NEW - Viola Lessons Library

Learn to play the enigmatic viola from your first notes to your first songs and beyond with this series of engaging educational videos.

Overview

Learn to play one of the most enjoyable orchestral string instruments: the viola. Its singing tones will resonate with players of all ages. We'll teach you how!

This video library is perfect for:
  • Beginning viola players ready to get started right
  • Violists wanting to learn to play viola at home
  • Self-paced learners
  • Violists needing a refreshed technique to improve their sound
In this library you’ll learn:
  • A full beginners guide to playing the viola
  • How to read the alto clef
  • How a viola sounds
  • Proper tone and technique for playing viola
  • How to practice the viola
  • How to tune the viola
  • Intermediate techniques for viola, like shifting
  • How to learn to play the music you love
  • And so much more...

Curriculum

Viola Level 1

By Gary DePaolo
  • 0 Lessons
  • Gary DePaolo
  • Here's Where to Start.
  • Course Introduction
  • Arm Circle Exercise
  • Basic Footwork
  • Weight Transfer
  • Thumb Rolls and Elbows Inside vs Outside Pronation vs Supination
  • Break the Circle with Thumb Rolls
  • Bow Motion Exercise
  • Putting it all Together
  • History of the Viola
  • The Viola Sound
  • Parts of the Instrument
  • Parts of the Bow
  • Instrument and Bow Maintenance
  • Fitting a Viola
  • Open Strings and Tuning
  • Body Position Check - Feet, Knees, Hips, and Neck
  • Shoulder Rests and Foam Pads
  • Basic Viola Positions
  • Viola "Throw"
  • "Rib Pose" Tapping and Elbow Swing
  • Plucking the String
  • Echo Exercises
  • Pizzicato to a Drum Beat
  • Easy Echo on Open Strings
  • Echo Challenge on Open Strings
  • Mixed Rhythm Echo Challenge on Open Strings
  • Creating Your Own Music
  • Creating Your Own Music Part 2
  • Passive Neutral Pose - "Wet-Noodle Hands"
  • Setting Up the Bow - Pencil
  • Hold Check
  • Pinky-Taps and Push-Ups
  • See-Saw and Tip Twirl
  • Paper Roll Bow Work and Rosining the Bow
  • Thumb Rolls and Elbows Review
  • Umbrella
  • Hand Position - "Rib-Pose" to Left Hand Playing Pose
  • Marking and Using the "Lift Knuckle"
  • Elbow Swings
  • Marking the Notes
  • Finger Position 1
  • Placing 1, 2 and 3 on All Strings
  • Finger-Taps Without the Instrument
  • Finger-Taps with the Instrument
  • Bowhold Review
  • Marking the Bow
  • Basic Bow Concepts
  • Basic Bow Strokes
  • Bow Landings and Incorporating the Bow Into Rest Position
  • Wiggle-Wiggle Pow
  • Basic Bow Changes
  • Alto Clef Introduction
  • Reading Open Strings - Basic Level
  • Bow Circles and Lifts
  • "Rock and Roll" String Crossing Exercise
  • Reading Open Strings with the Bow Part 1
  • Basic Reading Concepts
  • Reading Rhythms on Open Strings
  • Play Along - Rhythms on Open Strings
  • Open String Song with Rhythms
  • Short and Long Markings
  • Intro to Music Pieces
  • "On Stilts" by L. Spohr
  • "On Stilts" - Student Part with Metronome
  • "On Stilts" - Student and Teacher Parts Together
  • "On Stilts" - Teacher Part with Metronome
  • "String Crossing" Song
  • Note Reading Exercises on A with 1, 2, and 3
  • Note Reading Exercises on D with 1, 2, and 3
  • Basic Rhythms with 1, 2, and 3
  • "Flower" with 1, 2, and 3 and Open Strings on A
  • "Moving" with 1, 2, and 3 and Open Strings on D
  • Stack and Peel and Elbow Swing
  • D Major Scale with Pauses for Stacking
  • "Twinkle" with Pauses for Stacking
  • "Twinkle" with Rhythms
  • "French Folk Song" with Pauses for Stacking
  • "Ring and Sing" Song with 3rd Finger
  • Review and Check
  • Adding the 4th Finger
  • Tetrachords
  • "Pentatonic Song" with 1 and 3
  • New Rhythm Reading
  • D Major Scale
  • Full E Minor Pentatonic Scale
  • "Twinkle" with Rhythms
  • French Folk Song
  • Practice Boxes and "Review Songs or Concepts"
  • Marking Bow Lifts
  • Bow Lift Tetrachord Pieces
  • "Song of the Wind" with Bow Lifts and Practice Boxes
  • "Spectrum" with Practice Box
  • Song Review
  • 2 Tunnel
  • Bow Speed
  • "Lightly Row" - Play along
  • Bow Hold Review
  • Overview of the Module
  • Note-Reading Exercises on G
  • Note-Reading Exercises on C
  • "Basic" Rhythms with 1, 2, 3, and 4
  • "Flower" with 1, 2, 3, and 4 Optional on G
  • "Moving" with 1, 2, 3, and Optional on C
  • G Scale
  • C Scale
  • D Minor Pentatonic Scale
  • A Minor Pentatonic Scale
  • Tetrachords on G
  • Tetrachords on C
  • E Minor Pentatonic Scale - 2 Octave
  • Review 2 - Tunnel
  • "Lightly Row" on D and G
  • "Fiddle Song" Play Along
  • "Andantino" on G and C
  • "Twinkle" Theme on G and C Major
  • Finger Pattern Two
  • Finger Pattern Two Tetrachords
  • "Bohemian Folk Song" Play Along
  • "Sad Twinkle" Play Along
  • Elbow Swing Review
  • "E Pentatonic Song" on All Strings
  • "Sourwood Mountain" Play Along
  • Finger Pattern Etude
  • Recap of Level 1 and How to Practice
  • Postural Issues
  • Standing versus Sitting
  • Performance 1
  • Performance 2
  • Performance 3
  • Performance 4

Viola Level 2

By Gary DePaolo
  • 131 Lessons
  • Gary DePaolo
  • Here's Where to Start