Magic Carpet for Violin: Concert Pieces for the Youngest Beginners
Concert Pieces for the Youngest Beginners
By Joanne Martin
Item: 00-PB-0001809
$13.99
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Description
Magic Carpet is a collection of audience-pleasing concert pieces for the youngest beginners. These pieces can be used in either a reading-based or Suzuki teaching environment, and teachers can choose whether the children learn them by reading or by ear. Magic Carpet is available for violin, viola, and cello students, with a separate book (with audio) and piano accompaniment for each instrument.
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Sample Audio
1
Cross Lake Blues (Fast)
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2
Cross Lake Blues (Slow)
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Cross Lake Blues (Fast)
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Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
32
SKU:
00-PB-0001809
Instrumentation:
Violin
More about this title
About the Composer: Joanne Martin
Joanne Martin brings together three decades of experience as a performer, educator, and composer. A violist with substantial orchestra and chamber music credits across North America and Europe, she has also developed fluency on violin, cello, bass, piano, and button accordion. Her deep roots in the Suzuki movement include formal recognition as a Teacher Trainer by both the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the European Suzuki Association, plus service on the board of the larger organization.
Martin's publications have shaped how young string students learn to read music. Her I Can Read Music series became the standard note-reading method for Suzuki beginners worldwide, and her subsequent works (Festive Strings, Folk String series, ViolaFest, Trio Tapestry, Playing with Style) all prioritize flexible scoring and mixed-level accessibility. The Magic Carpet collection represents her latest contribution to this philosophy: performance pieces written specifically for students in their first years of study.
Why we love this
Martin understands the exact moment when young beginners need to experience the thrill of playing recognizable music. Magic Carpet delivers accessible pieces that still sound genuinely musical to an audience, avoiding the tinny, disconnected feel of some beginner repertoire. The flexibility to teach by reading or ear means the collection fits seamlessly into almost any teaching framework.
What to expect
These pieces have the warmth and storytelling quality of folk traditions, wrapped in orchestration that sounds far more sophisticated than the technical demands warrant. Playing them feels like stepping into a small concert hall rather than working through a page of exercises.
Who it's for
Youngest violin students, whether in Suzuki programs or traditional reading-based environments, benefit from repertoire that sounds polished but sits comfortably under the fingers. This collection works equally well for students learning primarily by ear and those developing simultaneous reading skills.
How to get the most out of it
- Let the piano accompaniment do the expressive heavy lifting in the early passes. Beginners can focus purely on playing in tune and with steady rhythm while the accompanist shapes phrasing and dynamics.
- Choose one piece to perform without the accompaniment so students gain confidence playing independently. This builds ownership and pride in their progress.
- Record a few runs of the piece at performance tempo, then have students listen to themselves between rehearsals. Hearing their own improvement is far more motivating than any feedback you could give.
How to use it
Slot individual pieces into studio recitals and student showcases throughout the year. The 32-page collection gives you enough material to spread across multiple performance opportunities without overwhelming young students. Many teachers also use these as confidence builders right before advancing into more demanding repertoire.
Skills your students will build
- Playing in tune with piano accompaniment (listening and tracking)
- Sustaining steady rhythm and tempo while accompanying supplies expressive layers
- Managing basic dynamic shapes (crescendo, diminuendo) within simple phrase structures
- Reading or learning notation for short, song-like forms
- Building stamina for pieces that extend beyond single-page studies