Lessons in Performance Book 1, Journey Through North America - Viola: Viola Method Book

A journey across North American landscapes and cultures, rendered in accessible arrangements that respect the idiom of each instrument. The pieces unfold with clarity and purpose, inviting viola players to claim essential roles in the ensemble's sound.

Beginning and developing string orchestras seeking a method book that moves beyond isolated exercises. Conductors working with intermediate students who benefit from studying real arrangements while building fundamental skills. String programs looking to integrate music history and geography into curriculum through repertoire.

• Study the full score analysis before rehearsing each piece. Understanding the composer's intent and structural decisions will sharpen your ensemble's ensemble cohesion and phrasing.
• Use the supplemental exercises to address technical challenges in isolation, then return to the full piece to apply what you've learned in musical context.
• Refer to the conducting techniques section during rehearsal to align your interpretation with how the piece is meant to be shaped and led.

Build a full concert around the North American theme, programming these 15 pieces across an entire concert season or summer camp. The full score analyses and teaching techniques make individual pieces ideal for rehearsal demonstrations, allowing you to pause and discuss musical choices alongside technique development.

• Reading and performing from full orchestral scores
• Understanding harmonic function and structural analysis in context
• Ensemble balance and blend within string textures
• Interpreting dynamic and articulation markings across sustained passages
• Conducting patterns and ensemble communication