Michael Rose: Party Time! For Violin And Piano

These 18 fun tunes for violin and piano are ideal for every party time and conjure up a variety of scenes and images to fire the young player's imagination. They are also skilfully written for beginners, with the shapes of tunes reinforcing basic fingering patterns and with simple matters gently presented. All the pieces are in first position with the fingers in the standard major key pattern, and the tunes cleverly exploit scale shapes to provide plenty of practice of this basic but essential finger-work. Some pieces concentrate on E-string or G-string notes; others include pizzicatos, simple two-note slurs or basic bow retakes. The easy piano parts provide a colourful and supportive accompaniment in a range of styles and moods, and adults and children alike will love the witty cartoons printed alongside some of the pieces. Many of the pieces are perfectly suited to ABRSM's Preparatory Test.