String Explorer, Book 2: Viola Book & Interactive CD

String Explorer Book 2 sustains the momentum of Book 1 while expanding the harmonic and rhythmic vocabulary that intermediate string players need. The repertoire draws from global traditions and classical sources, giving violists genuine musical content to explore rather than exercises in disguise. Meyer and Phillips's orchestration ensures every voice stays engaged, making full ensemble rehearsals rewarding for students at different paces.

Book 2 captures the sense of discovery that comes with broadening musical horizons. The repertoire balances familiar melodic shapes with new harmonic colors and rhythmic patterns, creating pieces that feel both accessible and genuinely rewarding to perform. Students experience the viola's role as both an ensemble instrument and a carrier of meaningful musical content.

This book serves violists in intermediate string programs, typically in Grades 4-6, who have completed String Explorer Book 1 and are ready for more sophisticated repertoire and technique. It works well in public school orchestras, community string programs, and private group instruction where players are building ensemble skills alongside individual musicianship.

• Balance the viola line against the surrounding voices by listening across the ensemble during sectional rehearsals; violas often carry inner harmony that anchors the texture.
• Encourage vibrato exploration with pieces that have sustained passages; Book 2 introduces longer note values where vibrato control becomes musically expressive.
• Address rhythmic precision in mixed-meter sections by tapping the viola part against a metronome before full ensemble rehearsals to build independence.
• Use the interactive CD to preview unfamiliar melodic material and understand how your part fits within the larger orchestral sound.

Integrate Book 2 into your curriculum as the core ensemble method for second-year players, moving through one or two pieces per month depending on rehearsal frequency. The global repertoire mix makes it valuable for multicultural programming; select pieces aligned with your concert themes or cultural studies. Since the series is designed for continuous exploration, supplement Book 2 with sectional warm-ups and solos as students prepare for winter or spring performances.

• Reading and executing varied rhythmic patterns including mixed meters
• Sustaining vibrato control across longer note values
• Balancing inner harmony lines within full ensemble texture
• Ensemble intonation and blend in four-part string writing
• Interpreting articulation and dynamic markings from different musical traditions
• Sight-reading intermediate-level viola repertoire