Suzuki Viola School, Volume 9: Viola Book & CD

Volume 9 marks a significant leap in repertoire sophistication, introducing students to substantial sonata forms and Romantic-era chamber writing. The included recordings by Michael Isaac Strauss provide a clear model for tone production and musical phrasing at this advanced level, setting the standard your students will aspire toward.

These works span Classical elegance and Romantic introspection, from Hummel's graceful sonata writing to Schubert's searching minor-key drama. Each piece invites the player into a deeper conversation with the instrument, where technical security becomes the foundation for genuine musical storytelling.

This volume is designed for intermediate to advanced Suzuki viola students who have completed earlier volumes and are ready to engage with substantial chamber repertoire. It serves students preparing for higher-level conservatory study or serious amateur musicians seeking to deepen their artistic expression on the instrument.

• Listen to the full recording multiple times before beginning detailed work on individual pieces. The Suzuki method relies on ear training through repeated listening, so immerse yourself in the sound world before trying to replicate it.
• Work closely with your teacher to shape the lyrical passages in the Schubert sonata. The accompanying CD demonstrates how subtle rubato and dynamic nuance bring these lines to life without losing structural clarity.
• Pay attention to the piano accompaniment in the recordings. Understanding how your viola part interacts with the keyboard helps you find balance and respond musically in ensemble playing.
• Practice the technical passages in the Weber piece slowly and deliberately before attempting tempo. The recordings show how precision in fast passages serves the musical line rather than becoming mere display.

Incorporate this material into a Suzuki viola student's curriculum when they are ready to begin thinking about recital programming beyond the confines of pure method books. Individual pieces from Volume 9 work well on student recitals, chamber music concerts, or as part of a broader Suzuki demonstration concert where advanced students model repertoire for younger ones.

• Sustaining long lyrical phrases with consistent tone and vibrato
• Navigating extended first-position and higher-position shifts
• Balancing viola with piano accompaniment in a true chamber setting
• Interpreting Romantic-era expressiveness and rubato
• Building stamina and focus across complete multi-movement forms
• Listening actively to recorded models and transferring artistic choices to personal performance