Superstudies for Viola, Book 1: Viola Book

Cohen's approach here is refreshingly unsentimental. Rather than padding a book with filler, she isolates one or two technical demands per study and lets students focus deeply. The result is a collection that feels purposeful without being joyless. Young violists move through left-hand technique, right-hand control, and the bridge passages students actually struggle with, but the music never feels like medicine.

The collection moves with lightness and intelligence. You encounter familiar shapes and recognizable musical moments rather than abstract exercises. The writing sits comfortably on the instrument, and the pieces reward careful listening even when the technical challenge is modest.

Young violists working at the elementary to early-intermediate level who need focused technical studies without condescension. This book suits private studio teachers and group class settings alike, working well alongside core method books or as a bridge between method work and repertoire.

• Approach spicatto studies as rhythm exercises first. Get the bounce pattern steady on open strings before worrying about intonation.
• For string-crossing passages, slow the tempo enough that you can hear each note clearly. Speed comes naturally once the cross-string pattern lives in your hand.
• Double-stop sections benefit from separating the problem: play each note of the pair individually until it's secure, then add the second note.
• Cantabile studies are chances to shape phrases across bar lines. Mark breathing points and arrival notes before the first run-through.

Pull individual studies into student recitals or studio classes when you need a short, self-contained piece. Teachers also use this book as a six-week rotation through the technical landscape, assigning one study per week alongside repertoire work. The variety means you can match pieces to student interests and emerging strengths.

• Spicatto bowing control and consistency
• String-crossing clarity and speed
• Cantabile tone production across phrases
• Basic double-stops on adjacent and separate strings
• Right-hand independence in mixed bowing patterns
• Moto perpetuo figure accuracy and evenness
• Left-hand position stability during technical passages