Stradivari Violin Method 1 – Piano Book

In general the book of piano accompaniments is a fine tool for the teacher and it is especially useful for accompanying those students whose level makes it difficult for them to follow the tempos of the CD or if they are just learning the notes. Also, some students might be somewhat disoriented by the instrumentation of some of the pieces on the CD. It is preferable to introduce them to the accompaniments for those pieces with the piano and then later introduce them to the recording after the student is thoroughly familiar with the work that they are studying.

In addition piano accompaniments are very useful for auditions and in concerts when the student performs the accompaniments on the CD.

I would like to suggest that teachers form groups of students and créate their own instrumentations based on the piano accompaniments. Many of the works take on new characteristics by adding bass and percussion as well as other instruments (flutes, clarinets, etc). It is also recommendable to play the pieces with groups of violins, reinforcing the sonority and giving a more “orchestral” sound.

I have attempted to have the piano accompaniments be a reduction of the orchestrations on the CD, without leaving out anything essential but at the same time making the piano accompaniments as easy to play as possible.

Joan Alfaras