The ABCs of Viola for the Absolute Beginner, Book 1 [Paperback]

Janice Tucker Rhoda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 1999

This instruction book is the perfect start for an Absolute Beginner of any age on the Viola! There are many familiar folk, fiddle, sacred and classical melodies with short warm-up exercises and study pieces to advance students technically in an easy and enjoyable way! Simple duets, scales, a note-reading worksheet, a glossary of music terms and symbols (page 41) and practice chart are also included along with many graphs to show left-hand finger placement.

This ABCs of Viola Book 1 is the first in a series of three Viola books. This series features melodies by composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Dvorak, Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Popular fiddle tunes like Arkansas Traveler, Irish Washer Woman and Turkey in the Straw, and some of the world's most loved melodies like Amazing Grace and Home on the Range appear. Christmas Carols Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, The First Noel and Deck the Halls, and Hanukah favorites My Dreydl and Hanukah are all included. Each book in the series has its own piano accompaniment book to help facilitate practice and recital performance. The ABCs of Viola Easy Piano Accompaniment for Book 1 is the ideal companion to The ABCs of Viola Book 1.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This ABCs of Viola book is great! The perfect tool with its simple melodies appropriate for adults as well as children. I love the harmonies (duets) and the warmups are excellent preparation for playing each piece. Students learn to read easily." --Meredith Cooper, Violin/Viola Teacher, Director New School of Music, Cambridge Massachusetts

About the Author

Janice Tucker Rhoda's biography is included in Marquis Who's Who in America, Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who in the World. She has designed her path-breaking instruction series, The ABCs of Strings, to encourage students of all ages to play the Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass. She has given clinics and courses at colleges worldwide and has served as an adjudicator for solo competitions. Ms. Rhoda resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Carl Fischer Music Publisher (July 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825837758
• ISBN-13: 978-0825837753
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Janice Tucker Rhoda is the author of the popular instruction series The ABCs of Strings published by world-famous Carl Fischer Music. She has designed her path-breaking series to encourage students of all ages to play the Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass. Her method makes learning to play a bowed string instrument easy and enjoyable. She gives string teacher training clinics and courses at colleges worldwide, and teaches an Adult Violin Course at Cambridge Center for Adult Education in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. She also teaches Viola, Cello and Double Bass, and accompanies students on Piano.

Ms. Rhoda studied in the prep and college division of New England Conservatory beginning at age 16 with pedagogue Eric Rosenblith, protégé of the famous Carl Flesch. Ms. Rhoda played a Brahms Sonata on a popular TV show at age 16, and became concertmistress of Massachusetts All-State Orchestra after auditioning playing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. When she was age 19 a car hit her Italian violin out of her hand and it sailed through the air and crashed to the ground! She grew up in a family of 5 children and 35 first cousins on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Janice Tucker Rhoda's best-selling method series, The ABCs of Strings, encompasses Books, DVDs and CDs for Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass and String Orchestra. The books combine melodies from classical music standards, folk and fiddle tunes, rock 'n roll and jazz, and Ms. Rhoda's original compositions of these various styles along with warm-up exercises, scales and study pieces. There are simple graphs showing left-hand finger placement, worksheets for note identification and practice charts in all of the books. Each absolute beginner book has additional duets and a glossary of music terms and symbols.

Violinist Yuki Beppu began with the ABCs of Violin method series at age 4 with Ms. Rhoda. Ms. Beppu won the New England Conservatory concerto competition at age 10 and performed for the President. She stars in The ABCs of Violin for the Intermediate Player DVD and performs all 69 pieces from the ABCs of Violin Books 1 and 2, and A-Major, D-Major and G-Major Scales.

Ms. Rhoda's father played the steel guitar and harmonica; her mother played piano, acoustic guitar, accordion and sang. They both played by ear their entire lives. At age 60 both of her parents decided to learn to read music, so her father focused on Harmonica, and her mother on Piano. Her father practiced 5 hours or more every day while self-teaching. Her mother's private piano teacher from Russia said she would have been a child prodigy.

Ms. Rhoda has also studied Guitar, Flute, Clarinet, Recorder and Mandolin, and had years of private voice lessons beginning at NEC for college credit. She learned to read music at age 6 in the public schools and sang solos in school plays and graduations before studying Violin at age 9.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book for beginning adults..., December 30, 2003

By 

Mer "Mer" (Medford, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The ABCs of Viola for the Absolute Beginner, Book 1 (Paperback)

This book is a great start to beginning adults' relationship with the viola. The exercises and warm-ups provide students with various opportunities to master specific skills before approaching the complexities of a piece. The selection of pieces are vast: folk songs, familiar tunes, ethnic songs and classical pieces. This makes it interesting and exciting for the adult student, whose musical taste can be diverse. I find that this book is a great introduction to the instrument without being scary, too easy, too childish or too complicated.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ABCs of Viola for the Absolute Beginner, Book 1, August 20, 2011

By 

R. Weinberger - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The ABCs of Viola for the Absolute Beginner, Book 1 (Paperback)

I'm really delighted with these series of books for the viola player. They're fun, imaginative and are very engaging for young students. I wholeheartedly recommend the series as a wonderful entree into the world of music for young students!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, but not great, January 30, 2010

By 

B.P. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The ABCs of Viola for the Absolute Beginner, Book 1 (Paperback)

I'm the absolute beginner that the book is targeted at, but as I am being self-taught, this book may not be the best option. It would be great if you have teacher leading you on, but if you're doing this by yourself, I suggest the Hal Leonard series that comes with the DVD/CD combo.