I have no idea how not to sound retarded, so I shall just get straight to the point.

I am trying to teach someone to play the violin atm, but failing miserably as a teacher, in my opinion. They have a grasp of musical basics as they play the piano, and they know how to hold a violin, bow, finding the notes, and the basic lark. However, I can't seem to keep their interest in basic stuff, and although she's been learning for about a month, she's already making up her own fingering (including shifting to second and third position) for relatively advanced pieces (eg Bach's Double Violin Concerto in D minor), and can actually make them sound right, with a few fine adjustments on accidentals and bowing properly on occassions.

I just don't know whether to try and teach them the rest of the piece or should I try and restrict them to more basic stuff? They have Eta Cohen books 1 and 2, but I'm not sure whether that will be too simple now that she can seemingly play Bach.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

It sounds as if the basic books are too easy for your pupil. I don't know anything about teaching violin, but as a pianist of many years' standing and a cellist of 15 months standing, starting from absolute scratch from the technical point of view, I would just comment that we spend about half of my one hour cello lesson working on scales, especially from the point of view of tone and intonation. This of course has a knock-on effect with playing the pieces. My teacher does not use a tutor book - my first books were Books 1 of 4 Strings and a Bow, Violincello for Beginners and Time Pieces. If your pupil finds the tutor books too easy perhaps you could find something more technically demanding, but be firm about making up her own fingering and doing shifts without being shown how to do them properly - point out that it will hold her back if she has to unlearn things that are wrong. It sounds as if you may have a very able pupil on your hands, but patience is going to be needed on both sides!

Because I can read music well, have a good ear, etc, I find I get bored silly on those beginners books, for any instrument. My cello teacher spotted that immediately, and has given me some more advanced stuff to play with, with appropriate fingering etc. I probably don't play it as well as I did, say, Au Claire de la Lune, but I'm enjoying it much more. A lot of the beginners music is very juvenile, and it feels vaguely embarrassing, as someone who is not in fact 7 years old trying to play Twinkle Twinkle and On the Bridge at Avignon (or, in the case of Abracadabra Cello - The Flintstones...). Maybe your pupil feels similarly?

I've been working my way through Time Pieces, and have also started playing some jigs and reels. Those are great to play, and I can start slow and speed up with them as I improve. I think they're much more suitable for someone who can read music, but is learning a new instrument.

Perhaps you could also introduce some studies? They aren't all boring to play and some are actually quite melodious. This way she will be having to tackle a specific issue either with the left hand, right hand or both. Be sure that your student is always using the correct technique though - including when shifting. I've often found students suddenly attempting shifting by themselves but not by keeping the fingers on the strings, they literally let go, open the hand out, move the hand and then put their fingers back down again - with varying degrees of success. Bad habits can be difficult to unlearn, so don't let them creep in.

Bowing is also an issue that needs to be got right from the beginning. You say that she bows correctly "on occasions". Studies will develop bowing technique so that she's bowing correctly all of the time. Sevcik 40 variations is excellent for this, but before tackling those, things like tone production, basic detache, smooth string crossings and and even sounding legato should be covered thoroughly before moving onto spiccato and ricochet. You may find she will start to plateau in the learning process once you are demanding more than simple up and down bowing.

Handel violin sonatas might also be worth looking at, as there are one or two that appear quite easy but playing them in the right style makes them a bit more difficult - but do ensure correct technique is adopted at all times. Bad technique eventually stunts progress altogether.

Thanks for your suggestion. I'll try and get her to do some studies to get her bowing and i'll esp keep a keener eye on her fingers as she shifts.

I remember my violin teacher setting me on Sevcik....why did I not think of that before! I think I found some of the exercises quite challenging too....i'll see what she thinks.

I have the score to Handel somewhere, so I'll have a flick through them and see which ones i can set on her. Thanks a lot for you suggestions, they helped a lot!

I always used (and still do) use the 'herbert kinsey' books. I'm not sure if that operate on a low grade/level, but if they do i'd recommend them They're like studies and tunes wrapped into pieces

I can see why they would be good....some studies are just boring, tedious and sound ugly. I'm going to have to Google