Congratulations on choosing the viola! The viola is the alto voice of the orchestral string world; it is in a lower pitch than a violin, but higher pitch than the cello. It is also an excellent first instrument, because it’s available in fractional sizes, allowing children to size up as they grow. As a music student, or a parent of a music student, you will want to know these basics soon after purchasing or renting your instrument from West Music.
Parts of the Viola
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Taking Your Viola Out of Its Case
The viola is a wooden instrument that should be handled with care. Follow these instructions or the instructions given to you by your music director to prevent damaging the instrument.
- Place your instrument case on a flat, steady surface.
- Make sure the case is facing upwards before opening.
- Release any Velcro or ties holding down the instrument.
- Gently lift the viola out of its case and hold it with both hands.
Before packing up your instrument, make sure to clean the viola and its bow with a soft cloth. Cleaning the instrument, bow, and strings will help maintain the protective varnish on the wood and help the strings last longer. The, carefully place the viola back into its case, again using both hands. Make sure every buckle or snap is fastened and every zipper fully closed before picking up the case again.
Below is a clip from Alfred Music showing you these steps in more detail. Alfred Music is the publisher of the popular Sound Innovations method book series, designed to help young students learn to play.
[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/uL15VBpODwk” width=”360″ height=”240″]
Holding Your Viola
Another key skill to learn early on is how to properly hold your viola. You can do so by following the 3 basic steps outlined below. However, have your child ask their music director or instructor for more specific directions including proper posture.
- Bring the viola out and over your head with the scroll to your left.
- Lower it onto your left shoulder.
- Place the chin rest under your chin, keeping the instrument level with the floor.
Related Articles
- Finger Placement for String Instruments
- String Instrument Care Tips
- 7 Tips for Practicing
- Practice Tips for Young Musicians
Have questions? Need advice? West Music is here for you! Give our school orchestra experts a call at 800-373-2000.
Adapted from Alfred Music’s Sound Innovations for String Orchestra 1: Viola.
Special thanks to our partners at Alfred Music for providing us smartmusic® videos and additional materials.
Aaron Hansen is an experienced K-6 General Music educator, passionate about bringing music to life through the Orff Approach. He holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa. Aaron has completed comprehensive Orff Teacher Training, including three levels at the University of St. Thomas and an Orff Master Class. His dedication to the Orff method took him to the Summer International Course at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria. Aaron also shares his expertise by teaching movement at various Orff Teacher Training Courses and conducting workshops for local Orff Chapters.
