Where it comes from
An American folk tune in two-four time with a lot of repetition.
O Come, Little Children
A major · 2/4 · 17 bars
Score
- Level
- Intermediate
- Key
- A major · F♯ C♯ G♯
- Time
- 2/4
- Bars
- 17
- Range
- A4 – A5
- Fingering
- marked
How to practise this piece
Take it at 77 BPM first, then move up to 96 once the notes sit under your fingers.
What this piece trains
Short separate bows: a fresh start on every note.
Where it usually goes wrong
The bow stays on the string and drags, and the notes smear together as the tempo rises.
Does it need shifting?
Range A4–A5; the top notes go beyond comfortable first position, so expect shifting or an extension.
Practice steps
- Use a quarter of the bow per note and lift the bow off the string between notes, exaggerated at first.
- Keep the same clean attack with a smaller bow stroke once it is stable.