300 Progressive Sight Reading Exercises for Violin

Volume One is comprised of 300 progressive eight-bar exercises that cover the keys of C Major, F Major, G Major, A Minor, D Minor and E Minor. Time signatures include 4/4 (Common Time), 3/4, 2/4, 6/8, and 2/2 (Cut Time).

While this book is intended to train sight-reading skills, it may also be used by beginners or those new to reading to acquire basic reading skills. It starts at a very basic level and adds a new note, rhythm, or concept every couple of pages and thoroughly reinforces them throughout the rest of the book.

Next, this book’s focus is on establishing range and rhythm at a pace that gives each student numerous pieces from which to acquire solid reading skills.

Finally, I have made the staff font slightly larger than standard. While this will largely go unnoticed in the printed version of this book, it should make the electronic versions (Kindle, iBooks, etc.) significantly easier to read.

Q: Is this a method book?
A: No. It is a book meant to train reading skills.

Q: Is this book for beginners?
A: Possibly. It depends on how skilled the teacher is. After one has memorized some of the songs that appear in nearly all method books, they will have developed enough technique to benefit from the structure of this book.

Q: Can I just use the songs in a method book to train reading skills?
A: The memorized songs from the method books do not train strong reading skills. This book does -- and students notice the progress.

Q: Why does it start in C Major?
A: Ear training is embedded into this book's framework. The key of C Major allows this book to work for both moveable and fixed 'do' solfege systems. Additionally, the key of C Major has a strong visual representation on a piano / keyboard. In my opinion, every serious music teacher should have at least intermediate piano skills, regardless of what instrument they are teaching.

Robert Anthony is a Multi-Instrumental Musician and has worked with Gene Simmons, A&E Television, Friends of Distinction, Ron Keel, Andy Byrd, Billy Truitt, and many more. Robert has been teaching music students for greater than 25 years.