Top Pop & Rock Hits Instrumental Solos for Strings: Viola Book & CD

These arrangements capture the groove and energy of current pop and rock radio without stripping away musicality. The viola lines sit in a comfortable range and move with the melodic backbone of each song, giving students the satisfaction of performing recognizable hits with genuine harmonic support and professional sonority.

Viola students in grades 2-3 who thrive on repertoire they recognize and want to master, whether they perform as soloists or as part of a string ensemble. Teachers seeking contemporary material that engages students without oversimplifying the technical or musical demands of the instrument.

• Layer the viola line with your violins and cellos to create full ensemble voicings; the arrangements support this blend without sacrificing the viola's independence as a solo voice.
• Use the play-along track during sectional rehearsals to lock in intonation on the pop and rock idioms these arrangements demand, which differ from classical repertoire in phrasing and rhythmic feel.
• Dial in the tempo with Alfred's Tempo Changer during the first week of learning; adjusting down by 10-15% lets students master the fingering patterns before committing to the recorded performance tempo.
• Balance the viola's role carefully when performing with the full ensemble; these arrangements assume the viola carries melodic weight in several pieces, so ensure it projects clearly over the rhythm section.

Feature one or two arrangements in a spring pops concert to showcase student growth and engagement with contemporary music, or build a full string ensemble concert around these thirteen titles with soloists rotating through different pieces. These work equally well as supplemental repertoire during the school year to maintain student motivation between classical concert selections.

• Reading and intonating pop and rock idioms outside the classical tradition
• Balancing as a melodic voice within ensemble textures
• Interpreting rhythmic feel and phrasing in contemporary music
• Performing both as soloist and ensemble member from the same written line
• Sight-reading multi-part arrangements that blend solo and tutti passages