12 Month Violin Lesson Plan
Beginner Violin Program – From First Bow to the Classics
Our violin program is designed to build confident, expressive players—whether they’re learning for orchestra, solo performance, or modern music. We use traditional violin methods to develop strong technique, proper form, and note-reading skills, but we also help students understand how music works so they can play by ear, improvise, and create.
Students start with the fundamentals: posture, bow control, and pitch accuracy. From there, we blend in real music—folk melodies, orchestral pieces, or student-selected songs—to keep the experience engaging and goal-oriented. Whether the student is classically focused or interested in learning how to play along with other musicians, our approach teaches them to hear, read, and feel what they’re playing.
Violin Year 1 Progression:
Months 1–3: Setup and First Notes
- Learn instrument parts, tuning basics (with help), and setup
- Proper violin/bow hold and basic body posture
- Plucking open strings (pizzicato) and bowing on open strings
Begin note reading (open strings and 1st finger on A and D strings) - Play simple one-line melodies (Hot Cross Buns, Twinkle)
- Intro to rhythms: quarter and half notes
- Learn how to listen and match pitch with instructor guidance
Months 4–6: Expanding Range and Reading
- Begin using 2nd and 3rd fingers on A and D strings
- Start first position reading in treble clef across 2–3 strings
- Play short songs with note names and rhythms integrated
- Begin D and A major scales
- Introduce slurs, simple dynamics, and bowing patterns
- Begin working with metronome and counting out loud
- Learn rest position vs. play position habits
Months 7–9: Full Melodies and Ensemble Readiness
- Full first-position fingerboard work (1st, 2nd, 3rd fingers across all strings)
- Begin string crossing and slurred bowing
- Play longer melodies in sections with repeats and simple endings
- Improve tone and consistency with bowing drills
- Begin duet playing with teacher or backing track
- Understand song form (A/B sections)
- Learn musical symbols: repeat signs, dynamic markings, basic articulation
Months 10–12: Musical Confidence
- Perform full songs from memory or sheet music
- Develop expressiveness through bow control and phrasing
- Recognize and play simple chord-based harmony (double stops)
- Transpose short melodies to a new key
- Begin improvisation using D or A major scales
- Learn simple classical repertoire (Suzuki Bk 1, or student-provided music)
- Prepare for group recital or performance assessment