Viola Level 1

  • 131 Lessons
  • 4.7 hours

Start your viola training off right from our engaging expert instructors. You'll learn the basics of how to play, read notes on the alto clef, and perform your first songs.

Course Overview

Requirements
  • Requirement one
  • Requirement two
  • Requirement three

What You'll Learn

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Course curriculum

  • 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

Gary DePaolo

Gary DePaolo received his bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. While attending he studied with Chicago Lyric Opera Principal Violist, Rami Solomonov and was coached in chamber music by the Chicago String Quartet. Having recently completed his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Montana State University, DePaolo is entering his ninth year as the director of the orchestra and guitar programs at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper Wyoming. There he conducts three orchestras and a guitar ensemble. In 2019 his groups joined Laramie High School and the String Academy of Wyoming to travel to and perform in Ireland. DePaolo has been a guest director for the Wyoming State String Clinic and judge for Colorado ASTA. He is also an adjunct string instructor at Casper College and the principal violist of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. Both are positions that he has held for the last 21 years. DePaolo is an avid composer having created underscores for Richard the 3rd, The Diviners, The Scarlet Letter , the Laramie project and various other works. He has always been a collaborator with local bands and musical groups. His group “ Leave it to S.H.I.V.A.” was featured in the Wyoming Arts Council 2021 “Summer Roadtrip” playlist. DePaolo’s private teaching focuses on ease and tension-free viola playing with traditional and nontraditional repertoire.

4.2 out of 5.0
5 Star 85%
4 Star 75%
3 Star 53%
1 Star 20%

Item Reviews - 3

Josaph Manrty27 Oct 2019

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Rita Chawla2 Nov May 2019

" Commodo est luctus eget. Proin in nunc laoreet justo volutpat blandit enim. Sem felis, ullamcorper vel aliquam non, varius eget justo. Duis quis nunc tellus sollicitudin mauris. "

Adam Wilsom10 Nov 2019

" Commodo est luctus eget. Proin in nunc laoreet justo volutpat blandit enim. Sem felis, ullamcorper vel aliquam non, varius eget justo. Duis quis nunc tellus sollicitudin mauris. "

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Start your viola training off right from our engaging expert instructors. You'll learn the basics of how to play, read notes on the alto clef, and perform your first songs.

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