Etling String Class Method, Book 2: Viola Book

This method treats the viola with the same pedagogical rigor as violin, which means your viola students get focused instruction instead of an afterthought arrangement. The flexible structure lets you spiral through foundational skills (bow control, intonation, hand position) at whatever pace your ensemble needs, so you're not locked into a one-size-fits-all progression.

Steady and purposeful, with an emphasis on musicianship within a structured practice routine. The daily drills feel functional but musical, not mechanical, and the solos give students ownership of their sound.

String teachers building viola technique in mixed-ability class settings, whether you're teaching beginners in a full orchestra or pulling together a string ensemble from students at different levels. Viola teachers also use this to strengthen technique between or alongside ensemble rehearsals.

• Work through the daily drills consistently before tackling new material; they build muscle memory for bow control and left-hand stability that makes everything else easier.
• Use the intonation exercises to diagnose specific intervals where your students struggle, then return to those drills across multiple rehearsals rather than moving on.
• Integrate the solos into sectional rehearsals so violists develop confidence performing alone, which transfers directly to their ensemble sound.
• Customize the order of materials to match your ensemble's immediate needs; if rhythm is shaky, lead with counting and rhythm work before advancing to new bow strokes.

Use this as your core viola curriculum in a string class program, allowing students to progress through technique work at their own pace while building toward ensemble performance. The flexibility means you can fold in repertoire from other sources without losing the foundational skill-building.

• Bow control and consistent bow stroke across the string
• Left-hand intonation and finger placement accuracy
• Hand position and posture alignment for viola
• Rhythm reading and counting in single and mixed meters
• Solo performance confidence and phrasing