Concertinos are an essential part of our students repertoire. That feeling of playing an important and bigger piece, just like grown-ups do... Every pupil loves them! Also, preparing a piece long term brings more satisfaction once mastered than the shorter ones normally learned in methods and song books.

Here is a list of the 10 most used and loved concertinos in our Violin Studio. We don't include concertos like Vivaldi, Bach, Accolay, Viotti, only those written for children. A list of favourite concertos will come soon!

You can purchase 2nd violin accompaniments to all of them in our Sheet Music Store!

1. P. Nikolic: Concertino in G Major in Old Style

Beautiful single-movement concertino, definitely our favourite one to get pupils started in the concerto world! Technically, it uses 3 basic finger patterns and good bow control is needed to achieve quick string changing and slurs.
Sheet music can be downloaded here

And this is how our 2 violins arrangement sounds:


2. F. Küchler: Concertino Op.11 in G Major

Another great option to start in the concertino form, a bit less pretty than the Nikolic in my opinion but very useful to learn basic bow division and other technical elements, thanks to the simplicity of the left hand. The 3rd movement is really fun!
Sheet music here


3. O. Rieding: Concertino Op.35 in B minor

Probably the best known concertino! We all played it as kids, we all enjoyed it and we all love Perlman's recording.
Sheet music


4. O. Rieding: Concertino Op.34 in G Major

The not-so-famous-one from Rieding's easy concertos, it requires more technique than the B minor one. Great piece to establish the 1st position with more advanced work: long slurs (up to 10 semiquavers in a bow), plenty of accidentals, varied rhythms, key and time signature changes, etc.
Sheet music



5. A. Huber: Concertino in G Major, Op.8, No.4

Similar level as the previous one, adding more work on double stops and flat 1st finger pattern (Bb major).
Sheet music

With our 2nd violin accompaniment:


6. F. Küchler: Concertino Op.12 in D Major

Ideal piece to train your 3rd position in a very simple way. Not only the 1st movement is brilliant, the 3rd movement is a master piece!
Sheet music

Our two violins version:



7. F. Küchler: Concertino Op.15 in D Major in the Style of Vivaldi

Shorter but more complex than the Op.12, perfect to get into the baroque style. It is a must of the violin repertoire and will give you a good idea of what you'll find with Vivaldi G major and A minor.
Sheet music

With a 2nd violin accompaniment (self-accompaniment in this case!):



8. H. Millies: Concertino in the Style of Mozart

Lovely concertino to introduce the classical style, it really sounds like a little Mozart. It can be fully played in 1st position but there are some places to try alternative fingering and shift to 3rd. The cadenza is lovely and also a good way to introduce this new element of music.
Sheet music

Our version for two violins:


9. O. Rieding: Concertino in Hungarian Style, Op.21

Brilliant for more advanced work in 3rd and 1st positions, especially shifting between them. In addition, bowing technique has to be well established to be able to handle this concertino: quick retakes at the heel, fast detaché and string crossing. Piece full of drama, beautiful and expressive phrases. Vibrato comes very handy at this point!
Sheet music



10. O. Rieding: Concertino Op.24 in G Major

Last but not least! Another must of the violin repertoire, finally going beyond the 3rd position and exploring the up to the 5th. All movements are very enjoyable. If mastered, you will have cross the line between the intermediate and advanced violinist.
Sheet music


Leave a comment and tell us your favourite concertinos, do you agree with our list??