viola video

These are the first basic skills you need to play violin or viola. Tune up, and let's get started!

You should tune all your strings every time before you practice. This video shows you how.

Beginners need to know where the notes are. This shows how to put tapes in the right spots on the fingerboard.

This video shows you how to read the finger numbers of our scrolling tablatures on violin and viola.

Learn to use small, relaxed motions so you can play faster.

Try both arm and wrist vibrato to see which one works for you. Then start the first vibrato exercise.

We continue with the basic vibrato exercise, this time on the string. Watch closely for the right motion!

Part 1: Listening and muscle memory are critical for playing in tune.

Sometimes you need to play near the frog, tip, or middle of the bow. Here's how to decide and get there.

Here's a simple exercise to solve a common problem: crooked bow at the tip.

You should tune all your strings every time before you practice. This video shows you how.

Use these clues to tell if your bow is straight as you play.

You can use my violin videos for viola. If there is enough interest, I will make viola specific videos.

Learn to play this simple scale to work on finger placements and straight bow.

A simple exercise to learn accurate finger placements, speed, and coordination.

Listen carefully and let your viola tell you when you are in tune.

On the 2 octave G major scale, we focus on using the full length of the bow and low 2nd finger.

This exercise helps develop speed and coordination.

A slightly more complicated exercise to help with intonation and dexterity.

Putting more notes together to continue building speed.

This exercise helps you learn to control the bow and pace it evenly.

The final finger pattern exercise. It will train the finger spacings through the entire hand shape.

In this exercise, we group 4 notes together to increase speed and coordination.

Ariella from Violin Like THAT! joins me in a quintet video.

Martin Stegner of the Berlin Phil plays Gershwin

A funny video showing how conductors react to the music.

Use Google Chrome browser to look around while they rehearse

A tribute to Prince. Playing on an "octave violin."

An important message for anyone pursuing their passion

Its an inspiration watching such young musicians play so well.

Okay, so not very expressive, but still impressive!

Okay, so not very expressive, but still impressive!

The famous Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia performed by Perlman & Zukerman

Brilliant arrangement of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody

Great arrangement of Toxic by Quartetto Archimia

Here's what is happening when you draw the bow on your string. Fascinating!

The young, talented Dana Zemtsov plays Carnival of Venice

Quartet from Germany, Salut Salon

Here's a fun video project. I play all five parts of Ave Verum Corpus.