Violin

Improvise with more expression and freedom in bluegrass and related styles. These ideas, exercises, and etudes will help you expand your palette of improvisational techniques and sounds. Develop your fingerboard versatility, and master harmonic and rhythmic ideas on the violin. The CD has demonstration and play-along tracks, performed by an all-star bluegrass band. You will learn to build solos using techniques such as: uncovering a melody's most defining notes, and using them in a new context; reharmonizing chords and changing modes; breaking down, rearranging and varying melodic and rhythmic cells; using position shifts, string crossings and double stops; drawing from tetrachords, guide-tone lines, and other constructs.

Get your band together! The Berklee Practice Method is the first-ever method that teaches you to play in a rock band. Learn how to listen, interact and respond, improvise, and become part of the groove. The book and play-along CD will help you improve your timing, technique and reading ability through examples in a wide variety of styles. The Berklee Practice Method is available for many instruments, and each book is based on the same songs, in the same key, to facilitate jamming with other players. Lessons throughout this book guide you through technique that is specific to playing the violin in a contemporary ensemble. Topics covered include: warming up; establishing a practice routine; learning by ear; theory and technique; rhythmic interpretation; reading; improvising; song form; interpreting lead sheets; and so much more!