Practicing scales is essential to building and maintaining strength, technique, tone, and agility on the viola, but it is easy to slip into the habit of playing scales automatically, without paying attention to tonality or sound production. The 29 single-page studies in this book focus the attention of violists on the beauty of sound, with a particular concern for the way different keys resonate on the viola.

The first 24 studies address all minor and relative major keys and proceed through the circle of fifths; the last 5 pieces are individually conceived, i.e., apart from the circle of fifths. No metronome indications are given, so the etudes can be played at individually comfortable tempos.

The names of the etudes refer to various animals that have scales, including insects, fish, birds, reptiles, and a few species of mammals. The author hopes that in addition to experiencing more enjoyable scale practice, students will be inspired to learn more about these amazing creatures and write scale studies of their own.

Introduction

Red-Tailed Boa (A minor)

Green Iguana (C major)

Saw-Scaled Viper (E minor)

Red Factor Canary (G major)

Funereal Dusky-Wing Butterfly (B minor)

American Crocodile (D major)

Gorgon Copper Butterfly (F-sharp minor)

Steller’s Sea Eagle (A major)

Lembert’s Green Hairstreak (C-sharp minor)

Lord Darby’s Scaly-Tailed Squirrel (E major)

Giant Pangolin (G-sharp minor)

Freshwater Crocodile (B major)

Blowfish (D-sharp minor)

Cuban Crocodile (F-sharp major)

Rainbow Sardine (B-flat minor)

Musky Rat-Kangaroo (D-flat major)

Great White Shark (F minor)

Blue Scaled Quail (A-flat major)

Brahminy Blind Snake (C minor)

Tokay Gecko (E-flat major)

Neon Damselfish (G minor)

Pel’s Flying Squirrel (B-flat major)

Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly (D minor) 

Cameroon Scaly Tail Squirrel (F major)

Sanford’s Sea Eagle (A-flat major)

False Coral Snake (D minor)

Black-Bellied Pangolin (G minor)

Round Sardinella (B-flat major)

Northern Bobwhite (A major)