Description
Book SynopsisIn A Notebook for Viola Players, Ivo-Jan van der Werff offers a guide to playing the viola with the greatest freedom, dexterity, and ease. It includes right and left hand exercises to build a sound technique, sections on how to practice them, how to hold the viola and bow, how to think about good posture, how to create a good sound, how to play with the least amount of tension, how to deal with anxiety, and thoughts on wellness and practice techniques. Alongside these are photographs and a companion website of video demonstrations of the exercises played by the author, as if in a lesson. Interspersed throughout the book are lively and illuminating anecdotes of van der Werff''s own experiences as a student and as a professional musician, as well as a number of blank pages and staff paper for the student to literally ''make notes'' and write down their own ideas, offering a space for creative expression using the skills they learn in reading and playing along with the text. Bringing toge
Trade ReviewA highly recommended book for supporting ambitious secondary school viola students, tertiary viola students, viola professionals at every stage, and teachers. * Helen Tuckey, Stringendo *
A Notebook for Viola Players is a wonderful addition to the world of viola technique. Expertly offered with clarity, wit and elegance, it is eminently practical and compassionate! * James F. Dunham, Professor of Viola, Rice University, Shepherd School of Music *
This is such a valuable fund of exercises, thoughtfully devised to build and maintain a foundation of technical security and quality. Players at all stages of their development will find both useful warm-ups and technique-enhancing challenges, presented in Ivo-Jan van der Werff's articulate, reassuring style. * Roger Tapping, Professor of Viola, Juilliard School *
This book gives a truly grounded and open approach to viola technique, imparting wisdom without unnecessary fuss. There is a balance between individual needs and the fundamentals of a strong string player's technique. The conclusion gives every instrumentalist food for thought: basics that all players should think of every day. * Edward Vandespar, Principal Viola, London Symphony Orchestra *
Ivo-Jan van der Werff has cleverly and clearly set out his ideas about basic technique in a way that can relate to many kinds of violists- unique achievement. I am certain the Notebook will become an important and useful resource for many players. * Simon Rowland-Jones, violist and composer *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction How to Practice Performance Anxiety Wellness Perfection? Posture Right Hand Left Hand Conclusion Afterword
