Project 2012 - Learn the Violin

My challenge for January will be to learn the violin (start to anyway). In June, I will begin taking my ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) tests for music theory, piano, violin and possibly clarinet. I am pretty comfortable on the piano and clarinet, but I have only held a violin a handful of times in my life.

So, according to the ABRSM violin syllabus, I will need to know the following:

Scales

D major

A major

E natural minor

G major

Arpeggios

D major

A major

E minor

G major

3 Songs

The piano and clarinet songs for grade 1 are very simple and were each learned in a day. Assuming I spend the first chunk of time getting comfortable with the scales and arpeggios, I am not at all worried about learning the songs.

My plan as of now:

Today (1 January) - Restring the violin and break in new rosin

1-4 January - G major scale and arpeggio

5-7 January - D major scale and arpeggio

8-11 January - A major scale and arpeggio

12-14 January - E natural minor scale and E minor arpeggio

15-16 January - Song 1

17-18 January - Song 2

19-20 January - Song 3 (and Life in the UK test!)

21-26 January - Business trip - no practice :(

27-29 January - Practice, practice, practice!

30-31 January - Business trip - no practice :(