Movie Duets for All: Viola Book

Story's arrangements respect the viola's natural voice while keeping each line genuinely musical rather than padding. The graduated difficulty structure means you can assign parts by player ability rather than by instrument, which transforms how you think about pairing students in rehearsal and performance.

These arrangements tap into the emotional core of each film moment—the whimsy of 'We're Off to See the Wizard,' the swagger of 'Living in America,' the soaring heroism of 'Superman Theme'—while keeping the viola writing grounded and singable. Each piece feels designed for violas to actually sound good, not squeezed into an afterthought arrangement.

Viola students working in pairs or small ensembles, from beginners navigating Grade 1 material through intermediate students tackling Grade 3-4 arrangements. This book serves studios working with duet partners of varying levels, school orchestras needing flexible chamber repertoire, and young musicians preparing recital or festival material alongside peers.

• Balance the two viola lines by listening to the lower part as your harmonic anchor; the upper part should float above without overwhelming it.
• Use the film versions of these pieces sparingly in rehearsal; focus first on the printed score so violists develop independent musicianship rather than relying on melodic memory.
• Mark phrase endings clearly and establish consistent releases together, especially in pieces like 'In Dreams' where sustained notes can blur into the next phrase.
• Experiment with assigning parts flexibly mid-rehearsal season so both players develop comfort with each line and understand the full texture.

Program individual duets on studio recitals, chamber concerts, or student showcase events where film music draws family audiences. A single movement works beautifully as an encore or intermission piece; the collection also works as a season-long chamber project, moving chronologically through difficulty levels as pairs progress through the year.

• Reading across three difficulty levels (Grade 1 through Grade 3-4) within one book
• Collaborative listening and balance between equal duet partners
• Stylistic variety across film genres and dramatic contexts
• Second-part reading and harmonic awareness
• Sustaining musical line and phrasing across longer phrases