Solos for Young Violists CD, Volume 5: Viola CD

This CD captures the essence of why Solos for Young Violists has endured: it respects the violist's musical intelligence while building technique logically. Barber's own playing on the piano accompaniments sets a standard of accompaniment that students rarely hear elsewhere, making solo practice feel like actual chamber music rather than a mechanical exercise.

These pieces breathe with intention. Whether you encounter a lyrical Bohemian folk melody or a rhythmically intricate character piece, each work in this collection demands focus and delivers genuine musical satisfaction. The variety of styles keeps solo practice from feeling repetitive, while the graded organization ensures you're always reaching just slightly beyond where you currently are.

Young violists in the intermediate to advanced ranges will find carefully chosen pieces that address real technical and musical challenges. Teachers use this series to program recitals with confidence, knowing each volume contains works that fit logical skill progressions without resorting to oversimplified arrangements.

• Match your vibrato width and speed to Barber's interpretation on the accompaniment track; her phrasing reveals subtle rubato that guides you toward musical line rather than just note-reading.
• Listen through the entire piano part before rehearsing your own line; understanding where the harmonic weight shifts helps you avoid playing every phrase with the same weight.
• Use the first hearing of the accompaniment as a score study session, noting where the piano has the melody and where you're meant to carry it.
• Record yourself with the accompaniment and listen back without your viola; this reveals rhythm issues and timing slips that disappear when you're concentrating on fingering.

String teachers often assign one or two pieces per semester from across the five volumes, building a recital repertoire that grows with the student's ability. The collection works well for young viola students preparing auditions or competition entries, as the pieces are respected enough to hold the listener's attention yet accessible enough to allow personality and musicianship to shine through.

• Reading and interpreting expressive markings in unfamiliar styles
• Rhythmic coordination with piano accompaniment in varied tempos
• Vibrato control and placement appropriate to melodic character
• Navigating position changes and thumb position development
• Phrasing across longer musical lines and managing bow distribution
• Intonation refinement under the discipline of recording and listening back