Hello, violinists! Joel Kennedy here from Kennedy Violins. In my latest video, I dive into a classic playalong: The Two Grenadiers from Suzuki Book 2. Every week, I pick a new piece, guided by the universe—or rather, the dart I throw at the board behind me!

Here's the PDF to download of the The Two Grenadiers if you want to follow along.

But remember you would do yourself good by purchasing the full book of Suzuki pieces!

How to Approach "Two Grenadiers"

Before diving into any piece, it’s important to break it down. Here are a few steps I like to follow, and they apply well to The Two Grenadiers:

1. Map Out the Basics: Look at the time signature, key signature, dynamics, and articulations.
2. Bowings and Fingerings: For this Suzuki piece, I’m using the easiest fingerings to make it accessible for everyone.
3. Consistent Practice: Writing down your fingerings and bowings ensures consistency and makes your practice more efficient.

Key Signature and Finger Placements

This piece begins in F major (one flat, B-flat). Here are a few key finger placements:

• E String: Low 1st finger for F natural.
• A String: Low 1st finger for B-flat.
• D String: Low 2nd finger for F natural.

Halfway through the piece, the key changes to D major, introducing two sharps (F# and C#). You’ll need to adjust your low finger positions:

• A String: High 2nd finger for C#.
• E String: 1st finger for F#.

Time Signature and Tempo

The time signature is common time (4/4). For this video, I set the metronome to 115 BPM, which helps maintain a steady pace. When practicing, it’s always a good idea to play along with a metronome to develop your timing and rhythm.

Dynamics: Playing with Expression

Dynamic markings throughout this piece are crucial to bringing it to life. You’ll see instructions like:

• Mezzo forte (mf): Medium loud.
• Piano (p): Soft.
• Double forte (ff): Very loud.

Pay attention to crescendos and decrescendos, as they help shape the phrases. For example, in the moderato section, the dynamics help create a strong buildup toward the final double forte. Remember, the goal is to convey emotion with your dynamics—not just play the notes.

Articulation: Mastering Dotted Rhythms

One of the trickier parts of The Two Grenadiers is the dotted rhythms. The challenge is stopping your bow cleanly to give a crisp articulation. Here's how I approach it:

• Dotted quarter notes: These notes get one and a half beats. Pay attention to these in the third measure.
• Staccato notes: Play short and sharp by stopping the bow cleanly before moving to the next note. This gives the music its distinct character.

Practice Tips: Stop Your Bow!

When you encounter tied notes in dotted rhythms, the trick is to stop your bow before moving to the next note. This simple tip makes your articulation much clearer and more precise.

For example, in the third measure of the piano section, stop your bow before the eighth note. This will help maintain clarity, even though the note is tied.

Playing with Direction

Music is storytelling. Every note should "speak" to your audience. For example, in the moderato section, you’ll see crescendos leading to specific notes, like the third finger on the E string. Use your bow and dynamics to direct the listener’s attention to these pivotal moments.

Wrapping Up and Next Week’s Playalong

After finishing the playthrough of The Two Grenadiers, I threw the dart to decide next week's piece, and we’re moving on to Minuet from Suzuki Book 2. If you’d like to follow along with these playalongs, don’t forget to subscribe to the channel!