Frère Jacques (a round)
A French round, four two-bar phrases, each repeated. Once you can play it straight through, play it against the playback — start four beats after the recording and you're singing a canon with yourself.
"Frère Jacques"
How to play it
Open D, 1st finger, high 2, back to open D — all on the D string, all steps and a small skip home. Even détaché strokes in the middle of the bow. Play this phrase twice.
"Dormez-vous?"
How to play it
High 2, 3, 4 — the top of the D-string hand. Reach for that 4th finger; it lands low if you let it. The A is held two counts. Play the phrase twice.
"Sonnez les matines"
How to play it
A run down from the A string to the D string — open A, 1st finger, open A, then cross down to the D string for 3rd finger, high 2, and settle on the open D. The arm leads the crossing on 'G'. Play it twice.
"Ding, dang, dong"
How to play it
Open D, down to the 1st finger on the G string, back to open D — a bell, swinging. Cross two strings and back; keep the bow light. Play it twice, and let the last D ring.
The one thing this tune is for
Playing it as a round against the recording — your first taste of holding your own line while another is going. Get it solid alone first, then start a few beats late and don't let the playback pull you off.
The usual mistake
Speeding up or slowing to match the playback once you're rounding against it — the whole point is holding your pulse independently. Count out loud. And letting the 4th finger land short on "dor-mez vous" — reach for it and check it.