journey of learning a string instrument like the violin, viola, cello, or bass, it’s

Being able to play open strings well is a crucial skill for playing the violin, this open string work is foundational.

Ready to take your violin playing to the next level? In this section of the TQ Violin Programme, we'll explore selected scales, chords, and

Are you ready to build essential skills to play the fundamental building blocks of music? Let's go! Things you need to be able to do Find the notes E4, F sharp 4 and G4 on the D string and have the pitch within 15 cents Use the upper bow to maintain a straight line. Semibreve. A 4 count note. Use the above middle section of the bow, and a slow bow so you don't run out. Try and play along with this semibreve exercise. Can you play along with the semibreve video using a slow bo

Instead of playing other people's music, I enjoy playing and writing my own. Working through the Tom Gates books and music theory with Chris has inspired me to compose. I really enjoyed composing my other songs and wanted to make another fun song with a different melody. I want to share my love for making music.