The Best of Grade 4 Violin: Violin Book & CD

This collection rescues genuinely excellent pieces from obscurity. Rather than cycling through whatever appears on current syllabuses, O'Leary has cherry-picked from decades of exam boards, giving students access to forgotten gems like Hindu Song alongside contemporary standards. The included CD provides both performance models and accompaniment tracks, making independent practice genuinely productive.

A curated journey through decades of violin literature, moving between the lyricism of Rimsky-Korsakov's Hindu Song, the gentle introspection of contemporary pieces, and the familiar warmth of folk arrangements. Each selection balances technical clarity with genuine emotional content.

Grade 4 violinists preparing for examination or simply looking for repertoire that's substantial enough to be genuinely musical rather than merely technical. Teachers will find this essential for students who have exhausted current syllabus lists or want exposure to pieces that shaped violin pedagogy over many years.

• Reference the performance tracks first to hear how the accompaniment sits with your line; this helps you understand the harmonic framework before rehearsing alone with the backing track.
• Use the practice tips in the book as a starting point, but log your own trouble spots in a practice journal so you track what needs repetition across multiple sessions.
• Approach the folk and classical pieces with the same stylistic attention you'd give the contemporary favorites; each era has distinct phrasing and tone requirements.

Build a recital around a theme by selecting complementary pieces from this collection; Hindu Song and Fly Me to the Moon, for instance, create an engaging contrast between worlds. The breadth of styles also makes this valuable for students working through a full year of grade 4 work, providing fresh material alongside core syllabus pieces.

• Sustaining long melodic lines with consistent vibrato
• Navigating key signatures and chromatic passages
• Coordinating bow weight with dynamic shaping
• Sight-reading across multiple musical styles and eras
• Ensemble awareness when playing with accompaniment tracks