Strictly Strings, Book 1: Viola Book

Three master pedagogues have created a method that trusts the letter-note system to accelerate reading progress without sacrificing musicality. Students move from rote playing into genuine ensemble work almost immediately, which means your rehearsals stay engaged and ensemble skills develop naturally alongside technique. The carefully sequenced lessons ensure that all violists advance at the same pace, eliminating the frustration of uneven progress that can stall an orchestra program.

Playing through this book feels like a natural conversation between technique and music. Melodies are immediately satisfying to play, and the variety of keys and modes keeps pages fresh and interesting even as reading skills are still developing. The early introduction to ensemble playing gives beginning violists a sense of purpose beyond individual practice.

Strictly Strings Book 1: Viola Book is designed for beginning violists in their first year of study, whether in a school orchestra program or private studio. String teachers and orchestra directors looking for a method that bridges rote and note reading without extended preliminary exercises will find this especially valuable.

• Introduce one new letter-note concept at a time, then have students play a melody using only that concept before adding the next. This prevents cognitive overload and builds confidence in reading.
• Use the ensemble pieces early and often. Students who play melodies alone first will be far more secure when they join the section, so start with unison or simple harmonic parts and layer complexity gradually.
• Encourage students to identify the keys and modes as they encounter them in the repertoire. Naming what they hear and see reinforces theoretical understanding without stopping rehearsal momentum.
• Record short rehearsal snippets to let students hear themselves as an ensemble. Hearing blend and balance makes the abstract concept of "ensemble playing" concrete.

Use Strictly Strings Book 1 as the foundation for your beginning orchestra during the first year, pairing it with method books for other string parts so all sections advance in sync. The varied repertoire and clear pedagogical sequence support consistent rehearsal pacing throughout the school year, and many directors supplement it with additional pieces once students reach mid-book to maintain interest.

• Letter-note to standard notation reading transition
• Ensemble intonation and balance awareness
• Playing in multiple keys and modes
• Basic viola technique and bow control
• Listening and responding to other section players
• Rhythmic accuracy in simple and compound meters