Suzuki Viola School, Volume 2: Viola Book

Volume 2 strikes the balance that keeps young violists engaged and progressing. The repertoire draws from Bach, Handel, and classical masters, so students play genuine literature rather than exercises, while the carefully sequenced pieces allow technique to develop naturally alongside musical interpretation. Teachers value how this volume deepens bow control and intonation awareness without overwhelming students who are still building foundational skills.

These pieces transport you into the Baroque and Classical worlds with immediate musical satisfaction. You move from the stately grandeur of Handel's choral work to the elegant dance rhythms of Bach and Lully, discovering that serious composers wrote for young musicians with genuine artistry in mind. The melodies are memorable and singable, so your viola speaks with clarity and purpose from the very first page.

This book is essential for viola students in their second year of Suzuki study, typically ages 6 and up, who have completed Volume 1 and are ready to deepen their bow technique and musical interpretation. It pairs with private lessons and group classes where students learn under the guidance of a trained Suzuki teacher who understands how to build technique through repertoire. Parents play a key role by supporting listening and home practice with the accompaniment recordings.

• Record yourself playing each piece weekly so you can hear your own intonation and tone quality develop over time; this trains your ear to self-correct between lessons.
• Learn the accompaniment recording by ear before sight-reading the written score; this mirrors the Suzuki mother-tongue approach and deepens your musical understanding of each piece.
• Practice the ornaments (trills, grace notes, turns) slowly and separately until they feel natural, then gradually bring them into tempo so they enhance the line rather than disrupt it.
• Work with your teacher to identify one expressive detail per piece (a shape in a phrase, a slight tempo change, a dynamic swell) and refine it over multiple weeks rather than trying to master everything at once.

Position this volume as the core curriculum for your Suzuki viola program's second year, progressing through pieces sequentially as your teacher guides. Several pieces work beautifully in student recitals or group performances, particularly the Baroque dances and lighter character pieces, allowing young violists to experience the joy of public music-making while still building skills.

• Steady bow control and tone production across different bow speeds and pressure
• Intonation accuracy in first and second positions
• Articulation and phrasing in dance forms and structured melodies
• Reading note names and rhythmic accuracy on the viola staff
• Listening and aural discrimination through repertoire and accompaniment recordings
• Musical expression and interpretation of period-style pieces