In my case, for the violin, I use the Suzuki Violin Method(currently Volume 5)
along with Schradieck School Violin Techniques...

Both are great, both helped me a lot, specially Schradieck... those of us who have already used it may know it's torturing but when you get used to it, it's simply amazing xD

Which method do you guys use? :)

When I started violin I used the book of Mai Bang violin method and photocopies of Suzuki book. After a short time my teacher abandoned it with me and started to give me other things. Unfortunately I needed to stop of learn violin due the lack of time I have. So, I can concentrate now on piano better. Plus all the works I have to get done.

I learned fingering by myself first, played jingle bells, then I bought 2 books.

SEVCIK - School of Bowing for violin, OP. 2
HANS SITT 100 ETUDEN STUDIES - for the violin

What are method books about?

wohlfahrt+"musicaoscura"

I learned fingering by myself first, played jingle bells, then I bought 2 books.

SEVCIK - School of Bowing for violin, OP. 2
HANS SITT 100 ETUDEN STUDIES - for the violin

What are method books about?

They're books with excercises and songs, always increasing the level of dificulty and technique. Suzuki Violin Method, for example, is the most famous because it works exclusively on songs and tonalization, so you start playing songs from your very first lesson =)

I used to use suzuki books up till my freshman year. Now, I'm badass enough to just have to have a private teacher and a few sonata and method books. XD

They're books with excercises and songs, always increasing the level of dificulty and technique. Suzuki Violin Method, for example, is the most famous because it works exclusively on songs and tonalization, so you start playing songs from your very first lesson =)

Ohhh ok, thx a lot.
I should of started off with those books if I knew x]

*Protest against Suzuki Method*

Suzuki isn't really doing all that great for students and even piano teachers. It stretches the time out too far of what could be learned with even could be accomplished within a year with halfhearted discipline. I feel that Suzuki is dragging on and dragging on without progressing to a challenge. It works, yes, but I feel as if it's a very loose base unless studied with a considerate teacher (which any teacher probably doesn't depend-- or at least shouldn't-- on such an un-progressive method book series).

*Protest against Suzuki Method*

Suzuki isn't really doing all that great for students and even piano teachers. It stretches the time out too far of what could be learned with even could be accomplished within a year with halfhearted discipline. I feel that Suzuki is dragging on and dragging on without progressing to a challenge. It works, yes, but I feel as if it's a very loose base unless studied with a considerate teacher (which any teacher probably doesn't depend-- or at least shouldn't-- on such an un-progressive method book series).

I agree with you... but Suzuki should never be used alone!
The teacher must give the student different pieces to play, harder than the ones found on the book...

I'm playing for just 5 months now, and I'm on Volume 5. My teacher started giving me other pieces since I was on Volume 2... I didn't use the Suzuki books only, they should be more like a form to guide the next step for the teacher, so he can evaluate the student and give him other studies :P

*Protest against Suzuki Method*

Suzuki isn't really doing all that great for students and even piano teachers. It stretches the time out too far of what could be learned with even could be accomplished within a year with halfhearted discipline. I feel that Suzuki is dragging on and dragging on without progressing to a challenge. It works, yes, but I feel as if it's a very loose base unless studied with a considerate teacher (which any teacher probably doesn't depend-- or at least shouldn't-- on such an un-progressive method book series).

I guess that may be the reasons, why my teacher abandoned that book with me. I don't know what volume of suzuki I used, since it was photocopies, but I didn't play much of that book. In the conservatory where I am, in the Violin program for young people that book always is on the list. And there is a section for kids called Suzuki if I am not wrong. I can't critic or comment much of that book since I don't know much of it.

Arbans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arban_method). 'Nuff said.

I started with Suzuki with my teacher and eventually moved on. In the long run, several of the techniques that i learned helped, but yeah it is a bit slow and isn't great without a qualified teacher.
Now I use Mazas etudes, Sevcik exercises, and Flesch scales with Bach's six partitas and sonatas.

Arbans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arban_method). 'Nuff said.

That's very good, but the way it's described it seems more like the "Liszt Exercises for Piano" where a pianist with already some skill and independence (and most of all dedication and drive) would attempt these. I love those! But I feel we're talking about beginner books to even intermediate players.

As mentioned in another forum, I practice the Chopin Etudes. Used the older Wohlfahrt Series for my violin playing. I dip into the Liszt Piano Exercises as well.