hey! I've been playing since Feb. and I'm towards the end of the 2nd suzuki book. I was taking private lessons up until a few weeks ago, but I had to quit because I moved and I'm broke now. I'm worried about teaching myself some of the advanced techniques like shifting & vibrato. But, in Gavotte by Lully in the second book there is already shifting... I think- its a C on the E ? So, does anyone know any good books that will help me with these things? When am I supposed to learn vibrato (I was browsing the revised ed of book 3 & it had some part about vibrato in the back... is that when?). And I have tape on my violin still- when should I be taking it off? Thanks so much!

<Added>

OH, I forgot to say- I want to know when I should be learning vibrato because I want to find a teacher at that point to learn from- so I don't learn incorrectly. I know you can't say exactly when, but approximately- when did everyone else learn?

I'd suggest NOT trying to teach yourself vibrato.. its IMO one of the hardest things to learn, and i really do not think it would work out to well if you tried teaching it to yourself.

I'd check out these videos though, they might help you:
http://violinmasterclass.com/mc_menu.php

Particularly the one under left hand: vibrato and shifting (then go to exercises and then beginner) but the others may help you also

As to when.. I think I had been playing about 2 years when I first started vibrato, but I think most people started around after 3 years or so, but of course some earlier and some later depending on where they were.

I can't remember exactly when suzuki book wise.. but I think I started learning it when I was in the end of book 2/beginning of 3, but it takes several years to perfect it.

I'm really confused by this whole Suzuki thing. I learn according to grades, so I don't understand what book 1 of Suzuki teaches you.

With how I'm learning I don't think you need vibrato until grade 5, which (depending on your ability) takes approx 5 years.

Does Suzuki really 'speed' you ahead, or does it miss out a lot of things you'd learn via the way I am?? What does it focus on exactly?

and I'm confused by the whole 'grade' system. What is it exactly?

Suzuki doesn't speed you ahead- I just moved through the books really fast since I already understood reading music & I had no problems with tone or squeaking with my violin. And, suzuki books are meant to be used with a registered suzuki teacher. I started with a teacher, but now I just work through the songs in the book to practice with since its not a teach yourself kind of book (there are basically no helps in the older versions of the books [there are 10 total], but the updated editions help you out a bit more I think).

I mean the ABRSM exam system. You have specific things to learn for each grade, then you take the exam for it. There are 8 in total, you have to pass a grade 5 theory test as well if you want to go beyond that level.. I believe you need a grade 8 to go into music college..

I can't say what exactly you have to learn for every grade, as I'm only on grade 1, but for mine I had to learn basic aural tests (repeating notes, recognising the pulse of a rhythm etc), basic sight-reading, scales (A Major, D Major and G Major in 2 octaves both seperate and slurred) and you have to choose 3 pieces of music from a list to play with the piano.

Basically you have to know note ranges from semibreve to quaver, accents, slurs, pizzicato, staccato, dynamics, sfz etc.

How does this differ from what you're learning?

I don't think the suzuki books put much emphasis on theory or scales for that matter. But, thats probably the only difference. And, you just work through the books & go on to the next one- there aren't exams. If you youtube 'suzuki violin' there are a couple of people who have gone through most of the books & made a video for every song- so you can see the difficulty of each book (if that makes sense)