Wow, thanks for sharing @PopFiddle. I can't believe that this piece (even a sample of it!) was included in an "Easy Guide"!!

After watching some videos on Paganini mentioned here, I started reading this blog whose author attempts to play Paganini's 24th Caprice over the span of a year. (I haven't finished reading it yet so I don't know whether he was successful!)

I know that Fiddlerman has a copy of the complete caprices here - I can barely make head nor tail of them! I can hardly figure out where the 24th starts! (I think it's on p. 42???) Certainly a 'bucket list' piece indeed @coolpinkone Congratulations on being able to play through the first page @PopFiddle!

I'd be interested to know whether the version included in "Violin: An Easy Guide" was simplified at all. The reviews of the book look pretty mixed on Amazon. How did you find it/how are you finding it @PopFiddle?

Please let me know what you think of it @coolpinkone - I'm interested in the book but shipping is really expensive for me, so I'd love to know if it's worth it!

On the topic of the blog I previously mentioned, I found a book at the library today called "Play it Again: An amateur against the impossible" which is about a guy who decided to learn Chopin's Ballade No. 1 for piano in a year...

My copy of "Violin: An easy guide..." arrived yesterday, and I LOVE it! Thanks for the recommendation

Oh wow @coolpinkone, that is amazing! I'm not in the US, so shipping is generally very expensive for me. When I first discovered Amazon I found a bunch of books for 1c etc. but when it came to shipping, I was going to have to pay around $20 per item. It turned out much cheaper to buy them new in my country (where available) rather than second hand from the US/UK. So sites like Better World Books are a lifesaver for me as I can pay reasonable prices for second hand books and get free shipping. I think I paid around $8 for my book, and I'm happy with it (an ex-library book but in fabulous condition).

I agree, the composer backgrounds are really fascinating, and I'm learning a lot from the 'playing notes' - I think this will change how I approach new pieces.

Good idea @coolpinkone. I have played the first piece, Andante, a few times, and think it is a good challenge for my level, as well as giving the bit trickier version of Minuet 1 a go, but I think that's about all I can muster for now. The next piece, Bourree, I'm struggling to find a good sample of on YouTube, and I am getting nowhere with the more advanced Minuet, so I think I might retreat to the Suzuki book again for a while! But I do really like this book, especially the way it incorporates information about the composers and suggests ways of approaching the music.

Wow @coolpinkone, sounds like you had a busy weekend of violin! Do let me know what you think of it when you get a chance to play from the book Toni, I hope you like it!