Jazz Philharmonic: Second Set: Viola Book & Online Audio

Phillips writes jazz charts that actually work for young string players. This second set deepens what the first book established: accessible voicings, clear solo sections with written guides, and recorded accompaniments that let students hear themselves inside a real jazz ensemble sound. Violas get genuine musical roles here, not filler parts.

Blues swings, Latin grooves settle into your fingers, and standard jazz harmonies start to feel natural. The recorded accompaniment surrounds you with piano, bass, and drums, creating the illusion of a real jazz combo backing your section. It's exciting, accessible, and carries the confidence of a proven pedagogue who knows how strings learn best.

Violas in beginning through advanced jazz ensembles who have foundational reading skills and are ready to engage with swing, blues, and contemporary jazz idioms. This book serves programs that include jazz alongside traditional orchestral repertoire, or as a standalone resource for a jazz string unit.

• Listen to the recorded accompaniment multiple times before rehearsal. Let your ears absorb the harmonic colors and rhythmic feel so you internalize the style, not just the notes.
• Balance your tone between the notated solo and background figures. When playing backgrounds, sustain with steady air pressure; when soloing, match the warmth and projection in the recording.
• Pay close attention to articulation markings. Jazz phrasing often uses shorter note values than classical string writing. Light bow releases between phrases help create that idiomatic swing character.
• Work with your rhythm section (bass and piano parts included in the book) to nail the groove. Jazz relies on ensemble cohesion as much as precision, so lock in the pocket early.

Integrate individual tunes as concert pieces or educational units within a spring concert, or program an entire movement of selections to showcase your ensemble's versatility. Early in the year, use simpler charts to build jazz vocabulary and stylistic awareness; move to more complex harmonies and solo opportunities as confidence grows.

• Reading and executing jazz chord symbols and harmonic movement
• Swing articulation and jazz phrasing on strings
• Performing written and improvised solos with accompaniment
• Understanding walking bass lines and comping patterns in jazz context
• Ensemble balance and rhythmic precision in groove-based settings
• Exposure to jazz standards and contemporary jazz repertoire