Suzuki Book 1 - Happy Farmer (Violin Play Along and Tutorial)
Hi everyone! Joel Kennedy here with Kennedy Violins, and welcome back to our Suzuki play-along series. Today, we’re tackling one of the most cheerful and educational pieces in Book 1—“The Happy Farmer” by Robert Schumann.
Whether you're just learning the piece or brushing up for a performance, this post will walk you through important practice tips, bowing strategies, and key musical concepts to help you play with confidence and joy. Follow along with the PDF below!
🎵 First, Just Listen and Play Along
I always recommend starting with a good listen. In the video, I begin by playing through the entire piece without the metronome. This helps you get a sense of the rhythm and feel of the music.
Then, I slow things down a bit and bring in the metronome at 80 bpm. Practicing with a metronome is essential—especially for a piece like this that starts on an upbeat. That means you're not playing on the first beat of the measure, so you’ll need to count carefully and come in after the click, not on it.
🎼 Know Your Key and Finger Placements
We’re in the key of G Major, which means there's one sharp—F♯. But here’s the kicker: even though the key has a sharp, the second finger on the A and E strings is low, not high. That gives us C natural and G natural—important distinctions for staying in tune.
Remember my rule: low 2s are against the 1st finger, high 2s are against the 3rd. This never changes, no matter what string you're on. If your second finger isn’t touching the right neighbor, you’re in the wrong spot.
🎯 Articulation: Stop the Bow!
This piece is packed with opportunities to refine your bow control. You’ll see repeated patterns of dotted quarter notes followed by eighth notes—and those eighth notes have dots over them. That means stop the bow between the two notes!
For example:
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Without stopping the bow, the phrase sounds smooth and connected.
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But with the correct articulation, there’s a clean separation that gives the phrase its bounce.
This is Suzuki's way of teaching you how to use clear, intentional bowing. Use it to your advantage!
🏹 Stay in the Lower Half of the Bow
Unlike many Suzuki Book 1 pieces that stay in the middle third of the bow, “The Happy Farmer” is best played in the lower half. That’s because of the frequent upbeat slurs—short notes that lead directly into longer, slurred notes.
If you’re too far up the bow, you’ll run out of space during these slurs. Staying low gives you the control you need and teaches good bow planning, which is critical for more advanced playing.
Watch for:
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Pickups that begin phrases
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Two-note slurs immediately following short upbows
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Gradual bow creep—if you’re drifting toward the tip, stop and reset!
🎶 Dynamics and Musical Expression
Another reason I love this piece? It gives you a great chance to practice dynamic contrast. We start at forte (loud), then drop to mezzo-forte (medium loud) in the second line.
Even though the difference is subtle, it’s essential to play both dynamics with intention. A slight decrease in bow pressure and speed will do the trick—don’t be afraid to experiment!
♯ Accidentals and Emphasis
There are a couple of accidentals to look out for, especially at the start of the third line. You’ll see a natural sign over the second finger—this is your cue to adjust and give that note a little extra emphasis.
Use your index finger pressure to “pop” the note just a bit. This teaches your fingers to respond quickly and accurately to new shapes.
🎯 Use That Fourth Finger!
Some notes in this piece give you the option of using an open string or a fourth finger. I strongly recommend using your fourth finger whenever possible.
Why? Because it builds strength and flexibility in your pinky, which is often the weakest finger for violinists. The more you use it, the more comfortable it gets—and the less likely you are to avoid it later when the music gets harder.
