7 Tips For Playing Popular Music On Your Viola

As a violist, you are part of a unique and dynamic world of music. Whether you're drawn to the viola for its rich, expressive tone or because it sits perfectly in the middle range of an orchestra, you’ve made a choice that offers many exciting possibilities. While classical repertoire is a primary focus, playing popular music on the viola can be a fun and rewarding way to expand your skills and explore new musical genres.

If you’re ready to bring some pop, rock, or contemporary music to life on your viola, here are seven essential tips to guide you in making the most out of your popular music practice.

1: Listen to the Song with a Critical Ear

Before diving into playing, take time to listen closely to the song you want to learn. This isn’t just casual listening—think of it like a coach reviewing game footage. Pay attention to how the viola (or any string instrument) is used and visualize how you might replicate those sounds. Consider the rhythm, tone, and articulation used in the song. The more you understand the music from the perspective of a violist, the easier it will be to tackle the piece when you start practicing. With the explosion of music content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, you can find tutorials and performances of almost any popular song, often with violists offering helpful tips.

2. Preview the Sheet Music

It’s tempting to jump right in and start playing, but don’t skip the crucial step of reviewing the sheet music first. Even if you can’t sight-read the whole piece immediately, scanning the music will help you spot any tricky passages, awkward shifts, or rhythm changes. If it’s your music, feel free to mark it up with helpful notes—this will make a big difference in your practice sessions. Today, digital tools like Notion and Flat.io allow you to input sheet music and get playback features that can help you hear how it’s supposed to sound while following along. These resources are especially useful when you want to experiment with creating your own arrangements for the viola.

3. Start Slow—Then Build Up the Speed

This might feel a bit tedious, but it's a must if you want to play accurately and beautifully. Begin by practicing the piece at a very slow tempo. Focus on producing a clean, clear sound and correct intonation. It's far better to play slowly and perfectly than to rush through the piece and risk developing bad habits. Once you’ve mastered the technical aspects at a slow pace, gradually increase the tempo to match the original song. To help keep track of your progress, tools like Audacity (a free audio editing app) can help you record your practice sessions and compare your playing over time.

4. Analyze and Reflect on Your Performance

After your first run-through, take time to reflect on how it went. What areas did you struggle with? Was there a particular shift, bow stroke, or rhythm that felt awkward? This is the perfect time to go back and work on the challenging sections, ensuring that your timing, intonation, articulation, and vibrato are spot on. Slow down those tricky spots and work through them until they feel comfortable. Recording your efforts using tools like Audacity will also give you the chance to listen back and spot areas that need further attention. You’ll get a more objective view of your progress.

5. Record Yourself to Track Progress

Recording your practice is one of the most valuable tools you have for improvement. After you've practiced a few times, make a recording of yourself playing the piece. Listening to it objectively will help you pinpoint areas that need further attention. Whether you use your phone’s voice recorder or a more sophisticated app, listening back will give you a clear idea of your strengths and weaknesses. This is especially helpful when you’re trying to match the tone and style of popular songs, being able to listen to your own recording will help you fine-tune your performance.

6. Refine Your Bowing Techniques

Popular music often requires a variety of bowing techniques, and as a violist, it’s essential to be versatile with your bow strokes. In addition to the basics—détaché (separated), legato (smooth), staccato (short), and spiccato (very short)—you may also encounter more advanced bowing techniques like jeté (bouncing the bow on the string), ricochet (multiple bounces), and pizzicato (plucking the strings). Even if these techniques don’t appear in every song, practicing them will broaden your skill set and make you more adaptable in any musical situation. You can also find tutorials on YouTube where experienced violists demonstrate how to perform these techniques in popular music settings, which is great for building your bowing vocabulary.

7. Stay Motivated and Don’t Give Up

Mastering new genres and songs takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it! Don’t be discouraged by challenges along the way. Every violist faces difficulties, it's part of the learning process. The key is to approach each challenge as an opportunity to improve. If you’re feeling frustrated, try starting with simpler popular tunes or songs that really excite you. Even tackling something unconventional, like "hip hop viola," can be a fun way to build your skills and push your boundaries. You can find sheet music and performance videos on platforms like YouTube to help you get started, or browse specific arrangements that fit your level of playing.

By staying open to new genres and keeping a flexible approach, you'll not only expand your viola skills but also connect with a wide variety of musical communities. Don’t forget to keep experimenting and pushing your boundaries—whether it’s learning the latest viral song or playing a classical crossover hit. The possibilities are endless, and each new piece will bring you closer to mastering the viola in new and exciting ways!