NEW - Viola Lessons Library

Learn to play the enigmatic viola from your first notes to your first songs and beyond with this series of engaging educational videos.

Overview

Learn to play one of the most enjoyable orchestral string instruments: the viola. Its singing tones will resonate with players of all ages. We'll teach you how!

This video library is perfect for:
  • Beginning viola players ready to get started right
  • Violists wanting to learn to play viola at home
  • Self-paced learners
  • Violists needing a refreshed technique to improve their sound
In this library you’ll learn:
  • A full beginners guide to playing the viola
  • How to read the alto clef
  • How a viola sounds
  • Proper tone and technique for playing viola
  • How to practice the viola
  • How to tune the viola
  • Intermediate techniques for viola, like shifting
  • How to learn to play the music you love
  • And so much more...

Curriculum

Viola Level 1

By Gary DePaolo
  • 0 Lessons
  • Gary DePaolo
  • Here's Where to Start.
  • Course Introduction
  • Arm Circle Exercise
  • Basic Footwork
  • Weight Transfer
  • Thumb Rolls and Elbows Inside vs Outside Pronation vs Supination
  • Break the Circle with Thumb Rolls
  • Bow Motion Exercise
  • Putting it all Together
  • History of the Viola
  • The Viola Sound
  • Parts of the Instrument
  • Parts of the Bow
  • Instrument and Bow Maintenance
  • Fitting a Viola
  • Open Strings and Tuning
  • Body Position Check - Feet, Knees, Hips, and Neck
  • Shoulder Rests and Foam Pads
  • Basic Viola Positions
  • Viola "Throw"
  • "Rib Pose" Tapping and Elbow Swing
  • Plucking the String
  • Echo Exercises
  • Pizzicato to a Drum Beat
  • Easy Echo on Open Strings
  • Echo Challenge on Open Strings
  • Mixed Rhythm Echo Challenge on Open Strings
  • Creating Your Own Music
  • Creating Your Own Music Part 2
  • Passive Neutral Pose - "Wet-Noodle Hands"
  • Setting Up the Bow - Pencil
  • Hold Check
  • Pinky-Taps and Push-Ups
  • See-Saw and Tip Twirl
  • Paper Roll Bow Work and Rosining the Bow
  • Thumb Rolls and Elbows Review
  • Umbrella
  • Hand Position - "Rib-Pose" to Left Hand Playing Pose
  • Marking and Using the "Lift Knuckle"
  • Elbow Swings
  • Marking the Notes
  • Finger Position 1
  • Placing 1, 2 and 3 on All Strings
  • Finger-Taps Without the Instrument
  • Finger-Taps with the Instrument
  • Bowhold Review
  • Marking the Bow
  • Basic Bow Concepts
  • Basic Bow Strokes
  • Bow Landings and Incorporating the Bow Into Rest Position
  • Wiggle-Wiggle Pow
  • Basic Bow Changes
  • Alto Clef Introduction
  • Reading Open Strings - Basic Level
  • Bow Circles and Lifts
  • "Rock and Roll" String Crossing Exercise
  • Reading Open Strings with the Bow Part 1
  • Basic Reading Concepts
  • Reading Rhythms on Open Strings
  • Play Along - Rhythms on Open Strings
  • Open String Song with Rhythms
  • Short and Long Markings
  • Intro to Music Pieces
  • "On Stilts" by L. Spohr
  • "On Stilts" - Student Part with Metronome
  • "On Stilts" - Student and Teacher Parts Together
  • "On Stilts" - Teacher Part with Metronome
  • "String Crossing" Song
  • Note Reading Exercises on A with 1, 2, and 3
  • Note Reading Exercises on D with 1, 2, and 3
  • Basic Rhythms with 1, 2, and 3
  • "Flower" with 1, 2, and 3 and Open Strings on A
  • "Moving" with 1, 2, and 3 and Open Strings on D
  • Stack and Peel and Elbow Swing
  • D Major Scale with Pauses for Stacking
  • "Twinkle" with Pauses for Stacking
  • "Twinkle" with Rhythms
  • "French Folk Song" with Pauses for Stacking
  • "Ring and Sing" Song with 3rd Finger
  • Review and Check
  • Adding the 4th Finger
  • Tetrachords
  • "Pentatonic Song" with 1 and 3
  • New Rhythm Reading
  • D Major Scale
  • Full E Minor Pentatonic Scale
  • "Twinkle" with Rhythms
  • French Folk Song
  • Practice Boxes and "Review Songs or Concepts"
  • Marking Bow Lifts
  • Bow Lift Tetrachord Pieces
  • "Song of the Wind" with Bow Lifts and Practice Boxes
  • "Spectrum" with Practice Box
  • Song Review
  • 2 Tunnel
  • Bow Speed
  • "Lightly Row" - Play along
  • Bow Hold Review
  • Overview of the Module
  • Note-Reading Exercises on G
  • Note-Reading Exercises on C
  • "Basic" Rhythms with 1, 2, 3, and 4
  • "Flower" with 1, 2, 3, and 4 Optional on G
  • "Moving" with 1, 2, 3, and Optional on C
  • G Scale
  • C Scale
  • D Minor Pentatonic Scale
  • A Minor Pentatonic Scale
  • Tetrachords on G
  • Tetrachords on C
  • E Minor Pentatonic Scale - 2 Octave
  • Review 2 - Tunnel
  • "Lightly Row" on D and G
  • "Fiddle Song" Play Along
  • "Andantino" on G and C
  • "Twinkle" Theme on G and C Major
  • Finger Pattern Two
  • Finger Pattern Two Tetrachords
  • "Bohemian Folk Song" Play Along
  • "Sad Twinkle" Play Along
  • Elbow Swing Review
  • "E Pentatonic Song" on All Strings
  • "Sourwood Mountain" Play Along
  • Finger Pattern Etude
  • Recap of Level 1 and How to Practice
  • Postural Issues
  • Standing versus Sitting
  • Performance 1
  • Performance 2
  • Performance 3
  • Performance 4

Viola Level 2

By Gary DePaolo
  • 131 Lessons
  • Gary DePaolo
  • Here's Where to Start
  • Welcome to Level 2
  • Review Level 1 Concepts
  • Advanced Bow-Hold
  • Essential Equipment
  • Intermediate Rhythm Reading - How to Count
  • "Suzuki" Rhythm Review
  • 16ths and Combo Practice
  • S
  • "Twinkle" with New Rhythms
  • Dotted Rhythms - Making 8ths into Dotted Quarters
  • Bonus Level
  • Dotted Rhythms Song - "May Song"
  • Dotted Rhythms Song - "Jingle Bells
  • Dotted Rhythms Song - "Song of Joy"
  • Pick-Up Notes
  • Pick-Up Notes Song - "Happy Birthday"
  • Pick-Up Notes Song - "Allegretto"
  • Introducing Slurs
  • Stopped Slurs - Slurs with Dots
  • Slurs Without Stopping
  • Bowing in Slow Motion
  • Bach Minuet No. 1
  • 3-4 Across the String Exercise
  • First Half of the Minuet with Practice Boxes
  • Second Half of the Minuet with Practice Boxes
  • What Finger Patterns and Where?
  • The Entire Minuet
  • Song - "Devils Dream"
  • Bowing with Slurs - "Long Little"
  • Etude and a KFD String Crossing Exercise - "Two Tunnel"
  • First half of "Devils Dream"
  • Second Half of "Devils Dream"
  • "Devils Dream" with Repeats - Slow Tempo
  • "Devils Dream" - Song Only -Slow Tempo
  • "Devils Dream" with Repeats - Medium Tempo
  • "Devils Dream" - Song Only -Medium Tempo
  • "Devils Dream" with Repeats - Fast Tempo
  • "Devils Dream" - Song Only -Fast Tempo
  • Being In Tune and Creating Good Tone
  • WASP Acronym Review
  • "Crunch" and "Skate" Exercises
  • Recording Yourself
  • Tuning with a Drone
  • Scales with Drones
  • Two-Octave C Major Scale
  • Introduction to High 3 and Finger Pattern 3
  • The Ultra Super Slow Bow Exercise
  • Song Gossec "Gavotte"
  • Grace Notes and Dots with Lines
  • Accidentals - What Finger Patterns go Where
  • Repeats and DC's - Landing Gear Pizzicato
  • First Half of "Gavotte"
  • Second Half of "Gavotte"
  • Play Along - "Gavotte" with Repeats and DC
  • Play Along - "Gavotte" - Song Only
  • GF Handel "Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus"
  • "Chorus" Practice Boxes
  • Legato Bow Strokes
  • Play Along - "Chorus"
  • Play Along - "Chorus" - Song Only
  • Scale Review - A Review of Guitar Pose from Level 1
  • Rhythms to Improvise Around the Scale
  • Backing Track and Echo Examples
  • VA2-M11L4-final
  • Song - Percy Grainger "Country Gardens"
  • C Major Scale with Dotted Eights and Sixteenths
  • Double Stops and Triple Stops
  • "Country Gardens" - The First 16 Measures
  • "Country Gardens" - Measures 17-32
  • "Country Gardens" - Measures 33-49
  • Play Along - "Country Gardens"
  • Play Along - "Country Gardens" - Song Only
  • What is Vibrato?
  • How Do I Start?
  • The "Electric Guitar" Harmonics Exercise - Pre-Vibrato Exercises
  • First Vibrato Exercises
  • Postural Issues
  • How to Practice
  • Performance 1
  • Performance 2
  • Performance 3

Instructors

Gary DePaolo

Gary DePaolo received his bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. While attending he studied with Chicago Lyric Opera Principal Violist, Rami Solomonov and was coached in chamber music by the Chicago String Quartet. Having recently completed his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Montana State University, DePaolo is entering his ninth year as the director of the orchestra and guitar programs at Kelly Walsh High School in Casper Wyoming. There he conducts three orchestras and a guitar ensemble. In 2019 his groups joined Laramie High School and the String Academy of Wyoming to travel to and perform in Ireland. DePaolo has been a guest director for the Wyoming State String Clinic and judge for Colorado ASTA. He is also an adjunct string instructor at Casper College and the principal violist of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. Both are positions that he has held for the last 21 years. DePaolo is an avid composer having created underscores for Richard the 3rd, The Diviners, The Scarlet Letter , the Laramie project and various other works. He has always been a collaborator with local bands and musical groups. His group “ Leave it to S.H.I.V.A.” was featured in the Wyoming Arts Council 2021 “Summer Roadtrip” playlist. DePaolo’s private teaching focuses on ease and tension-free viola playing with traditional and nontraditional repertoire.

FAQ

  • Can I teach myself to play the viola?

    With proper instruction, you can teach yourself to play the viola. MusicProfessor’s step-by-step process will not only assist you in teaching yourself, it will provide you with high-quality examples of how the viola should sound, so you can self-assess and learn right from the start.

  • Is viola easy to learn?

    With proper instruction, the viola is easy to learn. All instruments require practice to develop good sound and technique, and viola is no exception. MusicProfessor’s viola library is easy to follow, provides expert demonstrations, and is self-paced, which means you can watch videos when it is convenient for you, and rewatch lessons as often as you need to until you fully absorb the content.

  • Can I learn viola without a teacher?

    It can be challenging to learn an instrument without proper guidance. This is why MusicProfessor is a great way to get started learning the viola. Not only is MusicProfessor more affordable than in-person lessons, the teacher is an expert in viola education and will guide you step-by-step, at your own pace and on your own schedule.

  • Can you be too old to play the viola?

    You cannot be too old to learn to play the viola. In fact, learning to play the viola can help your body maintain its precision dexterity and keep your mind malleable. Learning to play an instrument is a great way to keep your body and mind young.

  • Can I learn viola from home?

    You can learn viola from home on any device with a browser. Simply login to MusicProfessor and practice along with the easy to follow video curriculum.

  • Can I really learn viola online?

    You really can learn viola online! Learning online is affordable, and the curriculum is self paced, which means you can watch videos when it is convenient for you, and rewatch lessons as often as you need to until you fully absorb the content.