At the Critter Hop (cello and piano) level 0.5

Title: At the Critter Hop

Composer: traditional, arr. David Gable

Instrumentation: Cello and Piano

Printout: 2 pages

Note: “Old Mister Rabbit” and Hop Old Squirrel” are two old American children’s game songs, set here with an accompaniment that imitates the hopping and scurrying of the animals. Imagining Old Squirrel hopping from branch to branch helps students remember the technique of recovery bow lifts. This is an excellent selection for beginning players and readers. Audio sample gives beginning of both tunes.

Skills: A Major; 2/4 time; double up bows; bow recovery lifts; familiar rhythm patterns; uses only two fingers (1 and 3) throughout; mostly on A string. Difficulty approximately equivalent to the early pieces in Suzuki Vol. 1. May be performed with the violin and viola versions.