String Music Books

Many students are keeping their instruments over the summer but soon, will become bored playing the same concert songs over and over again.  Below are some suggestions for music books to purchase in the summer along with their catalog numbers.  Several books have accompaniment CDs so your children can play along with a recording of a piano or even a full orchestra. One series even has a CD ROM containing the Smart Music and Note Pad software. This is software which enables you to change the speed of the accompaniment and also, with the addition of an inexpensive microphone, can show your children the correct and incorrect notes they are playing as displayed on your computer screen.  (Really cool! Check it out!)

I recommend all Beginning Orchestra students purchase Book 1 from any of these series. Advanced Orchestra students should purchase Books 1 and 2. (The Essential Elements 2000 is the most popular series but the Strictly Strings and String Explorer series are also very good.)

Questions?  You can reach me at: [email protected]

You can order these books from Shar Music at 1-800-248-7427 or http://www.sharmusic.com/

Essential Elements 2000 Book 1
Violin book only; Violin book and CD ROM
Viola book only; Viola book and CD ROM
Cello book only; Cello book and CD ROM
Bass book only; Bass book and CD ROM

Essential Elements 2000 Book 2 (I don't think it has a CD ROM included but you can purchase an accompaniment CD separately.)
Violin 7063167
Viola 7063267
Cello 7063367
Bass 7063467
Accompaniment CD 70623CD (can be used with violin, viola, cello or
bass.)

Strictly Strings Book 1
Violin 7138129
Viola 7138229
Cello 7138329
Bass 7138429
Accompaniment CD 7139429 (can be used with violin, viola, cello or
bass.)

Strictly Strings Book 2 
Violin 7032529
Viola 7032629
Cello 7067129
Bass 7068329
Accompaniment CD 7107429 (can be used with violin, viola, cello or
bass.)

String Explorer Book 1 
Violin 7119129
Viola 7119229
Cello 7119329
Bass 7119429
Accompaniment CD 71192CD (can be used with violin, viola, cello or
bass.)

String Explorer Book 2
Violin 7127129
Viola 7127229
Cello 7127329
Bass 7127429
Accompaniment CD 71272CD (can be used with violin, viola, cello or
bass.)