Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2002 22:52:27 EDT

Hello, My name Is Julie Lockwood and I'm 14 years old and in 9th grade. I started playing the violin in 5th grade but stopped then started again in 8th. I missed out on a lot of things that my school taught. I know that each note has a centain number of counts, like the whole note has four, and how the word at the top of the piece like "Allegro" mean how fast to play it but I dont' get what the time signuture is for. Liek the top number is how many beats per measue but what does that mean?? Thanks you for your help. 

~Julie

Greetings Julie,

On a basic level, the time signature sets the heartbeat of the piece.

This rhythmic pace is represented by a top number and a bottom number similar to fractions...

The bottom number represents the chosen unit of measurement...for instance,

Half Note = would be represented by the number "2"

Quarter Note = "4"

Eighth Note = "8"

The top number represents how many beats to a measure...

Therefore, 4/4 would mean that there are four beats to a measure and each beat equals one quarter note.

2/2 would mean that there are two beats to a measure and each beat equals one half note.

Hope this helps...

Mickey

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Subject: Ashokan Farewell and slurs
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2002 12:00:55 -0400

Dear Mickey,
I have been studying the violin for about 6 months with a teacher. She recently moved 2 hours away and I can only have lessons once a month. So to amuse myself between lessons, I picked up a copy of Ashokan Farewell....hehehe Most of the grace notes I can understand and even play, but some of those slur markings I am completely unfamiliar with (like the slur within a slur ....huh? ) and grace notes within a slur...Is there a place on line that would explain these or barring that, a book I could buy? Sure would appreciate the info! Thanks, Val

PS while I'm here, do you know of a place to buy sheet music of popular music WITH the violin parts? Thanks!

Greetings Valerie,

I love Ashokan Farewell! Yes, a slur within a slur can only mean that there are two lines of notes being played in a counterpoint fashion...grace notes within slurs would also mean the same thing. In other words, harmony notes are being played as slurs, and with grace notes, while the melody is being slurred on top of them...this is the best I can determine without seeing the music in front of me.

Most music, fortunately, is written in treble clef...this means that all melodies are directly transferable to your violin. For popular music on violin (there are complete books written in this genre for violin), try www.halleonard.com

Hope this helps, Mickey