Egon Sassmannshaus, Kurt Sassmannshaus

Early Start On The Violin 1

This edition consists of the English booklet BA 9676 and a supplement containing Spanish translations of all text sections.

Please also see the German edition of this booklet: BA 9671.

After an introduction featuring open strings and the simplest note values, the "Rufterz" is introduced as a foundational and orienting interval, particularly with a view to learning clean intonation. Using children’s songs—all of which include lyrics so that the melodic lines can always be understood in their entirety—the first booklet gradually introduces all the fingers and note values ranging from whole notes to eighth notes. From the very beginning, special emphasis is placed on reading musical notation; in addition, simple string changes and basic bowing techniques are practiced. Included with the book, which is designed to be particularly child-friendly with enlarged musical notation and enchanting color illustrations, comes with a sheet of cut-out note cards that young students can use to invent numerous matching and guessing games and, later on, to learn scales and note names.

As a companion volume, we recommend the first volume of the "Violin Recital Album," edited by Kurt and Christoph Sassmannshaus and Melissa Lusk (BA 9668), edited by Kurt and Christoph Sassmannshaus and Melissa Lusk, is an ideal companion volume. It contains 20 pieces in first position with piano accompaniment and an alternative second violin part, allowing young students to showcase their progress in student recitals. The two booklets edited by Egon Saßmannshaus, "Playbook for String Players" (BA 9698) and "Christmas Playbook" (BA 9699), give even the youngest students the opportunity to try their hand at playing in a string ensemble.

A complete piano accompaniment is available for the first volume of the violin method. (BA 10751)
The piano part for each piece serves as a harmonic backdrop: it supports the violinist while leaving them ample room to shine. The piano accompaniment is easy to play—for example, by the violin teacher or a parent.


The Author
Published in 1976 by Egon Saßmannshaus, one of the most experienced and renowned violin teachers in Germany, the violin method "Früher Anfang auf der Geige" (The Standard Work for Young String Players), published in 1976 by Egon Saßmannshaus, one of Germany’s most experienced and renowned violin teachers, quickly became the most popular and best-selling method for beginner violinists in the German-speaking world.

"The Saßmannshaus" is one of the most thorough and well-conceived violin methods for beginners worldwide.

Other language versions
German: BA 9671
English: BA 9676
French/English: BA 9666


In its original German version, Egon Sassmannshaus’s highly regarded violin method "Früher Anfang auf der Violine," published by Bärenreiter,
has been very well received in Spain for several years. The release by our publishing house of an English-language edition in the summer of 2008 led to a further increase in its popularity.

Two supplementary workbooks in Spanish have just been published and are included with volumes one and two of the English-language edition. The translation makes this highly regarded method even more appealing to teachers and students. The supplementary workbooks have not increased the price of the edition.