This course offers structured, step-by-step guidance for beginner violin students working towards Trinity College London’s early-grade violin exams. With a special focus on developing bow control and intonation, it provides essential technique training through simple, engaging lessons tailored to the needs of young or new players. Each lecture builds progressively, helping learners understand and master the basic mechanics of playing the violin while gradually applying these skills to actual repertoire.

Learners will begin by getting familiar with the parts of the violin and bow, learning the correct posture, and producing their first sounds through plucking and bowing open strings. Emphasis is placed on establishing good habits from the start, such as straight bowing, even tone production, and appropriate hand positioning. As students progress, they will explore key bowing techniques like legato and détaché, understand how bow speed and pressure affect tone, and learn how to distribute the bow for various note lengths.

Intonation, a core challenge for all string players, is introduced with practical tools like fingerboard markers and tuners. Students will practice simple scales and intervals, identify pitch errors, and apply intonation skills directly to exam pieces and practice melodies. Backing tracks and rhythmic support are used to build confidence in timing and phrasing.

By the end of the course, students will be well-prepared for early Trinity violin assessments, having built a foundation in technical fluency, pitch accuracy, and expressive playing. The final module includes tips on practice routines, performance preparation, managing stage nerves, and planning the next steps in the learner’s violin journey.