Developing Virtuosity bk. 2 - Viola: Viola & Piano Score & Part

Latham's pedagogy respects where students actually are developmentally. Book 2 introduces genuine musical challenges—string crossing, dynamic nuance, shifting—without overwhelming the player. The progression feels inevitable, not arbitrary, which means students build confidence alongside technique.

The repertoire balances technical drilling with genuine musicality. Students encounter bow techniques that shape phrasing, harmonic language that grounds left-hand development, and rhythmic variety that keeps the ear engaged. Learning feels purposeful because every technical demand serves a musical idea.

Viola students in their second year of study who have completed Book 1 or equivalent foundational work. This volume suits intermediate early learners and adult beginners looking for systematic skill development with real musical context.

• Isolate string-crossing slurs by practicing each pair of strings separately before combining them in sequence. This trains the bow arm's lateral motion without competing with left-hand demands.
• When introducing dotted rhythms and sixteenth notes, use a practice routine that alternates between strict rhythmic subdivision and the written pattern. This solidifies the feel before performance.
• Begin shifting exercises with open-string arrivals. Playing from a lower position to open D (for example) removes pitch anxiety and lets the student focus on hand position and the shift itself.
• Work dynamic contrasts in short isolated phrases first. Asking a student to sustain a diminuendo across an entire slurred passage invites intonation problems; build the skill in manageable units.

Use this book as your primary viola method for the second year of instruction. The included score and part make it suitable for studio teaching, sectional rehearsals with pianists, or group lessons where students can play through pieces together. The progression supports private lesson goals while providing material sturdy enough for classroom performance contexts.

• Long and controlled bow strokes with dynamic shaping
• Slurred legato and staccato articulation
• String-crossing slurs
• Time signatures including 6/8, 3/8, and cut time
• Dotted rhythms, triplets, sixteenth notes, and syncopated rhythms
• Major and minor left-hand patterns with extended fingerings
• Beginning shifting and octave harmonics
• Intonation adjustment across multiple positions