Where it comes from
The gavotte is a French court dance that usually begins on the second beat; this is the fuller version in the Suzuki books.
Gavotte
G major · 4/4 · 32 bars
Score
- Level
- Elementary
- Key
- G major · F♯
- Time
- 4/4
- Bars
- 32
- Range
- G3 – G5
- Fingering
- marked
How to practise this piece
Take it at 90 BPM first, then move up to 112 once the notes sit under your fingers.
What this piece trains
A thirty-two bar piece played without a break: shape the phrases and keep the tempo at crotchet equals 112.
Where it usually goes wrong
Phrases start on a weak beat and blend into the strong one; the dense string changes in the middle rush.
Does it need shifting?
Range G3–G5; everything stays in first position, no shifting.
Practice steps
- Break the piece into four phrases and learn each one before joining them.
- Keep the pickup light and let the accent fall on the strong beat of the bar.