Recital Training, Vol. 2 [incl. CD]: Violin & Piano

Wartberg bridges the gap between daily practice and real performance by embedding concert repertoire into a systematic training method. The Three-Tempo Practice Method gives students concrete pathways through challenging passages, and David Adruss's accompaniments transform what could be tedious drills into genuine musical experiences.

You're working through Vivaldi and Bach with the confidence of someone who knows exactly what to practice and why. The accompaniments make every exercise feel like chamber music, not just mechanics. By the time you reach the full concerto, you've already solved all the hard problems.

Suzuki students at levels 4-7 will find this series indispensable, but it works equally well for traditionally trained violinists in the intermediate range. Any teacher or serious student looking to prepare substantial concerto repertoire with guided, step-by-step support will benefit from Wartberg's structured approach.

• Work through the preparatory exercises before tackling the full concerto movement. These targeted studies address the specific technical demands you'll encounter in context.
• Use the multi-tempo play-along versions strategically. Start at the slowest tempo to lock in intonation and articulation, then progress only when you're secure.
• Pay attention to the photos of technical details. They show hand position and bow placement for passages that often trip up intermediate players, saving you trial-and-error practice time.
• Listen to the performance versions repeatedly before you begin learning a new piece. Let your ear absorb the phrasing and character before your fingers take over.

Build a concerto-focused recital around the Vivaldi and Bach works included here, supplementing with other pieces from earlier volumes or contemporary repertoire at the same level. This book also works beautifully as the technical spine of a year-long curriculum, with other selections chosen to reinforce specific skills as they emerge.

• Systematic practice strategies for multi-movement works
• Intonation control in minor key passages
• Baroque style conventions (articulation, phrasing, ornamentation)
• Confidence in concerto performance contexts
• Listening and ear training alongside technical development
• Coordination with piano accompaniment