ABRSM – Viola Thirty Studies of Moderate Difficulty

Transcribed for viola by Margaret Banwell from the violin originals offers material of gradually increasing difficulty and musical complexity in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth positions

Most of these studies are a single page or less and are are melodic and in key signatures from four flats to three sharps. There is a wide variety of style, tempo, articulation, and expression which illustrate the basic vocabulary of Italian tempo and expressive instructions.

Most of the studies involve the lower positions, though some are to be played in both 2nd and 3rd positions. This volume is a comprehensive guide that covers: Trill preparatory exercises, harmonics, mixed articulation, accents, measured tremolo, and some double stops are encountered. The last four studies focus on 4th and 5th positions, with the introduction of the treble clef.