Playing With Colour: Violin Book 3: (Student Edition) Violin Book & CD

The color-to-standard notation transition in this series means students don't plateau at colored note reading; they graduate to full music literacy by Book 3. Nancy Litten's tune selection keeps the material engaging and genuinely playable, which matters when you're trying to hold a beginning violinist's attention through fundamental skills. The inclusion of both piano-with-violin and piano-only tracks on the CD gives you flexibility for solo practice, group coaching, or accompanying from the piano yourself.

Playing with Colour has the warmth of folk melodies and simple arrangements that let students hear themselves succeeding. The combination of color cues and real notation creates a gradual unmasking effect, what began as a visual aid becomes unnecessary because the student reads fluently. There's a sense of progression that feels earned rather than imposed.

This book serves early elementary violinists (roughly ages 5-7 or first-year students) who benefit from visual scaffolding while learning note names and basic reading skills. Teachers managing mixed-ability groups find the method's built-in differentiation allows simultaneous instruction without creating parallel curricula. Family musicians and recreational students thrive with the familiar tunes, which keep motivation high during the mechanical early stages.

• Use the piano-only track during rehearsals to build independence; reserve the full recording for home practice when students are securing notes and need confidence support.
• Establish a consistent hand signal for color-to-notation transitions so students understand the bridge is intentional, not arbitrary.
• Layer students reading at different stages of the book so advanced readers can model how colored notes eventually disappear into standard notation.
• Reference the color system during tone work; the visual language can reinforce intonation focus without overcomplicating verbal cues.

Position Book 3 as the completion point of a foundational reading curriculum; many teachers move students into standard method books (Suzuki, Essential Elements, or standard orchestra methods) once they finish this volume. The CD tracks work as pre-rehearsal listening tools for chamber or orchestra settings, allowing students to hear appropriate tone and ensemble balance before reading standard notation in larger group contexts. This book pairs well with rhythmic or technical focus in parallel lessons, since notation reading is the primary learning target here.

• Color-to-standard notation transition and fluency reading ledger lines
• Pitch identification and note name recognition across the staff
• Rhythmic accuracy in simple meters with visual-kinesthetic reinforcement
• Intonation consistency through repeated pitch-matching with recorded accompaniment
• Left-hand finger placement coordination (Nos. 1-3 on the fingerboard)
• Bow control in basic strokes matching melodic contour and phrasing