I Used to Play Viola

Treble Clef Version-Richard Reed Parry's Duet For Heart And Breath Treble Clef version for Viola (or other instrument of suitable range) and Piano (or other polyphonic instrument).The performers wear stethoscopespositioned over their hearts so that each can follow his or her own heart rate. Two eighth notes (quavers) correspond to the two sounds of a normal heartbeat and performers should match as closely as possible the staccato andirregular rhythm they hear. When instructed to ?play to breath? the natural cycle of one inhalation and one exhalation or vice versa will determine the length of the bar (two quarter notes/crotchets) without any attempt to makeit metronomic.'This piece is based around the idea of using the widely varying internal rhythms of the performers? bodies as performance parameters. There is no actual tempo or meter built into the piece. The breathingrates of the players are used in alternation with the individual performers? heart rates to determine the pace at which all of the musical material is played. This requires that the performers generally play quietly anddelicately with little or no vibrato so as to be able to hear their heartbeats adequately. This in combination with thenatural variance between the different heart rates results in a kind of delicate musical ?pointillism?:starts and stops which are somewhat staggered parts which repeatedly line up and fall out of synch with each other different individuals? pulses rising and falling. The piece is never performed exactly the same way twice.'- Richard Reed Parry.

This book/CD pack features the complete Piano score plus pull-out solo part. The CD is playable on both your CD player and computer. It is enhanced so that when used in computers it has tempo adjustment software to aid inpractice.

A Complete Guide to the Basics-Learn at your own pace and open the door to the world of Viola music. This Viola method features over 100 great songs and examples and can be used by students who want to teach themselves or by teachers for private or group instruction. Simply follow the tips and lessons in the book as you listen to the audio 111 demonstration tracks in all available online for download or streaming.

50 Duets Can Be Played by Any Comb of String Instr-The intention of Compatible Christmas Duets For Strings is to provide instrument players the opportunity to play fifty popular Christmas carols in arrangements for two instruments.These duets will work with any combination of any two instruments so you can play carols with your friends no matter what instrument they play. There are endless possibilities for using duet combinations for fun and entertainment around the holidays. You can play for family friends or in a concert setting.Compatible Christmas Duets For Strings provides you with interesting and playable arrangements. It can also help to make practice time fun aroundthe holidays and can be used with friends and teachers as well. One of the best ways to improve as a player is to play in small chamber groups and duets are the easiest way to get started. Playing duets with others of similar ability levels or even of greater ability will help to stimulate the growth of your playing.

First Position - Volume 1-Viola Recital Album Volume 1: 9 Recital Pieces in First Position for Viola and Piano or Two ViolasViola Recital AlbumVolumes 1-4 (BA8990-BA8993)These volumes contain a wide selection of easy recital pieces. They are designed as companion volumes to the Early Start on the Viola method but work equally well as a supplement to any other viola method. As all pieces are written entirely in first position they can be used just after a few months of lessons. Well-known as well as unfamiliar pieces provide welcome additional repertoire for young students and teachers.The piano part may be played by the teacher or an advanced student. Alternatively a secondviola part allows duet playing with the teacher during lessons. The Viola Recital Album Volume 1 can be used as a supplement to the Early Start on the Viola method Volumes 1 and 2 (BA 9686 and BA 9687). The 18 pieces in Volume 1 are structured to follow the same progression of finger patterns introduced in the Early Start method. This systematic progression helps the student to solidify the hand position and improve intonation. The basic bowing techniques do not require changes in bow speed or sounding point. The young performer can focus on a straight and beautifully placed bow that produces a pleasing and clear sound.New pieces to supplement the Sassmannshaus Viola methodAll pieces in first positionInclude an additional viola part for duet version and a piano accompaniment

Big Note/Large Print-Warm-ups for the Violist is an adaptation of Warm-ups for the Violinist. It is targeted to help build strengthen and develop the muscles and techniques needed for viola playing. It is especially suited and created for the morecasual violist who is sincerely interested in getting maximum benefit from a minimum of effort. I first tested these scales and exercises on myself for six months faithfully using them for about 20 minutes as warm-ups to my dailypractice. I was rewarded with a definite improvement in my technique. I was actually surprised to see my dexterity grow as I charted my metronomic progress on a calendar. I remember thinking 'I will never be able to play fasterthan this.' But then a couple of weeks later I would indeed climb a notch higher!Through the years I have used these exercises in countless workshops and with private students. The letters of thanks and positive feedback fromstudents who were thrilled with improved violin and fiddle technique have brought me great satisfaction. Progress with these exercises is like the progress of a body builder. Body builders do not get up in the morning and think 'I am going to develop and build my muscles today ' and instantly look like Mr. Atlas. It takes weeks months and for some years to attain results. It must be done over a period of time. Like all diets and exercise programs determination and dedication are most important to success! I sincerely believe that these exercises when faithfully practiced will help violists improve their skills. The exercises will help develop and strengthen muscles usedfor finger dexterity clarity of notes tone bowing-arm control intonation double stops and a flexible bowing-arm wrist. A companion audio play-along recording is available online.

'Die fröhliche Viola' is a viola method for children which is aimed primarily at pupils who start to learn playing the viola without taking a detour to the violin. Those who have already played the violin and use the method as a 'way to change instruments' may skip some pieces or even start with Vol.2.Like 'Die fröhliche Violine' this book intends to make the children have fun while learning to play the viola. For this purpose a stylistically varied range of classical and folkloristic songs and instrumental pieces encourage music-making and small texts provide interesting information on the viola the music and its composers.The viola is used both as a solo and as anaccompanying instrument and the 'hearing' and 'counting' of middle and lower lines are specifically trained. Due to the fact that many songs and secondary parts are notated in the treble clef and thanks to examples for trio and quartet playing this book especially encourages ensemble playing with friends or within the family.

First Position - Volume 4-These volumes contain a wide selection of easy recital pieces. They are designed as companion volumes to the Early Start on the Viola method but work equally well as a supplement to any other viola method. As all pieces are written entirely in first position they can be used just after a few months of lessons. Well-known as well as unfamiliar pieces provide welcome additional repertoire for young students and teachers.The piano part may be played by the teacher or an advanced student. Alternatively a second viola part allows duet playing with the teacher during lessons.The Viola Recital Album Volume 1 can be used as a supplement to the Early Start on theViola method Volumes 1 and 2 (BA 9686 and BA 9687). The 18 pieces in Volume 1 are structured to follow the same progression of finger patterns introduced in the Early Start method. This systematic progression helps the student to solidify the hand position and improve intonation. The basic bowing techniques do not require changes in bow speed or sounding point. The young performer can focus on a straight and beautifully placed bow that produces a pleasing and clear sound.- New pieces to supplement the Sassmannshaus Viola method- All pieces in first position- Include an additional viola part for duet version and a piano accompaniment

5 Collections to give a structured training scheme for the viola player to play in position.Position Shifts is the ultimate book to help you refine your position shifts within the first three positions. Containing 22 instructive exercises and 36 great pieces to play, the book is divided into three chapters, each clearly structured to demonstrate the different ways of shifting positions. The use of ?in-between? notes and colour to highlight a new shift provides extra clarity. In short, this is a well-founded and practical book that can be used alongside any method. The accompaniment provided on the two CDs makes playing even more fun.

The music scene took notice of Erik Satie (1866-1925) all of a sudden: The world premiere of his ballet Parade on 18 May 1917 caused quite a scandal. The production which involved Sergey Diaghilev with his 'Ballets Russes' Pablo Picasso (scenery and costumes) Jean Cocteau (story) as well as Léonide Massine (choreography) divided the music scene of Paris yet made the composer widely known. Satie who hardly had had any solid musical training and lived in Paris for almost all his life developed a new musical style in deliberate rejection of the 'Wagnérisme' of his time. Classical form models new harmonies stylistic ease meditative and clownish elements amalgamated in an original way the perfect example being his 3 Gymnopédies of 1888 the first of which was here arranged for a solo instrument with Piano accompaniment: Thus it is now possible even for non-pianists to play this famous miniature by Satie. Thanks to its easy playability it can also be used for educational purposes.