3rd and 5th Position String Builder: Viola Book

This volume solves the real challenge of position transitions by introducing third and fifth positions with genuine musical substance rather than mechanical exercises. The carefully sequenced shift patterns build confidence, and the inclusion of duets gives your students immediate ensemble experience while they're still consolidating fundamentals. Applebaum's grading is realistic, meaning you won't need to supplement heavily or spend rehearsal time untangling poorly written passages.

The material feels like music first, technique second. Melodies have contour and character rather than feeling like finger placement drills. As students shift into higher positions, they discover the richness of tone available on the upper strings, which builds genuine engagement with the instrument.

String teachers working with intermediate violas who have completed foundational method book instruction and are ready for position work. This works equally well in full orchestra settings or individual viola instruction, making it flexible for various program structures.

• Isolate individual shift patterns in sectionals before full-group rehearsal. Have violas work through the same-finger shifts before introducing shifts with different fingers.
• Use the duet sections as peer-teaching opportunities. Pair more confident readers with students still building fluency in these positions.
• Work by rote during the first pass through new material. Applebaum built these suggestions in intentionally, so follow them to let muscle memory develop before reading becomes the focus.
• Record your class playing the full ensemble passages and listen back together. Students hear intonation challenges in context rather than in isolation.

Introduce this in the latter half of your school year once students have solid command of lower positions. The sequential grading means you can move through it at a natural pace without rushing, and the duet material works beautifully as ensemble building blocks before tackling full orchestral repertoire.

• Locating third and fifth positions independently on the fingerboard
• Executing same-finger shifts within a position
• Performing shifts between positions with different fingers
• Reading in higher positions with fluency
• Intonation awareness across the upper range of the viola
• Ensemble balance in duet contexts