Hey everybody, Joel Kennedy here with Kennedy Violins. Today’s playalong is “Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus,” which kicks off Suzuki Book 2. Now, I’ll be honest—this is kind of a surprising pick for the first piece in the book. It’s actually one of the hardest in the whole volume.

There’s a lot going on: mixed rhythms, accidentals, tricky slurs, high finger placement. So today I’ll walk you through how to practice it so you can nail it with confidence and musicality.

Let’s break it down.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE

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Step 1: Playalong Overview

First, in the video, I play the piece straight through, then play it again with a metronome at 100 bpm, and finally walk through practice strategies.

So whether you’re a visual learner or need to hear the rhythms clearly, I’ve got you covered.

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Key Signature & Finger Patterns

We’re in G Major, so:

• One sharp: F♯

• Finger pattern:

  • High 2 on G

  • High 2 on D

  • Low 2 on A

  • Low 2 on E

But hold up—we also have accidentals that sneak in and break the pattern.

Two Key Accidentals to Watch:

• C♯ (High 2 on A) – make sure it touches 3rd finger

• D♯ (High 3 on A) – make sure it touches 4th finger

These are super easy to miss, especially in slurs, so isolate them and get that finger spacing tight.

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Rhythm: Conquer the Dotted Quarter + Eighth Combo

We’re in common time (4/4), and the big challenge here is rhythmic accuracy, especially when you see:

• Dotted quarter note

• Followed by an eighth note

That combo happens a lot in this piece, and here’s where people go wrong: they rush the dotted quarter or land the eighth in the wrong place.

How to Practice the Rhythm:

1. Clap the rhythm with a metronome
   (Give the dotted quarter two claps: one for the quarter, one for the dot)
   Count:
   Da – da – dot / da – da

2. Say it out loud as you clap:
   “One – two – AND”
   (That “AND” is the eighth on the upbeat)

3. Then play it WITHOUT the slur until it’s super clean.

Once the rhythm feels natural, then add the slur back in.

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Slur Strategy: Remove to Improve

Here’s my favorite trick to clean up rhythm and pitch accuracy:

🔧 Practice without the slur first.

It makes a huge difference, especially on passages like:

🎯 Third line, second measure from the end (that’s the one with the D♯ and 4th finger E)

• Practice it without the slur

• Get your high 3 (D♯) to touch 4th finger E

• Check it! Later you play an open E—they should match

If they don’t match, your 4th finger was flat. Boom—called out.

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Bowing & Dynamics

You’ve got a mix of:

• Rests: Don’t ignore them. They add shape.

• Slurs: Add fluidity but only once rhythm and pitch are solid.

• Dynamics: This piece has a joyful, melodic feel, so lean into the contrast.

Also watch for ritardando markings. That’s your signal to slow down—but only slightly. Don’t slam the brakes.

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Quick Recap: Your Judas Checklist ✅

✅ Key: G Major (F♯)
✅ Fingers: High 2 (G, D), Low 2 (A, E), Accidentals = Touch 3 or 4
✅ Rhythm: Dotted quarter + eighth = “1 – 2 – and”
✅ Practice Tip: Remove the slurs first
✅ Pitch Check: 4th finger E = Open E
✅ Metronome: Start slow (60–80 bpm) and build up

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What’s Next?

At the end of the video, I threw the Dart of Destiny (not TSA approved), and it landed on...

🥁 Bourrée from Suzuki Book 3
Another banger. Looking forward to breaking it down for you next week.

If this video helped, do me a favor—click like and subscribe. And if you have questions about this piece or want me to go over a certain section, just drop it in the comments. I do respond to most of them.

Until then—keep practicing, and remember:

🎯 Slow practice = fast progress. Always.