Suzuki Violin Book 1 Lyrics & Teaching Points

Twinkle Theme & Variations

Teaching point: “Speedy 3s”, endurance

Variation A: Pepperoni Pizza

Var B: Ice Cream (sh) Cone

Var C: Down Little, Up Little 

Var D: Grandma on a Motorcycle

Var E: Pineapple Pineapple (or Beautiful Butterflies or Strawberry Strawberry)

Lightly Row (Form: A, A1, B, A1) 

Teaching point: “Speedy 2”, Skipping fingers

E 2 Slooow, 3 1 Slooow, Up the Scale Stuck on E

E 2 Quick Quick, 3 1 Quick Quick, Skipping Fingers Here We Go

1,2,3,4,5 Hurray 1,2,3,4,5 Hurray

E 2 Quick Quick, 3 1 Quick Quick, Skipping Fingers Here We Go

Song of the Wind (Form: A, B, C :||)

Teaching point: Bow circles (no bounce), hopping (not rocking) 3rd finger across strings, leaving 1st finger down while playing hopping 3s

Once there was a crocodile who snapped at all he saw. (CLAP!)

Snapped at all he saw. (CLAP!)

‘Til he snapped a rock and got a toothache in his jaw, jaw, jaw.

‘Til he snapped a rock and got a toothache in his jaw.

(repeat)

Go Tell Aunt Rhody (Form: A, B, B, A)

Teaching point: “Super speedy 3”, sounding out by ear

Go Tell Aunt Rhody that her goose is sick

Go Tell Aunt Rhody she is very sad

He ate some popcorn and some jelly beans

He ate some candy and some gum

Go tell Aunt Rhody that her goose is sick

Go tell Aunt Rhody she is very sad

O Come Little Children (Form: A, A, B, C :||)

Teaching point: Double up bow

How are you how are you how are you today 

I'm fine thanks I'm fine thanks I'm doing ok

And how is your turtle and how is your cat

My turtle is hungry, my cats getting fat

-or-

Up down little children up down then we stop (x4)

May Song (Form: A, B, B, A)

Teaching point: 2nd finger tunnel, dotted quarter rhythm

Up the hill and under a tree

Sleeps a dragon baby

Tiny ears, ears so so so small

Tiny teeth, teeth no none at all

Up the hill back under a tree

Sleeps a dragon baby

Long Long Ago (Form: A, A1, B, A1)

Teaching point: “block” finger (1st finger on both A & D)

Long long ago on a bright sunny day

I saw a frog— on top a log—

Long long ago on a bright sunny day

I saw a frog on a log

He jumped so high that I thought he could fly

He jumped so high that I thought he could fly

Long long ago on a bright sunny day

I saw a frog on a log

Allegro (Form: A, A, B, A)

Teaching point: leave down 1st finger while walking up E string, cue, fermata, 

Head Head Ears Ears Shoulders Shoulder Clap Clap

Hips Hips Knees Knees Ankles Ankles Lap

Head Head Ears Ears Shoulders Shoulder Clap Clap

Hips Hips Knees Knees Ankles Ankles Lap

Gently swaying music playing make the bow go smooth and slowwww

Head Head Ears Ears Shoulders Shoulder Clap Clap

Hips Hips Knees Knees Ankles Ankles Lap

Perpetual Motion (Form: A, A1, B, B1, C, C, A, A1)

Teaching point: 4th finger, Endurance

Have you seen an alligator riding on an escalator?

I have seen an alligator riding on an elevator.

Have you seen a ballerina playing on her concertina?

I have seen a ballerina on her way to Pasadena.

Have you seen and armadillo sleeping on a big fat pillow?

Have you seen and armadillo sleeping on a big fat pillow?

​Have you seen an alligator riding on an escalator?

I have seen an alligator riding on an elevator. 

Allegretto (Form: A, A1, B, A1)

Teaching point: D scale, bow weight accents

In a place, far away, on a hot summer day,

The three bears cabins stood on the edge of the wood.

In a place, far away, on a hot summer day,

The three bears went away for a walk.

First the big papa bear, and the kind mama bear, 

Over there, in his chair, is the small baby bear.

In a place, far away, on a hot summer day,

The three bears went away for a walk. 

Andantino (Form: A, A1, B, A1)

Teaching point: D scale, bow speed accents

Little pig, little pig, let me come in! (wolf)

Not by the hair on my chinny, chin, chin, (pig)

Little pig, little pig, let me come in! (wolf)

Not by the hair on my chinny, chin, chin, (pig)

Big bad wold is blowing our house,

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! (Pig)

​Little pig, little pig, let me come in! (wolf)

Not by the hair on my chinny, chin, chin, (pig) 

Etude (Form: A, A1, B, A2)

Teaching point: Close 1-2 finger pattern (C- and G- naturals)

Henrietta Popeletta had a special friend whose name was,

Wilhelmina Window-Cleaner and she brought along her football.

Henrietta Popeletta picked it up and threw it back to 

Wilhelmina Window-Cleaner, and it went right through the window!

​

Mother came right down the stairs and called to father.

Father came right down the stairs and quickly picked up

Henrietta Popeletta, picked her up and scolded her and sent her off to bed. 

Minuet 1 

Teaching point: Hooked bow, "bird call" finger placement

Minuet 2 

Teaching point: Arpeggios (without ulnar deviation), triplets, high 3rd finger, 3 note slurs

Minuet 3 

Teaching point: Up bow slurs, slurs across strings, grace notes

*see below for bowing videos*

Happy Farmer (Form: A, A, B, A1, B, A1)

Teaching point: Hooked bow dotted quarter notes

The happy farmer sings a happy song.

He sings a line, he sings a rhyme, with falling notes.

The happy farmer sings a happy song.

He sings a line, he sings a rhyme, with falling notes.

He picks them up, to start another line.

The happy farmer takes is instrument,

He plays a tune on his bassoon with check marked notes.

​He picks them up, to start another line.

The happy farmer takes is instrument,

​He plays a tune on his bassoon with check marked notes. 

Gavotte (Form: AA, B, CC, DD, A, B)

Teaching point: 4 note slurs, endurance, fast change C# to C-natural, slurs across strings, crossing multiple strings, C# on G string, DC al Fine

//: I can play this long gavotte the whole way through. I can play this long gavotte as well as you. 

I can play this long gavotte just like you too. Doctor Suzuki would like that too.  ://

Can you play the second section just as well? I can play the second section, can't you tell? 

I can play the second section quite as well. Let's all play the second section, ding dong bell. 

//: Let us take it all in turns to play. I'll play first, then fingers very quickly down the scale come jumping. 

I'll play it next and now altogether, teeter, totter, then running up and down. ://

//: I'm playing very fast and jump about.  I'm playing very fast and I'm not out. 

I'm playing very fast, and I'm playing at the last, so let's play it altogether, roundabout. ://