String Basics: Steps to Success for String Orchestra - Book 1

S
#5 Pizzicato Passage

Play quarter notes/rests

Sing/Play open D & A with
pizzicato
Steady pulse
Instrument position

#9 Play and Rest

Play half notes/rests

Sing/Play open D & A with
pizzicato
Steady pulse
Instrument position

#16 We Count Together

Play rhythm combinations

Sing/Play open D & A with
pizzicato
Steady pulse
Instrument position

#20 Quarter/Whole Jazz

Play whole notes/rests
Play rhythm combinations
Sing/Play open D & A with
pizzicato
Understand repeat sign
Steady pulse
Instrument position

#25 Easy E

Sing/Play D & E with

pizzicato
Steady pulse
Play with good left hand
position
Instrument position

#27 D, E, A Debut

Sing/Play D, E & A with

pizzicato
Steady pulse
Play with good left hand
position
Instrument position

#31 Merrily We Roll Along

Sing/Play D, E & F# with
pizzicato
Steady pulse
Play with good left hand
position
Instrument position

#34 Jingle Bells

#69 Quarters Together

#100 D Major Scale - New

Step for Bass

#130 Jolly Old St. Nicholas

#101 D Major Interval

Etude

#133 Morning on the

Potomac

Sing/Play D, E, F#, G, & A

with pizzicato
Steady pulse
Play with good left hand
position
Instrument position

#40 Sans Souci

Form pre-bow hold at

balance point
Play down & up bow with
smooth strokes
Steady pulse

#73 Arco Avenue

Keeps fingers down on string

Steady pulse
Play with good left hand
position
Instrument position

Form pre-bow hold at

balance point
Bow half/quarter notes using
different bow speeds
Steady pulse

#45 Old MacDonald

#79 Grand G Tango

Correctly plays/sings B
Steady pulse
Play with good left hand
position
Instrument position

Form pre-bow hold at

balance point
Play open G with the bow
Smooth string crossing
Lift bow correctly
Steady pulse

#51 Das Wiegenlied

#81 Bow Speed is Key

Correctly plays/sings A, B, &

C#
Steady pulse
Play with good left hand
position
Instrument position

#53 D Major Scale

Correctly plays/sings C# and

D
Steady pulse
Play with good left hand
position
Instrument position

#56 Bamboo Flute

Correctly plays/sings in D
major
Steady pulse
Play with good left hand
position
Instrument position

#63 Arco A

Form pre-bow hold at

balance point
Play with smooth bow
strokes
Play down & up bow
Steady pulse

Form pre-bow hold at

balance point
Play open G with the bow
Smooth string crossing
Play whole notes with the
bow
Steady pulse

#87 At Pierrots Door

Line A

Form a bow hold at the frog

Play D, E, & F# with the bow
Bow half/quarter notes using
different bow speeds
Steady pulse

#91 The Old Grey Goose

Bow placement is parallel to

the bridge
Bow hold shows appropriate
airs space between fingers
Bow stick is correctly tilted
Shoulders are relaxed
Steady pulse

#97 London Bridge

Form a bow hold at the frog

Play with smooth string
crossings to/from the D and A
strings
Understands how to lift bow
back to the frog
Steady pulse

Form a bow hold at the frog

Correct left hand position
Plays in tune in the key of D
major
Correctly shifts to C# & D
(bass only)
Steady pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Smooth string crossing
Steady Pulse

#105 4th Finger Duet

Line A

Correct left/right hand

position.
Violin/Viola - place 4th
finger on note A (D string)
Cello/Bass - smooth string
crossing
Steady Pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Smooth string crossing
Violin/Viola - uses open A
and 4th finger A correctly
Steady Pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play 2 note slurs on one
string
Steady Pulse

#137 Slurs for Sure

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play 2 note slurs on one
string
Play 2 note slurs crossing
strings
Steady Pulse

#152 Trumpet Tune

#186 Sleeping Beauty Waltz

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play eighth notes with proper
bow placement and speed
Slur 2 eighth notes
Steady Pulse in 2/4 Time

#156 Theme from

Symphony No. 1

Correct left/right hand

position.
Violin/Viola - Place low 2nd
finger on note F
Cello/Bass - Place 2nd finger
on note F
Steady Pulse

#160 Sad Scale

Correct left/right hand

position.
Violin/Viola - place low 2nd
finger on note C
Cello - Place 2nd finger on
note C
Bass - Correctly shift to C
Steady pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play 3 note slurs
Understands 1st/2nd ending
Steady Pulse in 3/4 Time

#192 Sakura

Correct left/right hand

position.
Violin/Bass - play E, F#, & G
on E string
Smooth string crossings
Steady Pulse in 4/4 Time

#205 The Quest

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play 2 note slurs in mixed
rhythms
Smooth string crossings
Cello/Viola - Accurate C
string notes
Steady Pulse in 3/4 Time

#107 Theme from

Symphony No. 9: Ode to
Joy

#140 Long, Long Ago

#163 Snake Charmer

#210 A-Tisket, A-Tasket

#112 Bradenburg
Reflections

#143 The Dreidel Song

#169 Mysterious Forest

#215 The Little Fish

#124 Theme from

Symphony No. 9

#145 Reverse Rhythm

Recreation

#126 G Major Etude

#150 Can-Can, If You

Can-Can

Correct left/right hand

position.
Violin/Viola - place 4th
finger on note A (D string)
Cello/Bass - smooth string
crossing
Steady Pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play accurately in D major
Smooth String crossings
Steady Pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Violin/Viola/Cello - play G
string notes
Bass - play new notes G (E
string) & C (A string)
Steady Pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Smooth string crossing
Steady Pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play 2 note slurs
Correctly lifts bow
Plays tied notes.
Steady Pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play 2 note slurs on one
string
Play 2 notes slurs crossing
strings
Plays tied notes.
Violin/Viola - uses open A
and 4th finger A correctly
Steady Pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play eighth notes with proper
bow placement and speed
Steady Pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play eighth notes with proper
bow placement and speed
Steady Pulse in 2/4 Time

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play eighth notes with proper
bow placement and speed
including slurs
Understand pickup notes
Understands fermata
Steady pulse

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play eighth notes with proper
bow placement and speed
including slurs
Uses correct mixed finger
patterns
Steady pulse

# 175 Theme from

Symphony No. 1

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play in C major with mixed
finger patterns
Play 2 note slurs
Play tied notes
Steady Pulse

#181 Postcards From Loire

Valley
Correct left/right hand
position.
Play dotted half notes
Steady Pulse in 3/4 Time

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play accurately using C
major finger patterns
Violin/Viola - uses open A
and 4th finger A correctly
Steady Pulse in 2/4 Time

Correct left/right hand

position.
Understands pickup note
Understands 1st/2nd ending
Executes pion & forte
dynamics
Steady Pulse in 3/4 Time

#222 Fiddle Time

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play double stops with an
open string plus fingered
notes
Play dynamics as written
Play appropriate tempo

#128 Accent Waltz

Correct left/right hand

position.
Play accents
Play legato
Play dynamics and tempo as
written
Steady Pulse in 3/4 Time

Students must work sequentially (down each column starting on the left) before moving on to the next column. Students are expected to play each excerpt in tune in
addition to meeting the criteria outlined in each box. Upon completing an excerpt the student will receive a ticket to be entered into a drawing for a prize. Students
are allowed to pass off one excerpt per student support session or appointment.
Outline developed by Sid Adams

Student Name:____________________________________