Suzuki violin Book 2 songs in order, and what each one teaches

Suzuki Violin School, Volume 2, has 12 pieces. Book 1 was full of folk songs. Book 2 is full of famous composers. This page lists every piece in order, where each tune comes from, and what the book adds.

The 12 pieces in order

No.	Piece	Composer	Where the tune comes from
1	Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus	Handel	A chorus from his oratorio Judas Maccabaeus
2	Musette	Bach	The second gavotte of his English Suite No. 3 for keyboard
3	Hunters’ Chorus	Weber	A chorus from Act 3 of his opera Der Freischütz
4	Long, Long Ago	T. H. Bayly	The song from Book 1, back in a new form
5	Waltz	Brahms	His Waltz, Op. 39, No. 15, for piano
6	Bourrée	Handel	A movement from one of his sonatas in F major
7	The Two Grenadiers	Schumann	His song for voice and piano, Op. 49, No. 1
8	Theme from Witches’ Dance	Paganini	The main tune of a showpiece for violin
9	Gavotte from Mignon	Thomas	A dance from his opera Mignon
10	Gavotte	Lully	Credited to Lully in the book
11	Minuet in G	Beethoven	His Minuet, WoO 10, No. 2
12	Minuet	Boccherini	The minuet from his String Quintet in E Major, Op. 11, No. 5

Not one of these pieces began as a beginner violin piece. They come from operas, oratorios, songs, and piano music. Suzuki arranged them for a young violinist.

What Book 2 adds

New finger patterns and keys. Book 1 ends in the key of G major. Book 2 moves through more keys, so the fingers learn new spacings.

Longer phrases. Many tunes in Book 2 were written for singers, orchestras, or the piano. They ask for longer bows.

Louds and softs. A chorus by Handel and a waltz by Brahms ask for different sounds. The child learns to change the tone on purpose.

The first trills. A trill is a quick wobble between two notes. It shows up in this book.

A first look at higher positions. After the Witches’ Dance theme, the related Suzuki viola book prints exercises for second and third position. Ask your child’s teacher when position work begins on the violin.

Notes on each piece

1. Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus. A broad, proud tune. Many people know it as a hymn.

2. Musette. A musette was a small French bagpipe. The piece copies its sound with a low note that hums along under the tune.

3. Hunters’ Chorus. A bouncy tune sung by hunters in the opera. It is quick and needs neat, short strokes.

4. Long, Long Ago. The child knows this tune from Book 1. Here it comes in a new key, with a variation.

5. Waltz. A gentle dance in three beats, and a well-known tune.

6. Bourrée. A bourrée is a lively dance in two beats. It starts with a pickup note.

7. The Two Grenadiers. A song about two soldiers on their way home to France. It starts in a minor key and ends with a bold march in a major key. The march is the French national anthem.

8. Theme from Witches’ Dance. A light, playful tune by the most famous violinist of his day. Read Paganini for kids.

9. Gavotte from Mignon. A longer piece with several sections. The mood shifts from section to section.

10. Gavotte. A dance in a minor key.

11. Minuet in G. Beethoven wrote this as one of a set of six minuets. It has a graceful first part and a busier middle part.

12. Minuet. A famous minuet. Its tune skips and sways. Many teachers treat it as the Book 2 graduation piece.

Meet the composers

A child who knows the person behind the piece has one more reason to play it. These composers have a page on this site.

• Handel
• Bach
• Brahms
• Robert Schumann
• Paganini
• Beethoven

For the rest, read composers in the Suzuki violin books.

Hear the real thing

Book 2 is a chance to play the original pieces at home. Find a recording of the chorus from Judas Maccabaeus sung by a choir. Find the Brahms waltz played on the piano. Find the Boccherini minuet played by a string quintet. Your child will hear their own piece in a new way.

Use a listening journal page to note what your child hears.

Book 2 and exams

Several Book 2 pieces are on the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) violin lists. The Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus is listed at Level 1. Musette, Hunters’ Chorus, and Bourrée are listed at Level 2. The gavotte credited to Lully, the Brahms waltz, the Beethoven minuet, and The Two Grenadiers are listed at Level 3. Read RCM violin levels explained.

What a parent does

• Play the Book 2 recording every day, and start it before your child finishes Book 1.
• Keep Book 1 alive. Review pieces are where tone grows. A child in Book 2 still plays the Book 1 pieces each week.
• Ask for the point of each piece. The teacher has one main goal for each piece. Practice that first.
• Go to group class. Book 2 pieces sound grand when many children play them together. Read Suzuki group class.

Before and after

• Suzuki violin Book 3 songs in order
• Suzuki violin Book 1 songs in order
• Suzuki violin books 1 to 10: what each one teaches
• The Suzuki method explained for parents

Sources

Checked in November 2026.

• Alfred Music. Suzuki Violin School, Volume 2, International Edition.
• Forsyth Music. Suzuki Violin School 2: titles and contents.
• Johnson String Instrument. Suzuki Violin School, Volume 2, International Edition: contents.
• International Suzuki Association. Suzuki Viola School, Volume 2: sample pages. Summy-Birchard. Hosted by Hickey’s Music.
• The Royal Conservatory. Suzuki repertoire and the RCM Violin Syllabus, 2021 Edition.