Scales for Young Violists: Viola Book

Barber's Foundation Keys strategy removes the overwhelm that often comes with scale study by anchoring beginners in five comfortable keys before expanding outward. The progression from double-stops in first position through all twelve keys is logical without feeling mechanical, and the inclusion of preparatory shifting exercises and bowing variants means you're not just drilling patterns—you're building genuine technical facility.

Working through these scales feels purposeful rather than rote. The two-octave range gives students room to explore their sound across the fingerboard, while the double-stops in the Foundation Keys add texture and ear training that makes practice engaging. As students progress through all twelve keys, they experience a genuine sense of accomplishment.

This book serves viola students in their first or second year of study who have solid note-reading skills and basic bow control. It works equally well for students in school orchestras and private studios who are ready to move beyond open strings and simple exercises into systematic scale work.

• Start with the Foundation Keys (C, D, E, F, G) and spend real time there. The two-octave major and minor scales in these keys, paired with the first-position double-stops, build confidence and intonation awareness before shifting enters the picture.
• Use the rhythmic variants deliberately. Rather than plowing through scales at one tempo, apply different rhythms to strengthen note articulation and bow control.
• Work through the preparatory shifting exercises before tackling the one-octave scales in all twelve keys. These exercises isolate the mechanics of position changes so students understand the why before managing it within a full scale.
• Reference the circle of 5ths as a map, not a maze. It helps students see the relationships between keys and understand why certain accidentals appear where they do.

Integrate this into your daily warm-up routine with consistent, bite-sized assignments. Rather than assigning entire pages at once, ask students to master one Foundation Key's major and minor scales plus arpeggios each week, then rotate through the remaining keys. This keeps scale study fresh throughout the year and naturally supports whatever repertoire your ensemble is preparing.

• Two-octave major, melodic minor, and harmonic minor scales across the instrument
• Double-stops in first position (octaves, 3rds, 6ths) in five Foundation Keys
• Preparatory shifting technique and one-octave double-stop scales in all twelve keys
• Arpeggio patterns aligned with scale study
• Rhythmic and bowing variations that strengthen articulation and bow control
• Understanding of key signatures and the circle of 5ths