The Suzuki Violin School is a set of ten books. Book 1 begins with variations on “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and ends with a gavotte. Books 4 and 5 bring the first concertos, by Seitz, Vivaldi, and Bach. Books 9 and 10 are each one full concerto by Mozart. Every student plays the same pieces in the same order, so a child in one city can play along with a child in another.
This guide lists the main pieces in each book and the skills each one builds. Editions differ a little, and newer editions add some exercises.
How the books work
A child learns each piece by ear from the recording, with the teacher’s help, and plays it from memory. Pieces are not dropped once learned. Students keep playing old pieces to build skill and to play together in group class.
Each piece is there for a reason. It adds one or two new skills to the ones before it.
Book 1
Main pieces. Twinkle Variations, “Lightly Row,” “Go Tell Aunt Rhody,” “Perpetual Motion,” three minuets by Bach, “The Happy Farmer” by Schumann, and a gavotte by Gossec. There are 17 pieces.
What it builds. How to stand and hold the violin and the bow. A clear, ringing tone. Short bow strokes and smooth ones. The first finger patterns. Playing from memory.
For a young beginner, Book 1 often takes longer than any later book. It lays the base for everything after. For every piece, read Suzuki violin Book 1 songs in order.
Book 2
Main pieces. A chorus by Handel, “Hunters’ Chorus” by Weber, a waltz by Brahms, “The Two Grenadiers” by Schumann, a gavotte by Lully, and minuets by Beethoven and Boccherini. There are 12 pieces.
What it builds. New finger patterns and keys. Longer phrases. Louds and softs. The first trills. For every piece, read Suzuki violin Book 2 songs in order.
Book 3
Main pieces. A gavotte by Martini, a minuet and two gavottes by Bach, “Humoresque” by Dvořák, and a bourrée by Bach. There are 7 pieces. For every piece, read Suzuki violin Book 3 songs in order.
What it builds. Longer pieces with more than one mood. A richer tone. Many teachers begin shifting, where the left hand moves up the neck, and vibrato around this stage.
Book 4
Main pieces. Three concerto movements by Seitz, the first and third movements of Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor, and the second violin part of Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins.
What it builds. The first concertos. Playing in higher positions. Faster fingers and stronger bow strokes. Playing a part that fits with another player’s part.
Book 5
Main pieces. The slow movement of Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor, Vivaldi’s Concerto in G minor, a country dance by Weber, a gigue by Veracini, and the first violin part of Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins.
What it builds. A whole concerto in three movements. More shifting. A singing slow movement.
Students who know both parts of the Bach can play it together, which is a high point of many group classes.
Book 6
Main pieces. “La Folia” by Corelli, two sonatas by Handel, an allegro by Fiocco, and a gavotte by Rameau.
What it builds. Full sonatas with several movements. A set of variations that tests many bow strokes. Baroque style.
Book 7
Main pieces. A minuet by Mozart, a sonata by Handel, Bach’s Concerto in A minor, and shorter pieces by Bach and Corelli.
What it builds. A major concerto by Bach, start to finish. Clean, even playing at speed.
Book 8
Main pieces. A sonata by Eccles, a tambourin by Grétry, slow and fast movements by Bach, and a sonata by Veracini.
What it builds. Depth of tone in slow music. Longer sonatas. More demanding left-hand work.
Books 9 and 10
Main pieces. Book 9 is Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major. Book 10 is Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major.
What they build. A full classical concerto, with the lightness and polish Mozart asks for. By this stage, a student is playing music that professional violinists perform.
How long does it all take?
No set time applies. It depends on the starting age, the practice, and the child. Students do not need to rush. A child in Book 2 who plays with a good sound is doing well.
Many students add other music along the way: studies, scales, orchestra parts, and pieces outside the books. Teachers also decide when reading begins.
What a parent can do
Play the recording of the current book and the next one every day. Suzuki listening has ways to fit it in. Keep the old pieces alive with a review chart. The practice chart maker can list them.
Three composers in these books have a page on this site: Bach, Vivaldi, and Mozart. A child who knows the person behind the piece has one more reason to play it. For the rest, read composers in the Suzuki violin books.
For the method as a whole, read the Suzuki method explained for parents. For exams, read RCM violin levels explained. For your own role, read the Suzuki parent guide.
More from this guide
This article is part of Music teaching methods for kids compared: Suzuki, Kodály, Orff, Dalcroze, and traditional lessons.
Dalcroze eurhythmics explained for parents: learning music by moving
What Dalcroze eurhythmics is, what happens in a class, the three parts of the method, who it suits, and movement games to try at home.
Early childhood music classes compared: a guide for parents
The main early childhood music programs compared for parents: Music Together, Kindermusik, Musikgarten, Music for Young Children, Yamaha, and Suzuki baby classes.
El Sistema explained for parents: free orchestras for children
El Sistema explained for parents: how the Venezuelan program began, what an El Sistema-inspired program looks like, where to find one, and what to ask.
Essential Elements Book 1 explained for band and orchestra parents
What Essential Elements Book 1 is, how the band and strings books work, what a child learns, the free online tools, and how a parent can help at home.
Faber Piano Adventures and RCM levels: how they line up
Which RCM level matches each Faber Piano Adventures level, based on Faber's own chart, and what a Faber student has to add before an RCM exam.
Faber Piano Adventures levels explained for parents
The Faber Piano Adventures levels in plain words: Primer to Level 5, the books at each level, what each level teaches, and where a child starts.
Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.