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From Violin to Viola: Another String to Your Bow: Strings Book

$15.99 USD
$15.99 USD
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From Violin to Viola: Another String to Your Bow Cover Image
From Violin to Viola: Another String to Your Bow: Strings Book

From Violin to Viola: Another String to Your Bow: Strings Book

By Paul Harris, Jessica O'Leary

Level: Intermediate

Item: 12-0571543499
$15.99
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Description
From Violin to Viola: Another String to Your Bow is the essential guide for violinists making the transition to viola. Aimed at intermediate violinists and above, the book guides players through their first steps on the viola, covering essential topics such as reading alto clef, adjusting bow hold, developing a good sound, string crossing, vibrato and shifting. Devised by leading educators Jessica O'Leary and Paul Harris, this practical method includes carefully selected exercises, studies, solos and duos that reinforce skills and build confidence along the way. Whether you are switching to viola or simply expanding your skillset as a violinist, this book provides all the tools you need to add another string to your bow!

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Additional Details
Publisher: Faber Music
ISBN10: 0-571-54349-9
ISBN13: 978-0-571-54349-6
UPC: 9780571543496
SKU: 12-0571543499

More about this title

About the Author: Paul Harris

Paul Harris

Paul Harris studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London before becoming one of Britain's most influential music educators. His career spans over five hundred publications, many addressing the practical needs of instrumental and vocal teachers. His Improve your teaching! and Improve your sight-reading! series have shaped pedagogy across multiple countries, and he continues to develop Simultaneous Learning, an approach to instrumental instruction that emphasizes informed, imaginative, and grounded teaching.

Harris's work combines methodical curriculum design with creative problem-solving, qualities that distinguish his materials in classrooms and studios worldwide. He regularly contributes to music education discourse through publications and as a clinician in the UK, USA, and East Asia. His publishing relationship with Faber Music reflects decades of trusted work in music education.

Why we love this

This book meets a genuine need: violinists often shift to viola with minimal guidance, and generic method books don't address the specific reorientation required. Harris and O'Leary structure the transition systematically, grounding each new skill (alto clef reading, bow hold adjustment, sound production) in carefully sequenced exercises and repertoire pieces that build genuine confidence rather than just checking boxes.

What to expect

The progression feels logical and encouraging, never condescending. Each exercise builds on the last, and the inclusion of solos and duos means you're playing music, not just drilling mechanics.

Who it's for

Intermediate and advanced violinists making a genuine switch to viola will find this book indispensable. It's equally suited to violinists looking to build viola competency alongside violin playing, offering a clear path without the assumption that instrument knowledge transfers automatically.

How to get the most out of it

  • Spend deliberate time with alto clef exercises before moving to full pieces; the reading habit will consolidate faster with isolated practice than embedded within longer solos.
  • Record yourself shifting and vibrato work to hear intonation tendencies; viola's deeper register can mask slight pitch issues that would be obvious on violin.
  • Approach string crossing with attention to bow weight distribution; viola's heavier bow and larger fingerboard demand a different kinesthetic sense than violin familiarity might suggest.

How to use it

Use this as the foundation text for violists in transition within your studio or chamber program. Its structured approach prevents the common frustration of switching instruments mid-stream, and the duos provide natural repertoire for ensemble rehearsals alongside your violin students.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and fluency in alto clef
  • Adjusting bow hold and pressure for viola's weight and string resistance
  • Developing a warm, focused sound on a larger instrument
  • String crossing with precision and tonal consistency
  • Vibrato technique adapted to viola's longer strings and deeper position
  • Shifting technique with intonation accuracy in viola's extended range

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