Violin Book 1, Revised

The SAA Violin Committee would like to report the following developments in the on-going process of revisions to the Suzuki Violin School volumes by the ISA Violin Committee.

The revised edition of Book 4 of the Suzuki Violin School is now available. This was published in December 2008. This revised edition includes the Bohm “Perpetual Motion” (which Dr. Suzuki had wanted to include in his original volume but could not secure the copyright permission) and a dual score of both parts for the Bach Double. This volume also includes suggested preparatory exercises for the Seitz Concerti and the Bach Double.

[Please note two bowing misprints in the Practice Suggestions for the Bach Double Concerto on page 24:

  • Violin 2 (p. 27, mm. 40-41): The slur on the third beat in the first measure of the example should begin on the note D, not on the note E.
  • Violin 2 (p. 29, mm. 75-76): There should be no slur on the first beat of the first measure.

The bowings in the corresponding main text of the Bach Double are correct.]

The revised Piano Accompaniment books for Books 1, 2, and 3 are also now available. The Book 4 accompaniment book is due for printing by the end of March 2009 and should be available for end-of-the-year concerts and summer institutes.

Please remember that beginning summer 2009, all institutes will work from the revised editions in student classes and teacher workshop courses for Books 1-4. We urge all violin Teacher Trainers and Institute Directors to ensure that TWC participants and observers have copies of the revised editions for these classes. Additionally, all vendors at institutes should be selling the revised editions in their shops/booths.

Work was completed on the revised Book 5 by the ISA Violin Committee last October. The book is now in the process of being proofed before going to print sometime after the summer. There are no changes to the repertoire in Book 5, but there are some changes in fingerings and bowings to reflect more current performance practice and pedagogy. William Preucil will be recording the revised edition this May.

Preliminary discussions have begun on revisions to Books 6-8, but that is a very long-term issue at this juncture. The SAA Violin Committee will continue to keep all members abreast of any further developments.