Possibly the most widely recognized and loved cello piece in the world, the Prelude from Bach's Suite for Violoncello No. 1 is presented here for you to learn on the viola. I have not included any bowings since there are many ways that people bow this piece. Try several different bowings and see which you like the best.
One of the most important techniques to work on in this piece is string crossing. You must cross strings cleanly and precisely. One tip for practicing this is to play on the correct string, but don't use the left hand at all. This way you can focus on the bowing technique and how it is grabbing each string as you cross without being distracted by the notes and your intonation. Also, when playing back and forth on two strings multiple times, make sure you practice staying very close to the string that you are not playing at the moment. For example, if you are playing on the D and A strings one after another, stay close to the A string when you are on the D and stay close to the D when on the A.
When reading from the scrolling tablature watch out for the less often used fingering indications L3 and H2. For L3, you should use your third finger on the spot that the second finger normally goes (F# or Gb on the D string). For H2, play your second finger where the third normally goes (G on the D string.) These fingerings are needed due to the advanced harmonic structure of the piece.