Beautiful Music to Learn by Rote, Book I: Violin Book

This book delivers what its title promises: genuinely musical material that stands on its own merit, not invented exercises. The rote-learning approach works because Applebaum composed pieces that students actually want to play, which means they practice without resistance and build fluency through engagement rather than obligation.

The material opens with simple, singable melodies that feel natural under the bow. As pages progress, harmonic interest and phrase length expand without sudden jumps in demand, creating a sense of gradual musicality.

Beginning and early intermediate violinists (roughly Grades 1-3) who benefit from aural learning and strong melodic material. This book also serves mixed-ability groups where some students are still building reading confidence and others need repertoire that rewards careful listening.

• Isolate short sections (4-8 measures) and have students echo what you play before attempting it on their own. Rote learning accelerates when the model is clear.
• Use the recordings or your own playing as the primary learning tool for the first week with each piece. Reading notation comes after aural familiarity is established.
• Group heterogeneous players together. Advanced students modeling the material for beginners creates a natural feedback loop that benefits both.
• Play through pieces multiple times in succession during rehearsals. Repetition without pressure builds automaticity and confidence.

Use this as a warm-up collection in rehearsals or as supplementary repertoire in lessons. The short-study format makes pieces ideal for student recitals and informal performance contexts where the focus is musical enjoyment rather than technical display.

• Aural memory and melodic recall
• Bow control through sustained single notes and simple phrase shapes
• Playing by ear without over-reliance on notation
• Intonation awareness through repeated listening and imitation
• Musical phrasing in simple tonal contexts