{"id":13860,"date":"2019-02-25T10:40:13","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T15:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/?page_id=13860"},"modified":"2025-08-08T14:00:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T18:00:18","slug":"viola-curriculum","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/faq\/student-curriculum\/viola-curriculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Viola Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level I<br \/><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Standards and Requirements<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #61812a\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Establish good posture and physical coordination<\/li>\n<li>Proper left-hand shape<\/li>\n<li>Awareness of 2<sup>nd<\/sup> finger pattern placement<\/li>\n<li>Use of bow to produce proper articulation (long\/short) and dynamics (loud\/soft?<\/li>\n<li>Proper bow hold (Bent thumb, curved pinky, soft knuckles)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Scales<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One 1 octave scale<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Two pieces from Suggested Repertoire<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Etude<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>*no etude requirement<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Suggested Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Solo Time for Strings, Etling Book 1<\/li>\n<li>Essential Elements for Viola, Book 1<\/li>\n<li>Suzuki, Volume 1<\/li>\n<li>Applebaum Scales for viola volume 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level II<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Standards and Requirements<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Consistent good posture and physical coordination<\/li>\n<li>Easy double stops in first position (open strings)<\/li>\n<li>Simple shifting technique from first position to third position<\/li>\n<li>Varied bowing patterns in scales, etudes, solo or arpeggios<\/li>\n<li>Sustained tone production<\/li>\n<li>String crossings with separate, slurs and hooked bowings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Scales<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One 1 octave major scale<\/li>\n<li>One 1 octave minor scale<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One piece, memory not required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Suggested Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Samuel Flor- I like to play scales for Viola<\/li>\n<li>Applebaum Scales for Viola, Volume 2<\/li>\n<li>Building Technic with Beautiful Music, Applebaum, volume 1<\/li>\n<li>Beautiful Music to learn by Rote, Applebaum, Volume 1<\/li>\n<li>Suzuki Volume 1, no.15 and forward or any from Volume 1<\/li>\n<li>Solo Time for Strings, Etling, Book 2-3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level III<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Standards and Requirements<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Posture and well-balanced body motions<\/li>\n<li>Fluidity in shifting from first to third positions<\/li>\n<li>Usage of 2<sup>nd<\/sup> position<\/li>\n<li>Basic vibrato motion<\/li>\n<li>Use of dynamics and musical expression<\/li>\n<li>Ability to bow on the sounding point with good bow direction<\/li>\n<li>Introducing Treble clef<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Scales<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One 2 octave major scale with tonic arpeggio<\/li>\n<li>One 2 octave minor scale<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Etude<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Any one etude from the following<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wolfahrt, Book 1<\/li>\n<li>Hoffmann Etudes<\/li>\n<li>Whistler, Introducing the positions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One piece, memory not required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Suggested Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Whistler, Introducing the positions, Volume 1<\/li>\n<li>Lifschey, Scales in the First position<\/li>\n<li>Mogill Scale studies for viola<\/li>\n<li>Building Technic with Beautiful Music, Volume 2. Applebaum<\/li>\n<li>Beautiful Music to learn by Rote, Applebaum, Volume 2<\/li>\n<li>Solo Time for Strings, Etling Book 4-5<\/li>\n<li>Kuchler, Concertine in G, op 15<\/li>\n<li>Suzuki, No.9 and forward of volume 2, any from Volume 3, or No. 1 and 2 of Volume 4<\/li>\n<li>Elgar, 6 very easy pieces for Viola<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level IV<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Standards and Requirements<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Correct and well balanced posture<\/li>\n<li>Balanced bow arm and fluid use of fingers, wrist and elbow<\/li>\n<li>Awareness of bow-division, bow-speed and sounding point<\/li>\n<li>Awareness and thoughtful application of printed dynamics<\/li>\n<li>Reliable shifting and intonation<\/li>\n<li>Fluid vibrato motion<\/li>\n<li>Finger coordination<\/li>\n<li>2 octave scales with 7 arpeggio sequences for chosen major and minor scales with correct fingering<\/li>\n<li>Jury program represents varying bowing styles such as legato, martele, staccato and spiccato<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Scales<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One 2 octave major scale with harmonic arpeggio sequence<\/li>\n<li>One 2 octave minor scale with harmonic arpeggio sequence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Etude<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Any one etude from the following<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mazas Etudes Especiales<\/li>\n<li>Wolfahrt Book 2<\/li>\n<li>Whitsler Position Etudes, book 1 or 2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One Double Stop study from either Trott or Hoffman<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>One piece memorized<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Suggested Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0Fiocco, Allegro<\/li>\n<li>Seitz Concertos, Suzuki bk. 4, #1 or2<\/li>\n<li>Solo Time for Strings, Etling, Book 5<\/li>\n<li>Back Unaccompanied Suite No. 1 or 2<\/li>\n<li>Bach, Arioso<\/li>\n<li>Bach, CPE Sonata in G Major<\/li>\n<li>Vivaldi Concertos<\/li>\n<li>Suzuki\u00a0 no.3 and forward of Volume 4 or any from Volume 5<\/li>\n<li>Handel Sonata in A major, Op.1, No.15<\/li>\n<li>Telemann, Concerto for Viola Movements 1&amp;2 or 3&amp;4<\/li>\n<li>Marais, Theme and Variations, (P.Doktor)<\/li>\n<li>Marcello Sonatas<\/li>\n<li>Handoshkin, Concerto<\/li>\n<li>JC Bach Concerto, 1<sup>st<\/sup> or 2<sup>nd<\/sup> Mvts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level V<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Standards and Requirements<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Correct, healthy posture<\/li>\n<li>Artistic use of the bow arm with fluid use of fingers, wrist and elbow.<\/li>\n<li>Proper use of bow-division, bow speed and sounding point<\/li>\n<li>Application of printed dynamics and performing with artistic expression<\/li>\n<li>Fluid and continuous vibrato<\/li>\n<li>3 octave scales with 7 arpeggio sequences, recommended keys C-Eb<\/li>\n<li>Repertoire which utilizes first through 5<sup>th<\/sup> positions<\/li>\n<li>Jury program represents varying bowing styles, including spiccato, legato, martele, staccato<\/li>\n<li>Understanding of articulation markings and musical terminology printed in repertoire<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Scales<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One 3 octave major scale with harmonic arpeggio sequence<\/li>\n<li>One 3 octave minor scale with harmonic arpeggio sequence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Bach<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A single movement of Bach, suggested from suites 1-3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Etude<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>One intermediate etude from the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kreutzer<\/li>\n<li>Mazas Brilliantes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One Intermediate Double Stop study from either Trott or Hoffman<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Any movement of a major concerto, concert piece or major sonata work with piano accompaniment<br \/>Either Bach or the Repertoire selection must be performed from memory<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Suggested Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Accolay, Concerto No.1<\/li>\n<li>Block, Meditation and Processional<\/li>\n<li>Bruch, Kol Nidre<\/li>\n<li>Eccles, Sonata<\/li>\n<li>Elgar, Salut d\u2019amour<\/li>\n<li>Faure, Eelgy<\/li>\n<li>Handel, Concerto in B minor<\/li>\n<li>Hindemith, Trauermusik<\/li>\n<li>Hummel, Fantasy<\/li>\n<li>Kreisler, Sicilienne and Rigadaun, Libieslied, Shon Rosmarin<\/li>\n<li>Massenet, Meditation from &#8220;Thais&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Rachmaninov, Vocalise<\/li>\n<li>Senaille, Allegro Spiritoso<\/li>\n<li>Suzuki Book 5, Seitz Concerto no.3<\/li>\n<li>Suzuki, Book 6, Brahms, Hungarian Dance<\/li>\n<li>JC Bach Concerto, Last movement<\/li>\n<li>Mozart, Adagio and Rondo<\/li>\n<li>Novacek, Perpetual Motion<\/li>\n<li>Ries, Perpetual Motion<\/li>\n<li>Tchaikovsky, Canzonetta<\/li>\n<li>Telemann, 12 unaccompanied fantasies<\/li>\n<li>Vaughan Williams, Suite for viola and orchestra<\/li>\n<li>Zelter Concerto in Eb major, 1<sup>st<\/sup> movement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #61812a\">Level VI<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Standards and Requirements<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Correct, healthy posture<\/li>\n<li>3 octave scales with 7 arpeggio sequences, recommended keys Eb and higher<\/li>\n<li>Reliable core skills, including: variety of distinct bow strokes, observance of dynamics, accurate shifting\/double stops and varied vibrato<\/li>\n<li>Understanding of musical structure and all musical markings<\/li>\n<li>Basic understanding of appropriate stylistic techniques<\/li>\n<li>Repertoire which demands facility in all positions<\/li>\n<li>Use of complex left-hand techniques such as three\/four note chords, harmonics and glissandi<\/li>\n<li>Sensitive and Responsive collaboration with pianist<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Scales (must be different from level 5 jury)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One 3 octave major scale with harmonic arpeggio sequence<\/li>\n<li>One 3 octave minor scale with harmonic arpeggio sequence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Bach<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Any movement of Bach from Suites 4-6<\/li>\n<li>OR<\/li>\n<li>Any 2 contrasting movement from Suites 1-3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Etude<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Any Advanced Etude from the following:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc\">\n<li>Lillian Fuchs<\/li>\n<li>Kreutzer<\/li>\n<li>Campangnoli<\/li>\n<li>Fiorello<\/li>\n<li>Dont<\/li>\n<li>Tartini Bowing Variations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Any movement of a major concerto, concert piece or major sonata work with piano accompaniment<\/p>\n<p>*Either Bach or Repertoire selection must be performed by memory, recommended to memorize both.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Suggested Repertoire<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bartok, Roumanian Folk Dances<\/li>\n<li>Bartok, Concerto for Viola and Orchestra<\/li>\n<li>Bloch, Suite Hebraique for viola<\/li>\n<li>Bloch Suite 1919<\/li>\n<li>Bruch Romance<\/li>\n<li>Corelli, La Folia Sonata<\/li>\n<li>Rebecca Clarke Sonata<\/li>\n<li>Enesco Concertpiece<\/li>\n<li>Glinka Sonata<\/li>\n<li>Hindemith, Der Schwanendreher<\/li>\n<li>Hindemith Sonata, op 25, no.1 any 2 mvts<\/li>\n<li>Hindemith, op.11 no. 4<\/li>\n<li>Hoffmeister, Concerto in D<\/li>\n<li>Kreisler, Praeludium and Allegro<\/li>\n<li>Paganini, Moto Perpetuo<\/li>\n<li>Reger, Unaccompanied Suites<\/li>\n<li>Schubert, Arpeggione Sonata<\/li>\n<li>Schumann Marchenbilder<\/li>\n<li>Tibor Serly, Rhapsody<\/li>\n<li>Alan Shulman, Theme and Variations<\/li>\n<li>Hans Sitt, Concertino op 46<\/li>\n<li>Shostokovich Sonata<\/li>\n<li>Stamitz, Concerto in D<\/li>\n<li>Vaughan Williams, Romance<\/li>\n<li>Vieuxtemps, Capriccio<\/li>\n<li>Vieuxtemps, Elegie<\/li>\n<li>Vieuxtemps, Sonata, in Bb<\/li>\n<li>Vitali, Chaconne<\/li>\n<li>Vivaldi, Sonata in G<\/li>\n<li>Walton, Viola Concerto<\/li>\n<li>York-Bowen Concerto<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Last updated: 2\/25\/19<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/handbooks\/student\">Student Handbook Table of Contents<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Level I Standards and Requirements Establish good posture and physical coordination Proper left-hand shape Awareness of 2nd finger pattern placement Use of bow to produce proper articulation (long\/short) and dynamics (loud\/soft? Proper bow hold (Bent thumb, curved pinky, soft knuckles) Scales One 1 octave scale Repertoire Two pieces from Suggested Repertoire Etude *no etude requirement [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":617,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-13860","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"mb":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/author\/noah-lapidus\/","display_name":"Noah Lapidus"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 7 years ago","modified":"Updated 9 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on February 25, 2019","modified":"Updated on August 8, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on February 25, 2019 10:40 AM","modified":"Updated on August 8, 2025 2:00 PM"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":false,"series_order":"","mfb_rest_fields":["title","coauthors","author_meta","relative_dates","absolute_dates","absolute_dates_time","featured_img_caption","featured_img","series_order"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13860"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32719,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13860\/revisions\/32719"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esm4.esm.rochester.edu\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=13860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}