Violin/Cello Duet for Beginners

March 27, 2009 at 12:34 AM ·

If you can find the UK music books for beginner named "a tune a day"I think you would like them.  They are available in america. It comes with a CD (ok, it's a bit commercial but so much fun. I did them with my mom when she did two months of cello. I played the violin part to motivate her :).  The violin book and the cello book are made to match together.  You have the teacher's part and the student's part which are equally difficult.  It's really easy stuff.  About twinkle level and slightly more so anyone can do it!

Good luck 

ps: maybe Suzuki books work like this but I'm not sure.

Anne-Marie

March 28, 2009 at 03:45 AM ·

There are several collections suitable for beginners. Sheetmusicplus (www.sheetmusicplus.com) has reviews and sample pages for many of the collections mentioned below. You can also have your local music shop order the books for you.

The easiest book of duets is Rounds and Canons for Reading, Recreation and Performance by William Starr. There are 80 pieces in this 56 page book, ranging in length from 4 measures to one page. Only No. 79 and 80 require a small amount of 3rd position plus a harmonic (well, the violin part anyway, not sure how it works out in bass clef).

Samuel Applebaum wrote some collections for string duets. The higher the volume number, the harder the music. Volume 1 of both sets is good for beginners.

Beautiful Music for Two Stringed Instruments by Samuel Applebaum Vol 1 - 4 www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Music-Two-String-Instruments/dp/0769232663

Duets for Strings by Samuel Applebaum Vol 1-3

Duets for All by Albert Stoutamire. According to the introduction, these range in difficulty from level 1 to level 4. There are 18 pieces in 24 page, about half are very straitforward, the rest would require a bit more work but still very playable.

I own the violin parts mentioned above. The works belows I found by searching and you will need to verify the difficulty level.

Duets for Violin and Cello for Beginners by Lajos Vigh Vol 1 & 2

Music for Two,  Last Resort Music Publishing  (www.lastresortmusic.com)

Fifteen Duets for Violin and Cello by Lynne Latham
Weddings for Two by Lynne Latham
Classic Duos for Violin and Cello by Lynne Latham

And for some FREE music, try using unaccompanied two-part choral music for Soprano - Bass
www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Category:SB

This page has some lovely songs by John Dowland, among others. 

Have fun!