ESSENTIAL A COMPREHENSIVE STRING METHOD BY MICHAEL ALLEN ROBERT GILLESPIE PAMELA TELLEJOHN HAYES ARRANGEMENTS BY JOHN HIGGINS a Ba Seat - HaArel CON ARM:THE VIOLA Take Special Care String instruments are delicate. Follow your teachers {guidelines in caring for your instrument, and it will last forever. + Follow your teacher’ instructions when removing the instrument from the case. + Protect your instrument from heat, cold, and quick changes in temperature. Fingerboard + Always wipe off the instrument with a soft dry cloth, Be sure to remove all fingerprints and rosin. Serre PEEP ao + Place a cloth over the top of the viola before closing the case. Upper bout Accessories + Rosin + Shoulder rest “C"bout + Soft cloth “hole + Extra set of strings Bridge Sound post (inside) Fine tuners Tailpiece Chin rest End button THE BOW Tip Stick Winding Adjusting screw Bow hair Ferrule Frog + Never touch the bow har. + Keep the bow in your case until directed by your teacher.HOLDING YOUR INSTI RUMENT ‘The best way to learn to play your instrument is to practice one skill ata time. Repeat each step until you are comfortable demonstrating | itfor your teacher and classmates. shoulder position, Guitar Position Step 1 Place the instrument case flat on the floor with the handle facing you. Open the case and lift the instrument up by the neck. identify all parts of the viola. Step 2 Cradle the viola under your right arm. Raise the scroll to shoulder height, Be sure the back of the viola is flat against your stomach, Step 3 Identify the etter names of each string: C (lowest pitch), G, D, A. Step 4 Raise your right thumb over the strings while continuing to hold the instrument, Pluck the strings as directed by your teacher. Plucking the strings is called pizzicato, and is abbreviated pizz. © Many viola players begin by playing their instrument in guitar position. As you learn the basics, your teacher will help you change to. Shoulder Posi Step 1 (Standing) - Stand with feet about a shoulder’s width apart, (Sitting) - Sit on the front part of the chair Step 2 Turn your left foot to the 10 o'clock position. Slide your right foot back. Adjust your position to place ‘more weight on your left foot. Step 3 Hold your instrument at eye level parallel to the floor. Curve your left hand around the upper bout. Find the end button with your right hand. Step 4 Bring the instrument down to your shoulder. The end button should be near the middle of your neck. Turn your head slightly to the left, and place your jaw on the chin rest. Be sure the scroll does not point toward the floor. Guitar Position Shoulder PositionBeat = The Pulse of Music ‘The beat in music should be very steady, just like your pulse. Quarter Note J-iseatofsound Notes tell us how high or low to play, and how long to play. Quarter Rest } Beat of Silence Rests tell us to count silent beats. Music Staff the musicstaffhas5 lines and 4 spaces. c . es Meosureé Measure Music: ‘Staff Bar es Bar lines divide the music staff into measures, a 2 A Barline BarLine ‘BahLine Measures ‘The measures on this page have four heats each. 1. TUNING TRACK Wait quietly for your teacher to tune your instrument. 2. LET'S PLAY “OPEN D” Pizzicato (picz.) -a Pluck the strings 0 << Openstring 3. LET'S PLAY “OPEN A” pie. Keep a steady beat, TWO’S A TEAM Piz AT PIERROT’S DOOR The melody is on your CD. pice.Clefs indicate 2 sat of note names. FACEG EG BDFA Time Signature 4 4 beats permeasure The time signature tells us how many beats are in (Meter) A Jortgetsonebest each measure and what kind of note gets one beat, Double Bar | A double bar indicates the end of a piece of music. 6. JUMPING JACKS identity the clefand ime signature before playing Double Bar ‘y 7, MUX ‘EM UP ice Repeat Sign Go back to the beginning and play the music again. Counting Count 1&4 283 8 4 @ = Tap toe down on the number and Tp TL TL TL 1 uponter Always count when playing or resting. 8. COUNT CAREFULLY Keep a steady beat when playing or resting. lee Repeat sign y Cons 1 &@ 2&3 B84& TH2e&3ZB4H 1EPESHAR TKHIRZRAB 9. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS QUIZ Write in the counting before you play. vize.6 _ SHAPING THE LEFT HAND Step 1 Shape your left hand as shown. Be certain your palm faces you. = Open string ‘st finger 2nd finger 3rd finger = ath finger Step 2 Bring your hand to the fingerboard. Place your fingers on the D string, keeping your hand shaped as shown below. Be sure your frst finger forms a square with the fingerboard, and your wrist is telaxed and straight. is played with 3 fingers Fe croscwn zieoee Eisen rina fon the D string. ‘onthe D string. on the D string, Listening Skills. — Play what your teacher plays. Listen carefully. 10, LETS READ “G” Start memorizing the note names. 3 pie ¢ ‘A sharp raises the sound of notes and remains in effect for the entire measure. Notes without sharps are called natural notes. Sharp Ti. LETS READ “FE” (F-sharp) 2 ize 4 Play ail FS. Sharps apply to the entire measure. 12. LIFT OFF pie. 3 2SHAPING THE RIGHT HAND : : OW. Cane es eS Hold Step 1 Hold a pencil in your left hand at eye level Pen Step 2 Hang your right fingers over the top of the pencil, as shown, 3 Step 3 Place your right 4th finger on top of the pencil, © Step 4 Touch the tip of your sight thumb to the pencil just opposite your 2nd finger. The curve of your ~ thumb will form an oval with the finger. Step 5 Lean your ight hand so the first finger rests on. top ofthe pencil between the 1st and 2nd joints. Keep your fingers relaxed. Remove your left hand from the pencil, Practice shaping your hand on the pencil untilit feels natural to you, IK Practice BOW BUILDER ONE daily. - 13. ON THE TRAIL Sayorsing the note names before you pay. pic BE 14, LET'S READ “E” pice 1 15, WALKING SONG vin 3 2 16, ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS QUIZ draw the missing symbolswhere they beiong betoreyoupiy: JQ 4 ij pies.8 BOW BUILDER TWO Pencil Hold Exercises m Outta Here Finger Taps Wave good-bye while keeping your “Tap your first finger. Then tap yout wrist elaxed, fourth finger Thumb Flexers : Knuckle Turnovers Yo Flex your thumb in and out “Tum your hand over and be sure your thumb knuckle is bent, as shown, Knuckle Turnovers BOW BUILDER THREE Bowing Motions Swingin’ Out ‘Put one finger inside your right elbow ‘and swing your arm, as shown. Swingin’ Out 17. HOP SCOTCH plz. cont Ve 28 348 1e82e4 304FH THE2GSH4H TH2eR aE Folk songs have been an important part of cultures for centuries and have been passed on from generation to generation. Folk song melodies help define the sound of a culture or region. This folk song comes from the Slavic region of eastern Europe. 18. MORNING DANCE 7 Slavic Folk Song izz 2 0 19, ROLLING ALONG pies Gotonextline.Creer Place your instrument in shoulder position as shown on page 3 Then practice the following exercises with your left hand. ger Taps Tap fingertips on any string. Practice in different combinations of fingers. Pull Aways Pull your left hand away from the side of the neck while keeping. the thumb and fingers on the instrument. k Strummin’ Along Strum the strings with your ath finger while swinging your elbow ry under the viola, as shown, Sroimupia Aang, 20. GOOD KING WENCESLAS : i; Welsh Folk Song ize ey A Keep fingers down when you see this bracket. 21, SEMINOLE CHANT piza com 14 2&3 e848 Te2e3e4e 18283 4H TH2ATA4E 22, ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS QUIZ - LIGHTLY ROW pie O 9 @ BES A Prepare FA before playing,isplayedwith 3fingers (or is played with 2 fingers. B ‘is played with 1 finger -on the A sting. on the A string. onthe A sting, Listening Skills Piay what your seacher plays. Listen carefully = Ledger ines Ledger Lines Ledger lines extend the music staff higher or lower. © B= Ledgerlines 23. LETS READ “D” pic 3 24, LETS READ “Ci” (C-sharp) te # __ fee é pie 25. TAKE OFF pie, 3 le 26, CARIBBEAN ISLAND pie 2 fie e@ gre eae tm ie * ie 8 p fe27. OLYMPIC HIGH JUMP ise. 30. RIGHT BACK UP pie 0 é © Scale —*seale is sequence of notes in ascending ot descending order, Like a musical ladder‘ each note Is the next consecutive step of the scale, This is your D Scale. The first and last notes are both D. 31, DOWN THE D SCALE Remember to memorize the note names. pie. _B 2 $2. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS QUIZ - UP THE D SCALE i pies. 9 1 2 32 On The Bow (Early Bow Hold) ‘Step 1 Identify ll parts of the bow (see page 2).Hold the bow in your left hand near the tip with the frog pointing to the right. | Step 2 Put your right thumb and 2nd finger on the bow stick near | the middle of the Bow. EE a i Step 3. Shape your ight hand on the bow stick as shown. : | Step 4 Tum your right hand over and be sure your thumb and fingers i are curved, | Step 5 Hold the bow and repeat the exercises on page 8 Ear Bow Hold @ Alert Do not place your bow on the instrument until instructed to do so by your teacher. 33. SONG FOR CHRISTINE f of -e—? te, 34, NATALIE'S ROSE fememberto count. ize 35. ESSENTIAL CREATIVITY How many words can you create by drawing notes on the staff below? Bieett ——— Frame EG GFolk songs often tell stories. This Israeli folk song describes a game played with a dreidel,a small table-top spinning toy g that has been enjoyed by families for centuiries. The game is especially popular in December around the time of Hanukkah. s 36. DREIDEL pix Israel Folk Song | Shadon Bowing is bowing without the instrument | Step 1 Tighten the bow hair as instructed by your teacher | Step 2 Place the rosin in your left hand. Hold the bow at < the balance point: : sp 3. Shadow bow by slowly moving the bow back and forth. ‘on the rosin. Be surato move the bow, not the rosin. Down Bow [Move the bow away trom your body (to the right) _Up Bow V_ Move the bow toward your body (to the left) 37. ROSIN RAP #1 Bow these exercises on the rosin. ¥ nm oY om Y¥ gion ty i,t, ji, 1, Down Rest Up Rest Down Rest Up Rest. Down Up Down Up Down Rest Up Rest 38. ROSIN RAP #2 nov oon vom oy nov ny giti, wij, 3),,i),, Ate ap eae tect eget ice teagan tig tg Ee 39. ROSIN RAP #3 oS rr Up Rest Rest Down Up Rest Rest Down Rest Up Rest. Down Up Down Up aus a ~ eu [a a e =40. CAROLINA BREEZE pizz. 3 2 3 ees cut Te 2&3 eS eR 1He2es Hae THe2ees ese THPHREAE 41, JINGLE BELLS ‘pie. J.S.Plerpont 2 42. OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM American Folk Song pizz. 5 o ° 1 fe Practice BOW BUILDER FIVE daily,"Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1751) was @ child prodigy who frst nerformed in ‘concert at Se Helived during the time of the American Revolution (1775-1783). Mozart's music is melodic and i a imaginative, He wrote hunted ‘of compositions, including 2 piano piece based on this familiar song. 43. A MOZART ee Adapted by W. A, Mozart piss f° ~@ a OEE St iieeeee cae eee = Cocpomescyde of oe x £ — rs A key signature tells us what notes to play with sharps and flats throughout the “entire piece. Play all F's as Fé(-sharp) and all CS as C4(C-sharp) when you see this key signature, which is called“D Major.” 44, MATTHEW’S MARCH 3 pez Tee Te ® » Te ‘ fet 2 Pee 1 3 eee 46. ESSENTIAL CREATIVITY Pray the notes below. Then compose your own music for the last two measures using the notes youhaveleaned with thisrhythm J gd gd fete EEE Bei a a16 ee ‘Let's Bow! Peasy arly Bow Hold Regular Bow Hold Thumb Placement Step 1 Hold be instrument with your left hand on the ‘Your teacher will suggest when to begin moving “upper bout as illustrated. your bow hand toward the frog, as shown in the Regular Bow Hold illustration. The tip of your : | ‘thumb will move tothe place on the stick where | Shep 2 Hold the bow athe helance poine Fay Bow Hold. g Fttouches the frog, | __ Nout right elbow shouldbe slahty lower than your hand. : Listening Skills Piay whatyourteacher plays. Listen carefully. Your tone should be smooth and even. 47. BOW ON THE D STRING arco 2 Play with the bow on the string. mov v z movom vy 48. BOW ON THE A STRING movom yv mov 217 Ae String Levels. Your arm moves when bowing on different strings. ‘Memorize these guidelines: + Raise your aim to play lawer-pitched strings. Reise arm = lower string Lower arm = higher string Lower your aim to play higher-pitched strings. 49, RAISE AND LOWER eee Raise your arm. mn vy om_y Lower your arm, 50, TEETER TOTTER Bow Lift 9 Liftthe bowand return to its starting point. 52. A STRAND OF D‘N’ A q Bow Lift mov om iy my m+ 53, ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS QUIZ - OLYMPIC CHALLENGE yom ¥ mY @ aia ja he Zl Combining Both Hands Using notes from the D major scale, echo what your teacher plays. Exampl | i | 1 | Teacher Student Teacher ‘student Teacher Student Example B: Teacher ‘Student Teacher Student Teacher Student18 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Congratulations? You are now ready to practice like an advanced player by combining left and right hand skills while reading music. | When learning a new line of music follow these steps for success: Step 1 Tap your toe and say or sing the fetter names, Step 2 Play pize. and say or sing the letter names. Step 3 Shaclow bow and say orsing the letter names. Step 4 sow and play as written: 54, BOWING ”"G” 3 I Qa Qa E Boy BSS SS SSS DOWN AND UP 3 We» rea vB 57. TRIBAL LAMENT 1 A Hite 3 (Bove Litt) 58. BOWING ”D” 5 0 2 ee 2 2 ¥ 59. LITTLE 2 2 pe e @ ee fe # Bid £ 3 e_¢ ¢ ae] 2ase4ea ta2r®ezsase61, ELEVATOR UP 0 mo as 62. DOWN THE D MAJOR SCALE 3 2 a v a- £ e £ 2g - Bap — F = | fo £ = = 80. GRANDPARENT’S DAY Andante n === = Repeat the section of music enclosed by the repeat signs. gs {if 1st and and endings are used, they are played as usual— fe ‘but go back only to the first repeat sign, not to the beginning.) 81. MICHAEL ROW THE BOAT ASHORE araan pane sby Moderato y y n ¢ o e I ge pg e. je 2 7 fe = 82. TEXAS TWO-STRING Holding your vioio 44 = ath finger pizz a) (1) @ in shoulder position, pize. this exercise with your left hand 4th finger. E :23 ara Yourath finger is often Used to match the pitch ~_ ofthe next highest open string creating a smoother tone and fewer changes between strings for bowing, 83, FOUR BY FOUR ae @___@ _» 9 oe =s = = + + a : 84. 4TH FINGER MARATHON 85. HIGH FLYING A German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was one of the world’s greatest composers. He was completely deaf - by 1802. Although he could not hear music like we do, he could hear’ it in his mind, The theme of his final Symphony No.9 __ Is called “Ode To Joy/"and was written to the text of a poem by Friedrich von Schille."Ode To Joy’ was featured in concerts celebrating the reunification of Germany in 1990. : 86. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS QUIZ - ODE TO JOY Moderato Ludwig van Beethoven n 4 424 PERFORMANCE SPOTLIGHT = sis ‘fe Good performers are on time with their instruments and music ready, dressed appropriately, and know their music well. 87. SCALE WARM-UP nh 88. FRERE JACQUES ~ Round (when group A reaches, group 8 begins at D) Moderato On French Folk Song @ 7 y 4 a 3 ‘Two or more pitches sounding at the same time form a chord or harmony. Chord, Harmony jivasijnoutinis book A ~ Melody and B = Harmony 89. BILE ‘EM CABBAGE DOWN - Orchestra Arrangement Allegro American Fiddle Tune “<< Measure NumberPERFORMANCE SPOTLIGHT : 90. ENGLISH ROUND Andante BY 91, LIGHTLY ROW - Orchestra Arrangement ‘Moderato French composer Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) was the originator of the operetta and played the cello, An operetta is a = term of entertainment tat combines several of the ine arts together vocal and instrumental muse drama dance andvsual arts, One of his most famous pieces isthe Can-Can’ dance from Orphius And The Underworid. This popula work wos writen & 11858, just three years before the start of the American Civil War (1861-1865). a 92. CAN-CAN ~ Orchestra Arrangement Jacques Offenbach Allegro Art John Higgins €/ What were the strong points of your performance?26 RESO R eae A D G c fs played with 3 fingers Bee is played with 1 finger ‘on the G string, onthe G string. on the G sting. _ Key Signature s ‘ ey signa Play all Fs as F4 (F-sharp) and all C's as C4 (natural) G MAJOR 93. LET’S READ “G” A ¥ == | a 4 Play F's and C's in this key signature, 94. LET’S READ “C” (C-natural) 3 Bae + ; pal 95. LET'S READ “B” 297. WALKING AROUND name the notes before you play. A a ae EPeeeIeroSeereepEeEetI 98. G MAJOR SCALE write the note names before you play. n 99. FOURTH FINGER D A 4 4th finger on G string = Open D pitch, bo Time Signature © = commontime Conducting | My Practice conducting (Meter) Same as J ‘this four-beat pattern. AQOIHL 100, LOW DOWN a 101. BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP Moderato A Ee aa oe » RL 102. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS QUIZ - THIS OLD MAN ModeratoB = 3beatspermeaswe Conducting | Practice conducting 4 197 eee coetes this three-beat pattem. Dotted Half Note —>- oe sass d 4 = a. Varese Adotaddshalfthe 2 beats +1 beat = 3 beats turer value of the note. 103, RHYTHM RAP Shadow bow and count before playing. A v n ¥ 5 v n ¥ gi J io J 14 id 4 couns1 &@ 2 @ 3 &@ Fe 28 3 ®@ 1H 2e FH& TH 2HZ SE 104, COUNTING THREES A 105. D MAJOR SCALE IN THREES rn ‘ 106. FRENCH FOLK SONG Moderato French Folk Song A 107, ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS QUIZ - SAILOR’S SONG Allegro, English Sea Songae Atleisa curved ine that connects notes ofthesamepitch. |) J > poate Play a single note for the combined counts of the tied notes. A0UHL 108. FIT TO BE TIED A st Asluris.a curved line that connects two or more different pitches. ur Play slurred notes together in the same bow stroke, 109. STOP AND GO fn Sse LING Dy ~~ petite at = EES eeerere =| 112, D MAJOR SLURS 1 oe cin cee pee pee Fee 113. CROSSING STRINGS 1 oy 1-2 ae e f= cote fo | t 114, GLIDING BOWS 7 eee ae Ae OY nw neo 115, UPSIDE DOWN o i2 Upbeat “A note (or notes) that appears before the frst full measure is called an upbeat (or pickup). ‘The remaining beats are found in the last measure. 116, SONG FOR MARIA Andante Sega : BesetS E eS se 4 ' : Latin American music combines the folk music from South and Central America, the Caribbean Islands, African, Spanish, = and Portuguese cultures, Melodies often feature a lively accompaniment by drums, maracas, and claves. Latin American styles have become part of jazz, classical, and rock music. & Play until you see the D.C. al Fine, Then go back to the beginning and play until you see Fine 3 D.C. al Fine (ee nay) D.C.is the abbreviation for Da Capo, the Italian term for ‘return to the beginning.” = Fine i the Italian word for“the finish.” 117. BANANA BOAT SONG Moderato Caribbean Folk Song = Fine 4 D.C, al Fine 118. FIROLIRALERA - Orchestra Arrangement Mexican Folk Song ‘Allegro ‘rr.John Higgins 4 4 4 o a 5 \——Upbeats31 & skit BUILDERS - 6 major 119, 122. 123. y Slurihiee ee Far Eastern music comes from Malaysle Indonesia, hina and other areas. Historians believe the first orchestras known '& gamelans oxen ths region as ery a the It century BC. Todey'sgamelans include rebabs spiked fides), gongs, -aylophiones,and a wide variety of percussion instruments. 125. JINGLE NONA Allegro Far Eastern Folk Song yon32 Cea low 2nd Finger 12 3 Step 1 Step 2 Shape your left hand. Bring your hand to the asshown, Be certain fingerboard. Your Ist and your palm faces you. 2nd fingers touch, There Notice your 2nd finger isa space between your lightly touches your 2nd and 3rd fingers, and Istfinger. between your 3rd and 4th fingers. A D F G c 's played with © Jw 2nd finger me on the D string. Eee Listening Skills eiay what your eacher plays Listen carefully. Natural © § Anatural sign cancels a flat (or sharp (@) and remains in eect for the entire measure, 126. LET’S READ “F” (F-natural) 4 << Low2ndfinger i BSS = ee =] Half Step ‘A halt stag the smlestdistence Bevvech wo notes Whole Step A whole stepis wo half steps combined. 127. HALF-STEPPIN’ AND WHOLE STEPPIN’ 3 High 2nd finger nm _lestep 4 Westen py Wholestep y Whole step e ye pe 129, MINOR eee A