Hi everyone! Joel Kennedy here from Kennedy Violins. In this play-along video, we’re covering Minuet 1 from Suzuki Book 1. This is such a fun piece to work on, and it introduces some really important concepts like bow retakes, staccato articulation, and accidentals. Whether you're just starting out or polishing up your technique, I’m going to walk you through it step-by-step and help you feel more confident playing Minuet 1.

 

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🎯 About Minuet 1

Minuet 1 is written in G major, which means we have one sharp — F♯. It’s also in 3/4 time, so there are three beats in each measure, and the quarter note gets the beat. If you’ve mostly been working in 4/4 time, this might feel a little different at first — but once you get into the rhythm, it’ll start to feel natural.

Minuets are dances, so think of it as a light, steady piece — not too heavy or fast. It’s all about grace and control.

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🎻 Playthrough at Full Speed and Slow Practice

First, I play through Minuet 1 at full speed so you can hear how it sounds when it’s all put together. After that, I slow it down and play it with the metronome at 90 bpm so you can follow along more easily.

✅ Tips for Playing with the Metronome:

• Make sure you’re counting "1, 2, 3" as you play — this will help you stay in time.
• If you find yourself rushing or dragging, slow the metronome down a bit until you feel comfortable.
• Don’t forget — no repeats in the video, just to save time!

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🎶 Finger Patterns and Bowing

Since we’re in G major, your finger patterns are pretty straightforward — but there are a couple of key details to remember:

Second Finger Patterns:

• High second finger on the G and D strings (creating F♯ and C♯).
• Low second finger on the A and E strings (creating C natural and G natural).

This is where a lot of students get tripped up. Your second finger can only be in two places — touching the first finger (low) or touching the third finger (high). If your second finger is somewhere in between, it’s probably out of tune!

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🔄 Circle Bow and Retakes

One of the big challenges in Minuet 1 is the bow retake (or circle bow).

At the end of the second line, the last measure ends on a down bow — but the next measure also starts on a down bow. That means you have to lift your bow and reset it.

Here's how to handle it:

1. On the last beat of the measure, lift your bow.
2. Reset it in position for the next down bow.
3. Keep it smooth — don’t rush the reset!

"As a general rule in Suzuki pieces, when you have to retake your bow, try to lift it on the last beat of the measure so you’re ready to start fresh on the next down bow."

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🎯 Staccato and Articulation

Another tricky part is the staccato slurs at the beginning. You have two third fingers connected by a slur, but they’re marked with dots — which means you need to stop the bow between each note.

It should sound like this:

Stop—Stop (not smooth or connected).

If you don’t stop the bow, it’ll sound too smooth — almost like a legato. Stopping the bow gives it that crisp, defined sound Suzuki is looking for.

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🛑 Accidentals – Watch Out for C♯!

Suzuki throws in a sneaky C♯ in the third line, second measure. This is where you really need to pay attention to accidentals:

• When you see a C♯ in a measure, it applies to any other C in that measure unless a natural sign cancels it.
• That means you need to play a high second finger when you hit the second C in that measure too.

"If you’re ever unsure, just slow down and check your finger placement. If your second finger isn’t touching the first or third finger, it’s probably out of tune!"

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🖐️ Strengthening Your Fourth Finger

Suzuki sneaks in a fourth finger challenge in this piece too. In the fourth line, you go from a natural third finger to a fourth finger. This is tough because the fourth finger is naturally weaker.

My Advice:

• Keep your third finger down when you place the fourth finger — this helps you find the right spacing.
• Make sure there’s a whole step between the third and fourth finger.
• Keep practicing! The more you use your fourth finger, the stronger it’ll get.

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🎵 Dynamics and Musicality

There isn’t a ton going on dynamically in this piece, but Suzuki still wants you to pay attention to contrasts:

• It starts mezzo-forte (medium loud).
• It drops to piano (soft) in the third line.
• Then it goes back to mezzo-forte in the fourth line.

You’ll want to use most of your bow to create a fuller sound — but not too close to the frog or tip. Aim for the middle two-thirds of the bow for the best control and sound.

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🎯 Final Thoughts – Keep Practicing!

Minuet 1 is one of those pieces that seems simple at first, but the more you play it, the more layers you discover. The bow retakes, accidentals, and finger spacing will really help you build a strong foundation for more advanced pieces down the road.

And don’t forget — at the end of the video, I threw the dart on my Dartboard of Destiny and landed on The Happy Farmer for next week’s play-along. So, if you want to stay on top of your Suzuki practice, be sure to hit that like button and subscribe so you don’t miss it!

Thanks for practicing with me — see you next time!