Add some folk energy to early viola study with Fiddle Tunes for Beginning Viola by Stacy Phillips. Published by Mel Bay, this beginner-friendly collection uses enjoyable traditional fiddle music to develop rhythm, intonation, bowing, articulation, and confidence while introducing students to a musical style beyond the classical repertoire.

Key Features:

• Designed specifically for beginning violists

• Traditional fiddle repertoire

• Develops rhythm, intonation, and bow control

• An enjoyable alternative to conventional beginner studies

• Excellent for lessons and home practice

Complete Country Fiddler is a practical and comprehensive introduction to traditional country fiddle playing. Published by Mel Bay Publications, this instructional book includes a CD and provides everything needed to begin exploring authentic country fiddle styles and techniques.

Key Features:

• Complete country fiddle instruction method

• Published by Mel Bay Publications

• Includes accompanying CD

• Teaches authentic country fiddle techniques

• Covers bowing patterns and double stops

• Encourages improvisation and creativity

• Suitable for violinists and fiddlers

• Ideal for self-study and lessons

• Introduces traditional country fiddle repertoire

• Excellent resource for developing country fiddle skills

Huws Jones, Got Those Position Blues for Viola

Got Those Position Blues for Violin by Huws Jones offers a fun and effective way for violists to develop position-playing skills. Through engaging musical pieces, students learn to shift confidently, improve intonation, and become more comfortable playing beyond first position.

Key Features:

• Written by Huws Jones

• Develops shifting and position-playing skills

• Improves intonation and fingerboard confidence

• Helps students progress beyond first position

• Uses enjoyable musical repertoire

• Encourages smooth position changes

• Ideal for developing violists

• Excellent teaching and study resource

• Combines technique with musical enjoyment

• Supports confident violin playing across the fingerboard

Bring the energy of traditional fiddling to the viola with Fiddlers Philharmonic Encore! by Andrew H. Dabczynski and Bob Phillips. Published by Alfred Music, this 48-page collection features 16 cross-cultural fiddle tunes, with each presented as a solo followed by a three-part ensemble arrangement. Fun and versatile, it develops rhythm, articulation, ensemble skills, and confidence in folk-style playing.

Key Features:

• 16 cross-cultural fiddle tunes

• For viola

• Solo and three-part ensemble arrangements

• Includes chord symbols for improvisation

• Excellent for lessons, ensembles, and folk-style playing

Basic Fiddlers Philharmonic: Old-Time Fiddle Tunes by Andrew H. Dabczynski and Bob Phillips introduces beginning violists to 11 lively traditional fiddle tunes. Published by Alfred Music, each tune progresses from a simplified version to a more challenging arrangement, with backup parts and improvisation ideas that develop technique, rhythm, creativity, and ensemble confidence.

Key Features:

• 11 old-time American fiddle tunes

• Designed for beginning violists

• Basic and more advanced versions

• Includes backup parts and improvisation ideas

• Excellent for lessons, ensembles, and group playing

Bring a different kind of energy to the viola with Fiddling for Viola by Michael Hoffheimer. Published by Mel Bay, this 88-page intermediate collection is packed with traditional Irish and American fiddle tunes and uniquely presents the music in parallel alto-clef and transposing violin notation, making it equally useful for established violists and violin fiddlers discovering the viola.

Key Features:

• Traditional Irish and American fiddle tunes

• Arranged for viola by Michael Hoffheimer

• 88-page intermediate collection

• Parallel viola and transposing violin notation

• Develops rhythm, articulation, folk style, and confident playing