Hey everybody, Joel Kennedy here from Kennedy Violins. Today we’re diving into another playalong video, and this time we’re tackling Gavotte from Suzuki Book 3. As part of my weekly Suzuki series, I let the Dart Board of Destiny choose each piece we cover—and this week, it pointed straight at this two-page gem. Let's break it down!

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First Things First: A Straight Playthrough

Gavotte is a bit longer than many pieces in the Suzuki books, so I start each video by playing it all the way through. If you’re following along, give it a listen first to get the feel for the flow, rhythm, and style. This piece has some subtle challenges that reward careful attention.

Key Signature & Finger Patterns

We’re in G major, which means you’ll want to focus on your second finger placement—high on the G and D strings, and low on the A and E. Suzuki pieces are always sneaky teachers, and in Gavotte, the goal is to get comfortable with a variety of accidentals.

Here’s your general pattern:
High, high, low, low – G and D strings get high 2s, A and E get low 2s.
Watch for accidentals sprinkled throughout. Suzuki always keeps us on our toes!

Cut Time & Rhythmic Clarity

The piece is in cut time (2/2), so think of the half note as your beat. The rhythms aren’t especially tricky, mostly quarter-eighth patterns. At this level, I’m assuming you’re already pretty rhythm-savvy, so let’s focus more on how you play than what you play.

Mastering Articulation

There’s a ton of dotted articulation in this piece. Right at the beginning, you’ll see dotted quarter notes that call for short, crisp bows. That dot isn’t changing the note length—it’s all about bow control. To articulate well, stop the bow cleanly after each note.

Later on, we get dotted eighths, and here’s my tip:
👉 Play in the lower part of the bow. It’s easier to get a clean, short stroke here, and you can even add a little natural bounce. If you’re advanced enough to bounce deliberately, go for it. But even if not, the bow will help you out as long as your hand is relaxed.

Avoid playing this kind of articulation in the upper bow—it’s just more work and doesn’t sound as good.

Accents That Pop

You’ll see accents pop up starting in measure three. For clean, clear accents, stay in the lower half of the bow and use your index finger to push into the string at the start of each note.
Push. Push. Push. That’s the trick. You don’t need to yank or overdo it—just engage the bow hair with some weight.

Tricky Accidentals & Practice Hacks

There are a few notable accidentals like B-flats and F-naturals. When playing low first fingers, aim for the nut—that raised ridge at the scroll end of your fingerboard. Touching that nut usually gets you perfectly in tune.

You’ll also see some D-sharps and G-sharps. In those spots, use your high third finger as a guide: when placing the fourth finger after a high third, let them touch. This helps you stay in tune and reduces guesswork.

Practice tip:

If these spots trip you up, practice without the slurs first. Break it down to separate bows, master the fingerwork, then add the slurs back in. This is a time-tested way to clean up tricky passages.

The Role of Dynamics

Dynamics in Gavotte are rich and varied. We’ve got piano dolce in the fourth line—so sweet and soft, with a change in character. Then, on the second page, boom—double forte! That’s your cue to use your bow and really dig in. Play in the middle between the bridge and the fingerboard and use that squishy part of your bow to create a rich, full sound.

Watch out for railroad tracks—they show up a few times. These are your breathing moments. Diminuendo into the pause, let your bow settle, and reset for the next section. It’s like a musical reset button.

Bow Management Is Everything

Here’s the number one takeaway: Know where you are in the bow.
Good bow management means you’re in control. If you drift into the upper bow by accident, you lose access to articulation, power, and clean dynamics. Plan your bow usage intentionally. The bow is your partner—it can either elevate your playing or get in the way.

What’s Next?

We’re keeping the Suzuki series rolling! The Dart Board of Destiny has chosen… Etude from Suzuki Book 1 for next week. Get ready for a throwback!

Until then, keep practicing, play smart, and remember—nothing should happen by accident on the violin.