Pop & Rock Hits Instrumental Solos for Strings: Viola Book & CD

Modern, radio-friendly energy with accessible melodic lines and driving rhythms. These are songs built on repetition and hook, not virtuosity, which means your job is to nail the groove and let the melody shine with confidence.

Violists in the Level 2-3 range who want to expand beyond classical repertoire and play songs their peers actually recognize. This book works equally well for ensemble play (combining with violins and cellos from the same series) or as solo recital material.

• Listen to the demo track first to internalize phrasing and dynamics before diving into practice. The live instrumental performance shows you exactly where the melody breathes.
• Work with the play-along track in short sections rather than running the whole song end-to-end. Stop, isolate tricky passages, then build back up to tempo with the accompaniment.
• Pay close attention to rhythm in the pop and rock idioms. Many of these songs sit on syncopation and groove that requires a steady internal pulse to lock with the orchestra.
• Use the printed part as your primary source for articulation and expression marks. The demo track interprets those marks; your job is to read the score carefully first.

String soloists benefit tremendously from this as a recital break from classical standards. You can also build a "Pop Hits" concert with students across all three string instruments, letting each part shine on its own or combining them for a fuller arrangement.

• Reading and performing contemporary song arrangements in pop and rock styles
• Locking rhythms and grooves with recorded accompaniments
• Interpreting phrasing and articulation in a non-classical context
• Playing from notation that uses syncopation and swing feels
• Collaborating with ensemble partners when combining violin, viola, and cello parts