Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Plus DVD: Violin Book 1 [Paperback]

Michael Allen (Author), Robert Gillespie (Author), Pamela Tellejohn Hayes (Author), John Higgins (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2002

Now the best-selling band method is even better! The same great method that directors have come to trust now includes a CD AND a DVD. Features include: * BOOK: Same great Essential Elements 2000 method! * CD/CD-ROM FEATURES: Play-Along Tracks 1-71 (with a professional player for every instrument) * DVD FEATURES: Startup Video (learn the basics - 15 min.); ALL 193 Play-Along Tracks; More Duets and Trios; Music Listening Library * CD AND DVD EACH FEATURE: SmartMusic Software (practice, record, and e-mail a performance, plus on-screen assessment - includes Ex. 1-86 with special offer to continue); Finale NotePad Software; Tempo Adjustment Software (for Play-Along Tracks)

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation; Pap/Dvdr/C edition (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634038176
• ISBN-13: 978-0634038174
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Instrumentation > Violin
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Music > Recording & Sound
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Instruction & Study

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Adult Beginner!, September 18, 2006

By 

Suzanne Langlois "JOBeth" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Plus DVD: Violin Book 1 (Paperback)

Once I got my hands on this book, I discarded all the other "beginner" books I'd purchased. No more having to play juvenile ditties like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

I'm an adult beginner violinist and Essential Elements 2000 for Strings with its accompanying CD & DVD has enabled me to teach myself how to play my violin while thoroughly enjoying the effort and without experiencing the boredom and humiliation of having to learn tunes better geared toward much younger students.

I've only been playing since July and I'm already about to graduate to the second book in the series. The curriculum is interesting, playing along with the orchestra on the CD is exciting, and realizing how fast I'm progressing is a dream come true for this 54 year old beginner.

I highly recommend this book as well as Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory Complete to anyone seriously interested in learning violin.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well thought out series., September 27, 2007

By 

Gene Wie (Irvine, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Plus DVD: Violin Book 1 (Paperback)

"For a real violin study, go with Suzuki." While that might work for a child that is ages 3-4 in a one-on-one or small group setting (which is what the Suzuki Method was intended for), it does not work well in large group learning situation for kids who are twice that age, beginning instruments in fourth and fifth grade. And to be honest, almost everything in the Suzuki method *IS* an arrangement of an original work (like the Bach Bouree from the cello suites set for violin), chosen because even in their simplified form they help teach the fundamental concepts.

This is my third year using EE2000 in my school program. I usually have between 30-40 students at each grade level in the orchestra. The books and their accompanying CD/DVD work really well and are of the appropriate complexity for the students ages nine through eleven. As a private instructor myself, I recommend to all my students to seek outside instruction, but EE2000 provides a good balance of technical development with ensemble skills for the beginners. Students coming into my program who already play don't feel bored because I am able to append more complex tasks in bowing and fingering to them using the existing material, giving them helpful exercises to expand their current abilities, while they help in encouraging their beginning peers.

Lastly, a smart child, if they are so motivated (as some of my kids are), can look at the directives in the EE2000 book and figure out a lot of things on their own ahead of the class, and they are provided with just enough information to accomplish those tasks fairly correctly, without doing awful things to their technique. The included instruction videos are very helpful in this case as well. This is not true with most other methods (and the Suzuki books are entirely useless without a proper instructor!).

Don't get me wrong; I was a Suzuki student myself for my first few years of playing and from time to time use some of their excellent pieces in my own private teaching (although I primarily teach advanced junior high through college age players). However, it has its target audience, which is entirely different from that which EE2000 and others like it are designed for.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The songs are not the original composition..why..??, February 24, 2007

By 

C. Williams "Violin Playa" (Pa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Plus DVD: Violin Book 1 (Paperback)

Becuase how else would you learn to read music and interpret that music properly with your violin if you already knew how the song was going to progress?
This makes it "cheat proof" for young and old alike. I like that. It forces the student to concentrate on the notes and actually read them instead of memorizing. It's the best and most organized book of its' kind.
The cd and dvd are included as is some very useful computer software. You do not have to go out and buy everything seperately. This helps on the students, or parents, pocketbook. Lessons are expensive enough without having to go out and spend a fortune on material for the lesson. Save some money and a whole lot of sight reading headaches down the road and get this book.