I am just beginning violin lessons and really prefer classical. I am wondering if there are any short simple pieces that I can learn. What did Bach teach his pupils, assuming he gave lessons?
The Bach violin music I know is far too difficult for a beginner. I assume you’ve got a teacher, otherwise it’s next to impossible to learn to play it properly. He should provide you with the music that fits your level. But if you want simple pieces from well-know composers, you could start with Bartok. He has written a few very simple Hungarian melodies.
If you’re really “just starting,” a prudent teacher would dissuade you from working on repertoire in favor of working on scales, etudes, exercises, etc. Yeah it’s not as interesting as playing music someone wrote, but to borrow a cliche, you have to crawl and walk before you can run. If you move too fast, you won’t adequately develop the skills properly. I know it’s not what you want to hear but it’s a much better way to start than jumping in the deep end.
You can always try your hand at gimmicky music like happy birthday, take me out to the ballgame, or in the hall of the mountain king.
hall of the mountain king? those chromatics will kill him! 
badbug, you can try leopold mozart (wolfgang amadeus’s father). he wrote a violin school that made him famous back in his days and is still used, at least here in austria.
Thanx very much for the help! I do in fact have a teacher and am doing scales etc. I just want to bits and pieces. At the moment I am learning a portion of “Ode to Joy”. The area I am from seems to really like step dancing music so I wanted to be able to help my teacher find pieces that would be of more interest to me.
Since this is about music, I’ll move this thread to Cafe Society.
bibliophage
moderator GQ
Maybe Glass’ Violin Concertos? They don’t seem too difficult- coming from a non-violinist that is. But at least you’ll be able to break the mold and actually play something that wasn’t written in the years between 1700 and 1900. hehe
Try Kreisler.
I like the Suzuki books, even if you are not a follower of the Suzuki method.