EXERCISES FOR VIOLINISTS LEARNING ALTO CLEF

While various transposition schemes can help a violinist quickly play viola parts, actually
learning to read the clef aids in passages with accidentals and facilitates choice of
fingerings higher than first position. First, learn to recognize the printed notes
corresponding to the open string pitches. Then, build on the fact that intervals look the
same on the staff regardless of clef, and that you already know what a printed interval
signifies in terms of possible left hand shapes between fingers.

In the exercises below from Hans Sitt’s Practical Viola Method, use your visual, tactile
and aural senses of interval recognition to become oriented in alto clef on viola. While it
would be possible to play these exercises exclusively by ear or tactile sense, make the
additional association of note names as you play. After learning the exercises in first
position with open strings, play them again with 4th fingers instead of open strings, and
then in other positions and with shifts. Test yourself by skipping around to play any bar at
random.

The Rolla Harmonic Labyrinth can also be played to some extent by ear, but there are
surprising twists and turns, and it is valuable experience to identify each key by name as
you travel through the exercise. Try starting at various random points to test your reading
skills.

Scales and arpeggios, especially those of one-octave shifting up one string, as well as
Schradieck volume I, Sevcik Op. 8 shifting exercises, the first position double stop
exercises by Marjorie Trott, and Violaerobics by Katrina Wreede are effective resources
to solidify both clef reading skills and left hand accuracy. Take care to insure that the 4th
finger plays high enough in first position to match the corresponding open string. Notice
which keys fall more naturally into second, half positions and fourth positions than into
first and third.

.
 The Clefs and Notation for the Viola

The clef regularly employed in writing music for the Viola is the Alto or C Clef; which
"Middle
indicates the position of C ] ' a l s o s h o w n f o r s a k e o f c o m p a r i s o n i n t h e Treble and Bass
Clef s.

Notes that would necessitate continuous use of leger lines above the staff are often written
in the G or Treble Clef. sometimes called the Violin Clef.,

# * ' c u ! d b e e a s i e r t o * ' r i t ea - d r e a c . t h u s :
@
v
c d e g a g e d c d e g a g e d

The four stringsl C, G D, A are tuned in 5ths, like the Violin strings,but beginning on C, a 5th below
"G"string.
the Violin Therefore the Viola is said to be pitched a fifth lower than the violin.

the identical sounds would be written

0
in the 2' and $ clefs, thus:

Violin

Vi ola

Ce1lo

The full orchestral compass of the Viola is as follows:

but the extreme upper notes would preferably be written for the violins except where it is necessary to
carry the viola into the high register to preserve continuity of tone color in a passaS'e' or where the
peculiar tone quality of the viola A string was PurPosely sought.

?3036- Yr
 15

The Positions

TABLE OF RANGE AND FINGERING OF THE

F IRST FIVE POSITIONS

3
{>

ffi rsrposition
CU
o

2nd position

4
-o-
c
3rd position

4
<>
{>

4th position

4
-o.
c
5th position

The above Table is written throughout inthe Alto-clef, whereas notes requiring leger linesabovethestaff
are generally written in the Treble clef.

A € > ( r < > r . } = g =

4

Intervals
Seconds

Thirds

Fourths

Fifths

Sixths
Sevenths
 'i
I t-, V'.

;" '
1g

Allegro non troppo

A. Rolla, Giro armonico (HarmonischesLabyrinth) op. posth.
-:f, /=2 ,<>- .'=-i. u<2