Viola

String INSTRUMENT

INSTRUMENT INFORMATION

The viola is a string instrument and a member of the string family of orchestral instruments, which also includes the violin, cello, and double bass. It looks quite similar to the violin, but is slightly larger and creates lower pitches than the violin. The viola is made of wood and has four strings, and can be played either with or without a bow. The bow is made of wood and horse hair; the horse hair grabs the string when the bow is pulled across the string, causing the string to vibrate. When played without the bow, the instrument makes a plucking sound, called pizzicato.

MEET THE INSTRUMENT

In the following video (1:42), Miranda Sielaff presents the viola, and details how this instrument is constructed and how it makes sound. This video can be enjoyed along with your children in class:

After watching the video, you can engage the children in discussion about what they remembered or noticed about the viola. Children may share ideas about other instruments that it reminds them of, or other music or sounds that they have heard before. Some questions that may initiate a discussion:

• Do you remember some of the names of the parts of the viola?

• What did Miranda do to make sound on the instrument?

• What is the viola made of? What is the bow made of?

• Does this remind you of any other instruments that you have seen before?

MUSIC

In the following videos, Miranda performs several pieces on the viola. You may choose to play these videos together in the same class session, or play them over several days to create multiple music experiences for the children.

With each experience, you can watch and listen along with the children. While listening, you may notice that the children move their bodies along with the music, and naturally show what they hear through bouncing, clapping, dancing, patting their legs, or almost any other movement that you can imagine! This is part of their music learning, and you can encourage them to move while they listen.

After you watch and listen to each video, depending on the age of the children, you may initiate a discussion about what they heard and saw. Children often feel more comfortable contributing if the questions are specific; abstract questions (such as “how did it make you feel?”) may be difficult for the young child to answer. Some questions that you may consider are:

• Was the music fast or slow? Loud or soft? Smooth or choppy? (etc.)

• Did this music remind you of other music or sounds that you’ve heard before?

• What kinds of movements did you make when you were listening?

And, after you have listened to all three pieces, the children may be able to make comparisons:

• What was the same about these pieces of music? What was different?

ABOUT THE MUSICIAN