I am searching for violin pieces for my son to learn; he would really like something suitable to play at informal concerts etc. without the need for piano accompaniment.

He is 11 years old, currently between grades 4 and 5.

Unfortunately neither teacher nor local music shop have been able to suggest anything, and the exam lists for violin do not include unaccompanied pieces (like they do for woodwind).

Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Thanks.

Have you come across Mary Cohen's 'Technique Takes Off'? Written as a book of studies but some of them make great concert pieces. All unaccompanied, some have been used by Trinity for Grade 4/5 exam lists. I have used them with pupils for concert pieces and also for GCSE performances.

Firstly what kind of music does he like listening to?

If he likes folk music then 'The Scottish Violinist' by J Scott Skinner has a selection of pieces ranging from fairly easy up to at least grade 6 standard. This book is a crossover between classical and folk music. If it seems a bit pricey then any collection of folk music should have tunes that he can enjoy performing, including the Huws Jones books.

There are also plenty of solo arrangements of christmas carols that he could do. (I have a good collection called Chrismas Solos for the Violin published by Amsco/Wise which might not be available anymore. It's amazing how things have changed in the last ten or so years, because it now seems to be compulsory to have a naff CD accompaniment for any solo violin music).

I'm trying to think whether there is any unaccompanied baroque music that is relatively easy; nothing springs to mind so far. Maybe some others could suggest something from that era.

Welcome to the site

Any well known tunes that are easy on the ear and don't have a prominent piano part would fit the bill here. Just play them without the piano!

I actually think that at the stage he's at, it's better to have accompaniment, as in my experience few grade 4-5 players have good enough intonation to make an unaccompanied piece work well. If you don't have easy access to a pianist, there are lots of music books with CD accompaniment availble in any music shop.

The Telemann Fantasias are lovely and for unaccompanied violin. I try to play them and I'm around grade 4.

Some of the movements are really nice little showpieces.

Why does it have to be unaccompanied? There are plenty of good (and also not-so-good) violin albums with cd playalong options. One of my favourites for pupils at around grades 4-6 is 'Essential Melodies - Famous classics for violin' - published by Fentone. The book starts with the Purcell Rondo from Abdelazar, finishes with an only very slightly simplified Meditation from Thais and has a very reasonable sounding acoustic piano backing to boot.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I found a secondhand copy of Technique Takes Off which I bought. What a great book, really lovely pieces. I have played them through on piano, read all the notes to the pieces including those scribbled in by the book's previous owner, and am really looking forward to him learning them on violin. Lots of possibilities there. Thank you Rachelviolin for that suggestion.

I love the idea of something baroque, especially the Telemann that Lottie suggested.

My son loved the idea of playing some folk music. By lucky coincidence we heard that some local folk musicians were running a one-day workshop over half term, so we gave it a go. He was made most welcome, he played along with them on some of the easier tunes, and was even invited to join them playing in a local pub that evening. He begged to be allowed to go, and at first I thought it was just because he had never really been in a pub before, but in the end we all went, and had a brilliant evening. He was so happy sitting with them and playing when he could, it was great to see his music (which is sometimes a struggle) giving him so much pleasure. We went back to local music shop and bought two of the Edward Huws Jones books, and have ordered the Scott Skinner one. Also plan to go as a family to a local folk club. So, thank you AlisonS, I think your suggestion has really started something there!

I was interested to read everyone's thoughts on accompanied vs unaccompanied, and also on cd accompaniments. We have not yet tried any play-along cds, (not even ABRSM exam ones), I'd be interested to hear how useful other people find them.

That's great news Music Nanny. I've noticed that a lot of young people really enjoy playing folk music.

And I've never plucked up the courage to attend a session so he is one step ahead of me already.

If he's enjoying folk then you've got the right idea - sessions are the way forward !

The books probably won't be much use, though - for two reasons :

1) folk music cannot be accurately written down - the rhythms are too complex and the ornamentation and melodic variations are too varied to put in a score - playing what's on the score will not cut the mustard if he's serious about this music.

2) the repertoire in the books you mention is based on simplified versions of tunes that are rarely played in sessions.

If he really wants to do well, buy him a cheap hand held recording device and have him record a tune a week at his session - then he can learn it at home by ear - he'll probably really enjoy this and will learn lots about the rhythms and how the melody and ornamentation changes subtly from one repeat to the next.

If he'd like recommendations of Irish or Scottish tunes to get started on (and some recordings thereof) I'm happy to help - drop me a PM - if it's English stuff he likes, then River on here is your man, I think.

Hope he enjoys the fiddle!

The young should not be corrupted by introducing them to folk music. It may all seem innocuous enough at first, but they may soon find themselves on a slippery slope towards the really sinister stuff like Morris Dancing.

Or even worse - ceilidh !

Such fun!