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Superstart Viola: Viola Book & CD

$13.99 USD
$13.99 USD
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Superstart Viola Cover Image
Superstart Viola: Viola Book & CD

Superstart Viola: Viola Book & CD

The Complete Method

By Mary Cohen

Item: 12-0571522130
$13.99
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Description
Following the success of the Superstart Violin Mary Cohen has created a brand new Viola edition. Superstart Viola is full of exciting music and fun activities from the very first lesson to inspire and stimulate students and teachers.

Mary Cohen is one of Britain's leading string teachers and this new edition is a distillation of her many years of teaching and research - a core method in one book. Complete viola technique is introduced from the start, providing a solid foundation and taking the player up to grade one level. Carefully structured, each unit covers a clear technical point through expertly written pieces, providing the student with a true musical experience at each tiny step.

Mary takes an imaginative child-orientated approach throughout, encouraging interaction and the exploration of new sound worlds through a superb variety of music. The accompanying CD provides all the piano accompaniments, with unique cue entries to help beginners get started.

For extra flexibility, most of the pieces in the violin, viola and cello book are compatible, making this a great resource for individual or group teaching.

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Additional Details
Series: Faber Edition: Superstart
Publisher: Faber Music
Page Count: 48
ISBN10: 0-571-52213-0
ISBN13: 978-0-571-52213-2
UPC: 9780571522132
SKU: 12-0571522130

More about this title

About the Composer: Mary Cohen

Mary Cohen

Mary Cohen trained at the Royal College of Music, where she studied violin, piano, chamber music, and composition before spending several years as a violinist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. She pivoted to teaching and research, establishing a private studio that became the laboratory for her prolific output of over sixty string publications now adopted by major examining bodies internationally.

Cohen's pedagogy centers on the belief that instrumental learning thrives when situated within genuine musical experience rather than technical drill. She champions chamber music from the earliest lessons, founded String Quartets From Scratch to make ensemble playing accessible to young players, and designs her early-stage materials with humor and carefully calibrated technical progression. Her Superseries has fundamentally reshaped how young string players engage with their instruments.

Why we love this

Cohen's viola method brings the same thoughtful sequencing and musical integrity that made Superstart Violin such a teacher favorite. Each unit isolates a technical concept but never loses sight of making music; the pieces consistently deliver real musical satisfaction rather than exercises disguised as repertoire. The cross-instrument compatibility means you can build mixed ensembles immediately, turning beginner lessons into genuine collaborative experiences.

What to expect

Playful and purposeful. Cohen's pieces sparkle with character and humor while subtly building foundational skills; students discover they're capable of real musicianship from lesson one rather than enduring months of preparatory drudgery. The variety keeps both student and teacher engaged, with each new unit introducing fresh musical territory alongside new technical ground.

Who it's for

Beginning violists in their first year of study, particularly those aged 8-12, and any teacher seeking a method that treats technique as a vehicle for musical expression rather than an end in itself. Works equally well for individual lessons and group instruction.

How to get the most out of it

  • Reference the CD cue entries when first learning a piece; they're designed to orient absolute beginners without creating dependency on them.
  • Build duet habits early by pairing students with different instruments from the Superstart series where parts align, reinforcing their sense of ensemble.
  • Explore the sound worlds Cohen introduces not as optional extras but as core to technique; the imaginative approaches to tone production form the foundation for everything that follows.

How to use it

Use this as your primary method book for beginning violas, integrating ensemble pieces into group lessons from the start. The material takes players to early-grade level, making it ideal for a full first year of study before transitioning to more specialized repertoire.

Skills your students will build

  • Bow hold, control, and directional awareness
  • Left-hand position and finger placement on the viola
  • Reading in alto clef with accuracy and confidence
  • Dynamic control and basic tone quality differentiation
  • Foundational vibrato introduction
  • Ensemble awareness and listening to accompanying textures
  • Rhythmic precision in 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time signatures

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