Choose a qualified instructor and a lesson schedule that works with the rest of your work or school obligations to get ready for viola lessons. A viola teacher who can customize viola lessons to your specific level of experience will be the most beneficial to you as a musician. Preparing your viola and practicing a few music fundamentals will help your lesson go smoothly once you’ve chosen your instructor and scheduled your first lesson. It will also provide your instructor with a better understanding of your current strengths as well as areas where you could improve.
Check that your viola is tuned correctly on the day of each of your viola lessons so that your instructor can pinpoint any mistakes that are caused finger placement rather than a misaligned string. Apply rosin to your bow before your lesson as well, as these preparations will allow you to spend more time learning and receiving feedback during your lesson. Before each lesson, it’s a good idea to warm up your basic technique so that your bowing movement and finger placement are still fresh in your muscle memory. Consistent practice habits will also save time in the classroom spent correcting minor errors that could have been corrected during home practice.
Regular practice, according to musicians with experience playing string instruments, is the most important part of improving techniques that can be difficult to master. Viola scales are frequently recommended as practice material before every lesson if you are new to playing this string family instrument. Beginning players typically begin with open string exercises to master bowing movement before moving on to the simplest scales to practice finger placement. Scale practice should be approached in a methodical manner to help you progress in your viola lessons. Many teachers would rather hear a simple scale played correctly than a more complicated one played incorrectly.
If you are a more experienced musician who is a member of an orchestra, the current music pieces in your orchestra will usually be the primary focus of your viola lessons. Lessons are a great way to break down sections of your music into smaller chunks and focus on perfecting one note at a time. In most orchestra rehearsals, there isn’t enough time to focus on each musician’s technique. Many string teachers assign one short passage at a time, which should be practiced every day before the next lesson. Preparing for viola lessons also entails being willing to accept feedback from your instructor.