Solo Time for Strings, Book 3: Viola Book

Solo Time for Strings, Book 3 strikes the balance every string teacher needs: structured technical progress without sacrificing student agency. Violas get real solo material here, not just accompaniment parts, which matters enormously for engagement and ownership of their instrument's voice in the ensemble.

The viola finally gets its moment. These solos feel purposeful and musical, moving beyond exercise patterns into genuine melodic territory. Students encounter familiar classical frameworks alongside contemporary pedagogical writing, creating a bridge between learning an instrument and playing real music.

Viola students in Book 3 of the Solo Time for Strings series, typically progressing past beginner stages and ready for melodic material beyond open strings and first-position fundamentals. This book works equally well in group string classes and private lesson settings.

• Establish a consistent practice routine for the solos independent of orchestra rehearsal; these pieces build facility that transfers directly to ensemble playing.
• Record yourself playing each solo once you reach performance level; hearing your own sound objectively helps you catch intonation issues and phrasing that may not feel wrong in the moment.
• Use the progression in difficulty to set achievable milestones with students; completing one solo before moving to the next builds momentum and confidence.

Assign solos from Book 3 as performance requirements for winter or spring recitals, giving violas individual showcases that build pride in a section often relegated to inner voices. Pairing these solos with ensemble pieces at similar technical levels ensures students reinforce the same reading and playing skills across different contexts.

• Reading in multiple positions on the viola staff
• Playing sustained melodic lines with attention to phrase shape
• Intonation accuracy in first and second position
• Bow control and tone production across dynamic ranges
• Building technical facility for vibrato and articulation preparation