These seem to able to be done in any order. They appear to be stressing what was learned in her 1 set of lessons, and giving you pieces to use what was taught, and build on, as far as different genres, keys, rhythms. 

It is actually really nice because they aren't boring and are preparing you to move on because there are songs with runs (like scales), songs with flats, she is just throwing everything from the lessons in her book 1. I was very surprised by the download.

EDITED IN: I think I will rule out the Blue Boogie Blues. I need to perfect the bowing a little better with the other songs first. I think it will discourage me, right now. Playing it really slow, it is neat piece, but needs to be done to speed. 

Thanks.

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@ABitRusty Blue Boogie Blues is a piece I want to experiment with, definitely. It is in the Simply Blues & Rags. It needs to be payed with a bouncy swing. I have a hard time changing a tune after I learned it one way. Inner stubbornness? 😏 I really want to get this correct.

I have always like that sound of the blues, although, I really don't listen to it much, specifically, and don't own any CD's full of blues. A blues song often appears in many of my CD's. When the blues song, on that CD, comes up, it always gets my attention. Therefore, I think that if I try it before I perfect my bowing a little more, I will make it impossible to play the way I know it should be, and want it to be. Does that make sense.

If I could do a piece differently, after learning it one way, no problem. I think that once I am more confident and consistent, this issue will subside more, Every piece I pulled is a challenge right now, but I am much more confident after do that challenge, that is so weird. 

The other pieces I have pulled all have things to offer, new fingering, bowing that has to be learned, etc. I can use a goal of playing that piece as a true blues piece to get me focused to persist. It is like the challenge. This will be my challenge, reach a point where I have what I need to learn that piece properly.

It is neat that these pieces are an addition to the lessons for book one, and they are interesting, fun, and a challenge. Learning them should fill the gap before I move onto her Book 2 lessons. 

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The video recording does not sound exactly like what the left hand is doing on he piano. But, it has that feel. I know what you are saying, though.

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So, I have my two songs selected for my violin and cello. I just need my viola now. No biggie, I can continue with my scales on that for now and play a couple ditties that don't have anything new to offer, for a bit.

Violin: Jefferson County and Country Stroll. Both are from Alison Sparrow's Simply Country selection. I thought the Jefferson County was from a different Simply collection.

With the two violin pieces, they will help me move my fingers more quickly and maintain accuracy (hopefully), Country stroll has some 16th notes, creating a lot of black on the page, which always scares me off and causes panic when I just see it. I am hoping this will help me conquer that. It is to be played moderate, so, I am hoping that knowing that, it will keep me from speeding up, as I always do when I see a lot of black on a page. 

Both of these songs are in the familiar key of G. Please do not get technical with me about whether it is actually G or some other key with an F# and C#. I know these songs do not start or end on a G, but the F# and C#, to me, it is a key of G, Someone pointed all of that out around one of my first posts. It just confused me and caused all sorts of issues for me when trying to figure out a kay and I just decided I was not going to do any more music theory. I am not into any more theory than I need to play so I enjoy playing my instruments. 😁. 

My cello: Chorus from "Judas Maccabacus", Suzuki Book 2. And, an andante piece on page 10  from Alwin Shcroeder, 170 Foundation Studies for Violincello, Volune 1. 

Chorus from "Judas Maccabacus"  has a tiny little G string 2nd position shift in measures 11-12 that always gave me an issue when I did this with my second cello instructor. I am going to conquer that. It sets me up for the D string 2nd position in measure 13.

The Andante on page 10 of the Alwin book, also gave me issues with the second cello instructor. Bowing is really a key to it, and I need that exercise, full of accidentals, and slurs. It is a nice melody and I really want to get it smoothed out, as I wanted to do when I was doing the lessons with her.

I was going to venture into unknown or unfamiliar key territory, but I wanted to get my confidence level up a bit more first.

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damfino said
If maintaining your tempo while practicing is worrying you, do you ever play along with videos to practice? That is my main way of practice, learn the notes, then go to YouTube and put the videos at about 75% speed to play along to, until I can get them to 100%, that helps me learn how it should sound. Doesn’t mean I won’t go off the rails when I play without it, but that has always helped. 

Ps For me telling me a tune is in D, G or blueberry means nothing to me, lol. I can read sheet music and know where my fingers belong as far as the key signature #’s , but don’t know what key they actually are, lol. 

  

I should do that with videos, again. I tried it one time. The arrangement was completely different. All minds of embellishments, etc. Really messed me up and never did it again.  When I did the Essentials, I used the online tools and played with them. They were done to match the tunes. I just lost interest in the Essential Strings series after a while. Good series, but I needed different tunes.

Yep, I don't need to know all that key stuff. I play by myself, for myself, and that will always be the case. The comment about it really threw me off, although it was meant to be helpful. In school, key of G was F and C sharp, period. Since it was pointed out, I then thought it was imperative I learn all that in order to play. Bought a couple of theory books and just confused myself more, 😂😂😂😂😂. I decided that people can play without that. I needed to make sure nobody asked if it was really key of G or if they knew the sheet music they didn't say it was not the key of G and mess me up again. Does not take much to do that, actually. I always get a little nervous mentioning a key, now. LOL It is so silly. 

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