Table of Contents -- Quick Start -- Hot Cross Buns, Your First Song -- Chapter 1 Getting Acquainted with Your New Best Friend -- Your First Violin -- The Violin Outfit -- Choosing the Right Violin Size -- Selecting a Violin -- Varnish -- Bridge -- Back Side -- Fine Tuners -- Selecting a Bow -- Before Selecting a Bow -- Preparing Your Bow -- Renting Versus Purchasing a Violin -- Choosing Other Necessary Equipment -- Strings -- Shoulder Rest -- Metronome -- Tuner -- Metal Practice Mute -- Music Stand -- Applying the Shoulder Rest and Holding the Violin -- Attaching the Shoulder Rest -- Tuning the Strings -- Pizzicato Technique -- Tuning with the Fine Tuners and Pegs -- Replacing Strings -- Chapter 2 Bowing Techniques -- Pencil Hold -- Right Hand Finger Exercises -- Bow Placement Optimization -- String Rolls -- Bow Arm Movement -- Weight Distribution of the Bow -- Bow Speed and Pressure -- Bow Divisions and Rhythms -- Bowing Rhythms -- Chapter 3 Fingering Techniques -- Applying Fingering Tapes -- Setting the Hand -- Moving the Fingers -- Finger Bounce -- Finger Strike -- Cross Over and Hop -- Elbow Swing -- Musical ABCs -- Finger Patterns -- Reading Straight Across -- Finger-Pattern Slurs -- Chapter 4 Music Theory -- Reading Notes -- Note Names -- Violin Strings -- Octaves -- Reading Sheet Music -- Reading Note Names Exercises -- Key Signatures -- The Order of Sharps and Flats -- Key Signature Names -- Scales -- Key Signature Specialties -- Time Signatures -- Beats per Measure -- Rhythm Exercises -- Rhythmic Specialties -- Chapter 5 Specialty Techniques -- Specialty Fingerings -- Ornamentation -- Fingering Signs -- Fingering Combinations -- Vibrato -- Specialty Bowings -- Smooth Strokes -- Short Strokes -- Commanding Strokes -- Bowing Sound Effects -- Musical Phrasing -- Dynamics -- Special Effects with Dynamics -- Chapter 6 Beginner Songs.

Practicing Techniques -- Ba Ba Black Sheep -- Lightly Row -- Song of the Wind -- Go Tell Aunt Rhody -- Ode to Joy -- Yellow Rose of Texas -- On Top of Old Smoky -- Minuet in C -- Minuet in G -- Can-Can -- She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain -- The Blue Danube Waltz -- The Mexican Hand-Clapping Song -- Chapter 7 History of the Violin -- Origination of the Violin -- Famous Composers Who Were Violinists -- Famous Composers and Their Times -- The Medieval Period and the Renaissance: 12th to 16th Centuries -- The Baroque Era: 17th to Mid-18th Century -- The Classical Era: Mid-18th to Mid-19th Century -- The Romantic Era: 19th Century -- The 20th Century -- Chapter 8 Continue the Journey -- Where to Go from Here -- Final Thoughts from Mrs. Seidel -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y.