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Viola Method Books, Assignment

This document provides an assignment involving analyzing and describing ten viola method books. It asks the student to name ten viola method books and identify which ones use an auditive approach versus a reading approach. The student is then asked to choose five of the ten books and describe each one, answering questions about how they would characterize the book, its pedagogical ideas, how the left hand is built up, the musical material used, and whether they would consider using the book and with what type of student. The student provides descriptions of five books from the list: Viola Time Joggers, Bratschenschule, Viola ABC, Früher Anfang auf der Geige, and String Builder.

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266 views

Viola Method Books, Assignment

This document provides an assignment involving analyzing and describing ten viola method books. It asks the student to name ten viola method books and identify which ones use an auditive approach versus a reading approach. The student is then asked to choose five of the ten books and describe each one, answering questions about how they would characterize the book, its pedagogical ideas, how the left hand is built up, the musical material used, and whether they would consider using the book and with what type of student. The student provides descriptions of five books from the list: Viola Time Joggers, Bratschenschule, Viola ABC, Früher Anfang auf der Geige, and String Builder.

Uploaded by

María
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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VIOLIN/VIOLA METHOD BOOKS – ASSIGNMENT

1. Name ten viola method books (author, title)

Renate Bruce-Weber – Die fröhliche Violine


Suzuki Violin School
Neil Mackay – A Modern Viola Method
Louis Metz – Bratschenschule
Katherine and Hugh Colledge – Stepping stones
Kathy and David Blackwell – Viola time joggers
Pirkko Simokoji and Géza Szilvay – Viola ABC
Berta Volmer – Bratschenschule
Egon Saßmannshaus – Früher Anfang auf der Geige
Samuel Applebaum – String Builder

2. Which method(s) of this list of ten build(s) strongly on an auditive approach?

Viola ABC, Suzuki Violin school, Stepping Stones (listening to the accompaniment is a very important
factor in this book).

3. On which approach are the other method(s) build? Describe the approach shortly.

Other methods prioritize reading (pitch and rhythm), and they usually include some kind of
explanation at the beginning, connecting the music reading and the viola.

4. Please choose five out of your list of ten titles and describe them, using the following
questions:
o How would you characterize this viola method (like presenting it to someone who
doesn’t know the method – ca 50-100 words)
o What pedagogical or inspirational idea(s) struck you positively in this method? (for
example: an idea from the author’s preface, the use of solfa, the extensive attention
for relaxation exercises, the ideas of the author about the well-being of children
through music-making, specific bow-division exercises… etc)
o How is the left hand built up? (order of finger patterns, approach about intonation,
preparory exercises, speed of development)?
o Please comment on the musical material that is used (styles, solo/duo/ensemble,
length of pieces, beauty of the musical selection, childrens songs, folklore, variety,
character of pieces? – ca 50-100 words)
o What else would you like to comment on regarding this method?
o Which method(s) has/have your preference?
o Would you consider using this violin method book(s) once you would be teaching? If
yes, why and with which pupil-profile in mind? If no, why not?

1.) Viola Time Joggers

This is a method for beggines (children) that contains easy pieces in first position. There are pieces
for all the strings, but the student is not required to play more than two strings in the same piece. All
the pieces have an accompaniment, either duo, ensemble or CD. I really like how approachable these
pieces are, without being boring, and that some of them even include lyrics, making the learning
process much easier. It’s also very positive that it includes a CD with the accompaniment, so that the
children can play the pieces at home and have fun. This method introduces fingers one by one,
starting with the 1st. I used this method as a child and I have nice memories about it, so I would
definitely use it with my students.

2.) Bratschenschule (Berta Volmer)


This method contains lots of detailed explanation, making it great for adults, but maybe not really
suitable for children. This book presents the four fingers at the same time. There are some exercises
for viola solo, as well as duos. In the duos, the student part is sometimes as easy as open strings, so
that the student can get used to play with other people from the very beginning.

3.) Viola ABC

This is a very special method that includes Hungarian, Finnish, Austrian and Ukrainian folksongs. This
book does not include standard music reading (only briefly, at the end), but it uses a system with
colours and images, finding a character for every string. It starts with open strings, and then it
introduces the fingers, although I was a bit confused on the order in which they are introduced. I’m
not sure if I would use everything from this book, because is a little bit confusing, but I would
definitely use the open strings part at the beginning.

4.) Früher Anfang auf der Geige

This book is meant for children older than four years old. It starts with an explanation of all the music
symbols, since this method is very “reading-oriented”. All the exercises have lyrics, and the student is
meant so sing them before playing them. After several exercises with open strings and with strings
changes, the book starts with the fingers in the order 2nd, 4th, 1st and 3rd, which I found strange. I liked
the layout of this book, with drawings and very big notes. I also liked that many of the pieces come
with a “Vorübung” or preliminary exercise designed specifically for it. There are two things I didn’t
like about this book: first, I thought that the steps are too big for children (it introduces new concepts
all the time, so the teacher would need the help of another book to actually practice those concepts
and secure them). And second, all of the pieces are for solo violin, which can be a little bit boring for
a child.

5.) String builder


This method is very oriented in reading, introducing new rhythmic concepts, together with viola
ones, like a new string, or finger. I think that the steps in this method are small enough to be very
approachable for children, although the layout is not really attractive. Most of the pieces are for solo
viola, but there are some simple duos as well.

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