Jurassic Blue for Violin: Violin & Piano Book

Wedgwood writes violin pedagogy that doesn't feel like pedagogy. The pieces move logically from first position through second and third fingers with genuine musical payoff at each step, and the humor in both the accompaniments and the dinosaur theme keeps young violinists engaged rather than merely compliant. The inclusion of a singable melody in 'Triceratops Rocks' transforms the book from a solo collection into a tool for ensemble musicmaking and collaborative fun.

Playful and quirky, with a wry sense of humor that appeals to young players. Drew Hillier's illustrations add visual personality, and the dinosaur narrative ties pieces together thematically so the collection feels like a journey rather than a series of unrelated tasks. The piano accompaniments are warm and encouraging, creating a sense of partnership between violin and accompanist.

This book serves young violinists progressing from first position into the upper positions, typically around grades 2-4. It works equally well in private lessons and group settings, especially when teachers want repertoire that builds technique transparently without sacrificing musical interest.

• Map out the finger positions before playing. Mark the second and third finger placements on the fingerboard so the hand position feels secure before you add rhythmic complexity.
• Listen closely to the piano accompaniment during practice. Wedgwood's parts are active and musical, not passive; tracking them helps you understand the harmonic context and keeps your intonation honest.
• Work through the teacher suggestion boxes deliberately. They pinpoint the exact technical or rhythmic challenge in each piece, allowing you to target your practice efficiently rather than repeat the whole piece.

Sequence this book as the natural continuation from Jackaroo, building upper position vocabulary systematically across a school year or lesson cycle. 'Triceratops Rocks' works particularly well as a fun ensemble piece at a studio recital, allowing young violinists to sing and perform simultaneously in a low-pressure context.

• First position intonation and finger security
• Second and third finger placement and intonation
• Rhythmic accuracy across varied patterns
• Listening to and tracking piano accompaniments
• Sight-reading in incremental steps