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[Violin] Recommended practice pieces for violin beginners. Famous pieces you’ll want to try playing.
Even as adults, many of us still dream of one day playing the violin with elegance.
When you finally take the plunge, buy a violin, and get ready to play, choosing the right practice pieces becomes very important.
If you don’t find the music engaging, you won’t keep up with practice; but if it’s too difficult, you might give up quickly.
In this article, we’ve put together a list of pieces that are perfect for beginner violin practice.
We’ve included not only classical masterpieces, but also popular tunes that are favorites for violin performance.
These are all well-known songs, and there are plenty of beginner-friendly arrangements available, so you can feel confident starting out.
[Violin] Recommended practice pieces for beginner violinists: Famous songs you’ll want to try (1–10)
Passion ContinentNEW!Hakasé Tarō
Composed by violinist Taro Hakase for MBS’s human-interest documentary program “Jounetsu Tairiku,” this theme is a popular piece that often comes up when people mention violin music.
Many have likely dreamed of performing it at least once.
Although it features an uptempo feel with fast, intricate runs, it can be played almost entirely in first position.
The piece essentially has two main sections: the opening melody and the chorus with sustained, powerful notes.
Practice the opening with precise rhythms and runs, and work on producing a rich tone in the chorus.
Start slowly, then gradually raise the tempo to match the original track—careful practice will quickly bring it into shape!
He’s a Pirate ~Pirates of the Caribbean~NEW!Klaus Badelt
He’s a Pirate,” the famous piece from Disney’s celebrated live-action hit Pirates of the Caribbean.
Disney, long known for animation, took on the challenge of a live-action epic, and the catchy sound and heroic melody—composed by Hans Zimmer and arranged by Klaus Badelt—captivated many listeners.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of the people who wants to try playing it.
There are plenty of beginner violin scores available, but since the piece is written in 6/8, many beginners will likely stumble when trying to accurately play the notated rhythms at the original tempo.
Start by listening to the original to internalize and get used to the rhythm, and study note values and pitch on the score as well.
Although there’s a lot of string crossing, with some octave adjustments you can still make it sound impressive entirely in first position.
You Raise Me UpNEW!Rolf Løvland
This is “You Raise Me Up,” a song by Secret Garden, the duo of Irish and Norwegian musicians, which became famous in Japan when Shizuka Arakawa used it in her gold medal performance at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
Many people may feel it resembles “Londonderry Air” or “Danny Boy” in parts, and in fact this piece is based on “Londonderry Air.” Sung slowly and lyrically, it pairs perfectly with the violin, a melodic instrument! Practicing the source “Londonderry Air” and “Danny Boy” as well will deepen your understanding of the piece while letting you enjoy the differences.
For songs with vocals, listen closely to the singing, build a clear image, and bring that into your expression.
JupiterNEW!Gustav Holst
Having started learning the violin, one of the pieces many people want to try among classical music is “Jupiter,” one movement from the suite The Planets by the British composer Gustav Holst.
Many in Japan may also know the song version covered by singer Ayaka Hirahara.
The original is a large-scale work structured as a suite that includes Mars, Neptune, Saturn, and more, but Jupiter in particular captivates many listeners with its grand, full-orchestra sound despite its catchy character.
For beginners, practice sheets have been arranged that extract just the melody of Jupiter.
If you only know the melody, hearing the original will likely be quite startling because it sounds completely different.
In the introduction video, finger numbers and bowing marks are included, so first follow those, and practice carefully with attention to intonation and phrasing.
Wish Upon a StarNEW!Leigh Harline
One recommended practice piece for beginners on the violin is “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Its slow tempo and familiar, easy-to-play melody make it a good choice, and it helps you aim for the violin’s characteristically sweet, sparkling tone.
First, practice carefully to nail your intonation and produce a solid sound.
In the more sustained passages, pay close attention to your bow angle and avoid touching adjacent strings; during string crossings and leaps, make sure you land on the correct string with proper fingering.
There are chromatic (semitone) movements within the melody, and many first-timers struggle to hit those notes accurately, so practice with careful finger placement to secure precise intonation.
Aim for that dreamy, Disney-like sound, and if possible, progress to practicing vibrato as well.
Beauty and the BeastNEW!Alan Menken
This is a song from Disney’s animated film Beauty and the Beast, which adapts the classic masterpiece written in 1740 by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve.
It plays in the scene where Mrs.
Potts sings as the Beast and the heroine, Belle, begin to connect and dance.
The composer is Alan Menken, who has worked on the music for many Disney films, including Aladdin.
Characterized by its soaring, beautiful melody overflowing with love, it suits the violin perfectly.
If you have practiced scales repeatedly, you should be able to play it, but since there are key changes, be careful not to miss the key signatures and accidentals after the modulation.
You can approach a more beautiful tone by practicing up to vibrato.
Carrying You ~ Castle in the Sky ~NEW!Hisaishi Joe
The theme song “Carrying You” from Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece Castle in the Sky.
Songs and the violin go well together, and pieces that are easy to sing are also approachable and easy to play on the violin.
Since Studio Ghibli’s music is widely known, there are many beginner-friendly arrangements available not only for piano but also for violin, saxophone, trumpet, and more.
Once you’ve started learning an instrument and your scales and bowing are gradually taking shape, Ghibli sheet music is easy to find and good for practice.
Practice by creatively expressing the rhythm, pitch, and melody in line with the song’s image.
A Cruel Angel’s ThesisNEW!Satou Hidetoshi
The theme song of “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” synonymous with anime songs, is “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.” You might think it would be difficult to play on an instrument, but globally popular songs are often easy to sing and familiar, which means their range and melodies are frequently well-suited to instrumental performance, too.
Because “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” is in C minor, it can actually be a tricky key for the violin; however, since you already know the song, the rhythm and melody are in your head.
Try practicing little by little while paying attention to the score, bowing, and fingering.
As you become able to play a song you know, you’ll likely find the joy of the instrument growing day by day.
A Town with an Ocean ViewNEW!Hisaishi Joe
From the title alone, it’s very romantic: “A Town with an Ocean View” from director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service.
The composer is Joe Hisaishi, who is also a pianist and conductor, and the piece vividly reflects the film’s beautiful European scenery and warmth of the people.
As a work known and loved by many, there are plenty of beginner-friendly practice scores and tutorial videos available.
Fingerings are written in, and there are videos of actual performances, making it a great environment for learning by watching.
You can play it with the bow, but in the original, there’s also a pizzicato technique—plucking the strings with your fingers—used in the phrase right after the intro.
Listen to the original, and try practicing not only with the bow but also with pizzicato.
If I’m wrapped in kindnessNEW!Arai Yumi
Singing and the violin are a perfect match.
If you’re looking for violin practice pieces, how about the theme song from Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service, “Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta nara”? Refreshing and, as the title suggests, filled with kindness and nostalgia, this piece has a simple melody that even beginner violinists can play.
For the opening leap, be sure to place your string crossings and fingerings accurately, and work on producing the sound so that the slurs are smooth.
If slurs are difficult, it’s fine to change the bow for now, but gradually practice to incorporate the slurs and get closer to the song’s image.
Studio Ghibli tunes are widely known, so there are many arrangement scores available for beginner instrumentalists.
It’s fine to go slowly—practice other pieces too and build up your repertoire.