I'm going to try to teach myself the violin as soon as I can get my hands on a violin!! Just wondered if anyone knew of any books that were particularly good for helping with things such as how to hold the violin and bow, and where the notes are etc...I can already read music so I don't specifically need anything with masses of 'notes on the stave' stuff!!

Thanks

Try the Fiddle Time..... series
Fiddle Time Starters}
Fiddle Time Joggers} They get a little Harder as you go along, but they are all very easy to read and
Fiddle Time Runners} master.
Fiddle Time Sprinters}
Fiddle Time Scales
Fiddle Time Scales 2
Fiddle Time Xmas(For the Festive Season)

I used The Essential String Method violin books when I started learning - they're really aimed at kids and I'm an adult but they were a good start. I'm currently using the Sevcik method books to work on my technique and there is a good book called Basics by Simon Fischer.

However, if you can, I would strongly recommend you have some lessons with a teacher, even if once fortnightly. There is so much technique you need for the violin such as correct bow hold, developing weight in the bowing arm etc. A good solid foundation in technique will set you up for the future, as developing bad habits from the start are much harder to undo later on.

Good luck and enjoy playing the violin - it's a brilliant instrument Do let us know how you get on!

Finding a teacher is the best thing you could do. There are so many small adjustments a tutor can make to your posture and general set up that could make a difference to your playing and your comfort, that I would never recommend going it alone. Even a few lessons here and there will make sure you are set up in the right way. Bad habits are phenomenally hard to undo. But with or without a teacher, these books should be helpful:-

The Eta Cohen Violin Method (not sure how many there are in this series
All for Strings
And yes, Basics by Simon Fischer has stacks in it that could be helpful for years to come!

Good luck!

I agree that finding a teacher is the first and best thing to do.

On the subject of tutor books for beginner violinists, the 'A New Tune a Day' for violin by Sarah Pope, is clearly presented, informative and pitched at a level accessible by pupils from about 8 years right up to adult. It is also clear enough to follow by those who have no previous experience of reading music. Book also comes complete with a very useful CD and DVD.

The book I got given in my first violin lessons was book 1 from the 'String Builder' series. A particularly useful tutor book for faster progressing students, especially if they are already familiar with musical notation. The content does move along quite quickly and it doesn't cover the pizzicato stuff at the beginning either - which I know a lot of books do, but I've never been totally convinced on how valid three weeks of nothing but string plucking is in the long term, particularly for the older child or adult. String builder goes straight in with the bowing, encouraging an open and free bow arm from the very start. Pizzicato is introduced a little later (inc. left-hand pizz).

When i was a wee kid of about 10 i was around grade 2 level. I learnt on the abracadabra books. there are 2 to my knowledge. Great for technique and rythm.

Try them.

My teacher used Eta Cohen, books, they are great to start with, I liked them and are good to work through while doing lower grades. Plus have many photos e.g close up of bow hold etc. (just what you wanted), however, two howevers...

1.Any book is limited when compared to a teacher!

2.They may seem a bit condecending, they are aimed at absolute beginners!

Once you have reached at least grade 3/4 try technique takes of. It has pieces that go up to a simple grade 6 piece called skater's waltz which i leant about a month ago.

Fiddle Time!!

They got me off to a good start with violin and the pieces were fun.