VIOLA

Level 1A:
Good posture: both left hand position and bow hold
Good intonation
Correct rhythm
Use of whole bow
Meters 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4
1 octave D major scale
Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 1:
Twinkle
French Folk Song
Song of the Wind
Go Tell Aunt Rhody
May Song
Allegro
Perpetual Motion*
*Graduation Piece, singles and doubles

Level 1B:
Same as Level 1A and:
Good intonation and clear tone
Use of four fingers and four strings
Use of low second finger
Bowings: half or whole bows, legato, dtach, staccato
Awareness of bow division Meters: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4
One-octave major scale and tonic arpeggio in G and D, starting on open string.
Two-octave major scale and tonic arpeggio in C.
Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 1 and 2:
Rigadoon
Etude*
Minuets 1
Minuet 2
Minuet 3
Musette
Hunters Chorus
*Graduation Piece, singles and doubles

Level 2:
Same as Level 1B and:
Simple dynamic contrast
One-octave major scale and tonic arpeggio in Bb or Eb (lower octave).
Two-octave major scale and tonic arpeggio in C, D or F (with stretch at top, or one octave and a
sixth).
One-octave melodic minor scale and tonic arpeggio in G starting from the open string.
Suzuki Viola School, Vol 2:
Waltz

Bouree
Two Grenadiers
Lully Gavotte
Gavotte Mignon
Minuet in G (Beethoven)
Minuet (Boccherini)*
*Graduation Piece

Level 3:
Same as Level 2 and:
Bowings: dtach, staccato, martel and legato
Introducing shifting above the first position
Confident use of whole bow and bow division
Dynamics: crescendo and diminuendo
Beginning of vibrato on longer notes
Ritardando
Two-octave major scale and tonic arpeggio in D, Eb, F, and G, shifting or fixed position.
One-octave major scale and tonic arpeggio in Ab, Db (lower octave) and A.
One-octave melodic minor scale and tonic arpeggio in C, G, or D starting on open string.
Suzuki Viola School, Vol 3, Barbara Barber Solos for Violists, Vol. 1 and First Repertoire for
Viola, book 3:
Martini Gavotte
Humoresque
Becker Gavotte
(Big Foot Lou)
(*Webster Scherzo)
(Kroll Donkey Doodle)
Bach Bouree I and II
*Graduation Piece

Level 4:
Same as Level 3 and:
Playing in third position
Some double stops, accented strokes, lifts and beginning spiccato
Introduce broken thirds, sixths and octaves
Musical expression through phrasing and dynamics
Vibrato used in pieces
Two-octave major scale and tonic arpeggio in Ab, A, or Bb.
Two-octave scale and tonic arpeggio in Db, Eb or E. Play both the melodic and the harmonic
versions of one:
Two-octave minor scale and tonic arpeggio in C, D, or G.
AND:
Two-octave chromatic C scale. Slur two eighths.
AND:
Introduction to Three-octave C major scale
Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 4 and Barber Solos for Young Violists, Vol. 1:
Seitz Concerto No. 2, mvt 3
Seitz Concerto No. 5, mvts. 1

Telemann Concerto in G Major, mvts 1, 2 and 4*

(La Cinquaintaine)
Marcello Sonata in E minor, mvt. 1: http://petrucci.mus.auth.gr/imglnks/usimg/
8/81/IMSLP294069-PMLP51302-marcellemviola.pdf
*Graduation Piece

Level 5:
Same as Level 4 and:
Balanced left hand, gaining comfort in shifting and vibrato
More extended use of shifts and playing above first position with accuracy
Use of some double stops in pieces
Developing off-string bowings with flexibility in the bow arm and hand
Preparing for double-stop scales in one octave: broken thirds, broken sixths and broken octaves
Expressive playing including rubato, dynamics and vibrato
Developing sense of tonal beauty
Two-octave major scale in Db, E, Gb, Ab, A and Bb. Slur four eighths or eight sixteenths.
Three-octave major scale in C, D, Eb, and F. Slur one set of triplet eighths or four eighths.
Two-octave minor (play both melodic and harmonic versions) scale in C, D, E, or G. Slur four
eighths.
Three-octave chromatic C scale. Slur two or four eighths.
Suzuki Viola School, Vol. 4-6: Vivaldi Concerto in d minor, mvt. 1, *Telemann Concerto for 2
Violas (1 or 2) entire, Marcello Sonata in G Major, mvts 2 and 4, Veracini Gigue, *Spinning
Wheel
*Graduation Piece

Level 6:
Same as Level 5 and:
Growing skills in shifting and playing in upper positions
Playing chords and short passages of double stops with clear tone
Increased skills with mixed bowings and bow control (speed of the bow)
Learning sautill
Accuracy in complex rhythms
More fluid and even vibrato used in pieces.
Beauty of tone in sustained passages
Initial sense for style in varied periods of music
Two-octave major scale in Ab, A, Bb, or B. Slur four eighths or eight sixteenths.
Three-octave major scale in Db, D, Eb, E or F. Slur one set of triplet eighths or four eighths.
Three-octave melodic minor scale in C, D, E, or F. Slur one set of triplet eighths or four eighths.
Two-octave harmonic minor scale in E or G. Slur one set of triplet eighths or four eighths.
Two-octave chromatic C scale. Slur four eighths.

Suzuki Viola School Books 5-6:

Bach/Casadesus Concerto in C minor mvt. 1 and *3,
Bach Cello Suite no. 1 Prelude and contrasting mvt
Fiocco Allegro
Bohm Sarabande
Marais Five old French Dances:
http://imslp.org/wiki/Pices_de_viole,_Livre_IV_(Marais,_Marin)
*Graduation Piece

Level 7:
Same as Level 6 and:
Accuracy of pitch and rhythm
Extended fast passages played evenly and cleanly
Developing agility in trills
Working on two-octave double-stopped scales
Increasing bowing skills in sautill, spiccato and complex string crossing
More power and beauty of tone
Growing familiarity with varied styles demanded by different periods
Three-octave major scale in Db, D, Eb, E, F, or G. Slur two sets of triplet eighths or eight
sixteenths.
Three-octave melodic minor scale in C, D, E, or F. Bowings-same as #1.
Two-octave harmonic minor scale in E or G. Slur one set of triplet eighths or four eighths.
Three-octave C chromatic scale. Slur two or four eighths.
*Vanhal Concerto in C (entire)
Bach Cello Suite 3 (two contrasting mvts)
Y. Bowen Sonata No. 1 in C minor mvt 1
Hummel Fantasy
*Graduation Piece

Level 8:
Same as Level 7 and:
Confidence and accuracy in shifting including double stops
Developing varied speeds and widths of vibrato
More speed and agility in bowing
Wider dynamic range
More power, projection and beauty of tone
Increasing conviction and musical maturity in a range of styles
Three-octave major scale in Db, D, Eb, E, F or G. Slur two sets of triplet eighths or eight
sixteenths.
Three-octave melodic minor scale in C, D, E, F, or G. Bowingssame as #1.
One-octave major scale in C or D in double-stopped octaves. Slur two eighths.
Bach cello suite no 2 (two contrasting movements)
Vaughan Williams: Suite, Group 1 (except Christmas Dance)
Bruch Romanze, Op 85
*Stamitz Concerto in D, op. 1
*Graduation Piece

Level 9:
Same as Level 8 and:
Increased fluency and ease of shifting in high positions and in double stops
Clean and even passagework and extended fast passages
Study of artificial harmonics
Continued overall progress in technical skills and tone production
Further development of expressive vocabulary in shifting, vibrato, tone colors, and double stops,
varied to suit interpretation
Heightened development of a sense of style and instrumental imagination
Four-octave major scale in C
Three-octave major scale in Db, D, Eb, E, F, or G. Slur two sets of triplet eighths or eight
sixteenths followed by the modulating series of arpeggios (as in Flesch or Sevik) slurred as
one set of triplet eighths or more.
Three-octave melodic or harmonic minor scale in C, D, E, F, or G followed by tonic and
subdominant arpeggios. Bowings-same as Major.
One-octave major scale in double-stopped thirds in Eb or F. Slur two eighths.
*Bloch Suite Hebraique
Hoffmeister Concerto in D (entire)
Praeludium and Allegro
Vaughan Williams: Suite no 1 including Christmas Dance
Weber: Andante and Rondo Ongarese Op 35
*Graduation Piece

Level 10:
Same as Level 9 and:
Fluent playing over the entire range of the instrument
Some experience with virtuosic bowings like firm staccato, flying staccato, and jet
In-depth familiarity with scales, arpeggios and double stops such as those in Flesch Scale
System and other equivalent studies
Familiarity with musical forms and styles of different periods
Awareness of notions in music theory and harmony and their relationship to interpretation
Students are encouraged to develop their own interpretation of repertoire
Three-octave major scale in Db, D, Eb, E, F, or G. Slur two sets of triplet eighths or eight
sixteenths followed by the modulating series of arpeggios (as in Flesch or Sevik). Arpeggios
slur one set of triplet eighths or more.
Three-octave melodic or harmonic minor scale in C, D, E, F, or G followed by tonic and
subdominant arpeggios. Bowingssame as #1.
Two-octave major scale in octaves or thirds. Any key. Slur two eighths
*Schubert Arpeggione Sonata
Walton Viola Concerto
Berlioz Harold in Italy
Bartok Viola Concerto (mvts 2 and 3)
Vaughan Williams Suite No. 2 or 3
Bach Cello Suite No. 4 (two contrasting movements)
*Graduation Piece

Recommended Literature after Level 10:

Hindemith Der Schwanendreher
Duet: Mozart Sinfonia Concertante
Duet: Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia
Brahms Sonata, op 120, no 1
Paganini La Campanella (showpiece)
Benjamin/Primrose Jamaican Rumba