Welcome to your virtual Class Notes Residency with the Mill City String Quartet!
The Mill City String Quartet was founded in 2007. Based in Minnesota, the quartet has played all over the country and gives concerts in a wide variety of settings.
Instead of visiting your school in person, each member of the quartet has created a series of tutorials to help you improve on your instrument and develop your technique. They will even play your part on some of the pieces you have been assigned so you can practice along with them.
1. INTRODUCTION
Meet Valerie, who plays in viola in the Mill City String Quartet. She will tell you about her life as a musician and play a duet with herself.
2. SCALES
Time to practice your scales! Have your instrument ready to play D, C, and G major together with Valerie.
3. BOW HANDS
Valerie will tell you the three secrets to a great bow hand. Have your instrument ready to try out her techniques.
4. ESSENTIAL VIOLA REPERTOIRE
In this video, you will get a little trip through the history of important viola pieces.
You got to hear Valerie play a little of each of these pieces. Click on the links below if you want to hear the whole piece.
• Concerto in G Major for Viola, Strings, and Basso Continuo, by G. P. Telemann
• Viola Concerto in D Major, by Franz Hoffmeister
• Viola Sonata Opus 120 No. 1, by Johannes Brahms
• Marchenbilder Op.113, by Robert Schumann
• Der Schwanendreher, by Paul Hindemith
• Viola Concerto, by William Walton
• Viola Concerto, by Bela Bartok
5. MORE SCALES
This time, Valerie will talk you through how to play the F and B flat Major scales on your instrument. Have your viola ready to play along.
6. SHIFTING INTO THIRD POSITION
In her final video, Valerie will help you shift into third position. Have your instrument ready to play along.
Hear the Mill City String Quartet perform together below:
LISTEN Mendelssohn's 4 Pieces for String Quartet - Capriccio
Have a question or suggestion? Contact Katie Condon, music education specialist.
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