Step One: Teach Yourself Violin Course: A Complete Learning System Book/3 CDs/DVD Pack [DVD-Video] [Paperback]

Though this item boasts a book, 3 CDs and one DVD, I found it to be far from a complete learning system. The book has only 2 pages covering notation, one page describes the violin itself and a mere 3 paragraphs are given to holding the bow and the instrument. If you are a beginner, there simply is not enough introductory material to properly introduce basic technique. On the DVD, an unemotional presenter monotonously delivers little substance. For example, she advises that the bow hair should be neither too tight nor too loose but never tells the viewer how to determine what is too tight and what is too loose.

The accompaniment CDs are unmusical and sound like the piano part is played by a computer.

Your money will be better spent taking just one lesson with a professional teacher near you.

I'm giving this four stars as an overall package. I feel that the quality of the material and the amount of lessons provided in the overall package are well worth Amazon's price for this product.

I agree with the previous reviewer that the video lessons are incomplete. This teacher jumps into playing scales and lessons which are far beyond someone who's picking up a violin for the very first time. The woman in this video doesn't even show where the notes are located on the violin fingerboard, and there is no mention at all about how to properly use the left hand, or even much about how to properly bow the instrument. The real value with this package is not with the video lesson, but with the rest of the material provided.

Two of the CDs contain all of the lessons played both at slow speed and moderate speed. I feel that the difference between these speeds is significant for someone who's trying to play along with them. The third CD contains just background music which is very nice for practicing after a piece is learned.

I would recommend Mel Bay's video "Anyone Can Play Violin" with Coral White as a First Lesson. However, I would definitely recommend this "Step One: Teach Yourself Violin" as a nice continuation to the Mel Bay video. There are many more lessons contained in this package plus many more scales which are important. The quality of the video is excellent, and while the presenter may not instill a party atmosphere she does present the lessons in a very professional manner. However, there isn't a lot of "how-to" information. Most of it is just watching her play scales and pieces to compare your performance with. She doesn't play all the lessons on video either. All the lessons on contained on the DVD but most of them are just music so you may as well just use the CDs for that.

I'm definitely happy with the package overall though, but I do recommend it as a second step rather than a first step. I highly recommend the Mel Bay video as the first step. It's extremely boring, but very informative! Mel Bay's book "First Lessons Violin" with CD is also a good supplement for a beginner. This Step One package is for someone who would like to move along a little faster and further than the Mel Bay lessons go.

With a little more information this package could have been complete. Unfortunately it is lacking in some important details making it a good second lesson after the Mel Bay video instead of being complete in itself.

I still highly recommend this package as a second step for a beginner who has completed something like the Mel Bay video. This Step One is definitely a good quality package overall even if you toss out the DVD lessons which I personally enjoyed watching. I think it's always educational to watch someone else play your lessons on the violin. However, having the lessons on CD played both slow and at moderate speed, as well as having just background music for practicing is really nice I think. There are a lot of interesting pieces in the lessons. So I give it four stars. If they had included just a little bit more info in the video lessons I would have easily given it the full five stars. The quality of the video overall is very good (better quality than the Mel Bay video I think) However, the Mel Bay video covers more technical details that are important so I can't help but point a raw beginner in that direction for a first lesson. This Step One just doesn't cover enough of the gory details, but it's a great practice package.

When possible, I borrow instruction books, CDs, videos, and DVDs for learning a musical instrument from the library to try before I buy. This set was available at my local library.

In the case of "Step One Teach Yourself Violin: A Complete Learning System" I give it two thumbs down.

The instructor on the DVD begins playing scales on her violin then tells you play along. Unfortunately, neither she nor the book tell you where to place your fingers on the strings or what you are supposed to be playing. The instructor, in my opinion, is not very friendly or helpful.

I equate her teaching methods with a child entering the kindergarden, being handed the complete works of Kafka, and being expected to read and undertand it before they've learned the alphabet.

The only thing I learned from this method is not to buy it.

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