Hi everybody, Joel Kennedy here with Kennedy Violins. In this playalong video, we’re working on Lightly Row from Suzuki Book 1—an essential early piece that builds great fundamentals for beginners. Whether you’re learning it for the first time or helping a student through it, I’ll walk you through the rhythm, finger patterns, and a couple of key practice strategies to set you up for success.

Click here to download a PDF and follow along!

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Starting Off: Two Playthroughs

I begin the lesson with a simple run-through of Lightly Row, then follow it with a version played alongside a metronome. This helps you internalize both the music and the timing.

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Understanding Cut Time

Most of the early Suzuki pieces are written in 4/4, but Lightly Row is in cut time (2/2). That means:

• The half note gets the beat

• There are two beats per measure

• Quarter notes are now half a beat, not a full beat

If you set your metronome to 50 bpm, those ticks represent half notes—not quarter notes. It’s a subtle but important change, and Suzuki is intentionally training students to feel music in broader beats.

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Key Signature: A Major (But Don’t Panic)

The piece is in A major, which includes three sharps: F♯, C♯, and G♯. That might sound intimidating for beginners, but the good news is this song only uses two strings, and you don’t even need to use your second finger on the E string.

The only real adjustment you need to remember is this:

• Second finger on the A string is high (C♯)
  That means it goes next to the third finger, not next to the first.

So while the key signature might look advanced, the practical fingerings are totally manageable.

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Practice Tip #1: Keep Fingers Down

This might be the most important habit to build early.

In the third measure of Lightly Row, you play open A, then first, second, and third finger, followed by open E.

Too many students lift their fingers too early. Here’s what you should do:

• Keep fingers down until you absolutely have to pick them up.
  For example, leave down 1, 2, and 3 until it’s time to cross to the E string.

This builds good hand organization, speeds up your playing, and prevents mistakes later on.

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Practice Tip #2: Open E vs. Fourth Finger E

In several spots, you’ll see open E notated—sometimes with a zero above the note, and a small 4 below it. That means you can (and eventually should) play that same note with your fourth finger on the A string.

Here’s how to approach it:

1. First, practice the piece using the open E.
   That helps you learn the string crossing and get the pitch in your ear.

2. Then, practice it again using your fourth finger.
   This builds finger strength and independence early, which pays off hugely as you advance.

But remember—when using your fourth finger:

• Keep your 1, 2, and 3 fingers down until it’s time to lift them.

• Make sure the pitch of the fourth finger matches the open E.

This pattern shows up multiple times, including the second line from the bottom, so get comfortable switching between the two methods.

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Final Thoughts

Lightly Row might seem simple, but it's a foundational piece for establishing clean technique. If you build the right habits now—like keeping fingers down and using your fourth finger—you’ll make the rest of Suzuki Book 1 (and beyond) a lot easier.

As always, if you have questions or comments, leave them below. I read and respond to all of them. And if this video helped you out, don’t forget to like and subscribe so more students can find it too.

Have a great time practicing, and I’ll see you next time.