Viola Study at The Hartt School

Today's musician must be skilled not just on their instrument but in all aspects of public interaction, both live and in electronic media. The viola students at The Hartt School are provided with unique training to ensure a successful and diverse professional music career upon completion of their course of study.

From the beginning, students are given individual, personalized guidance with the goal of creating the next generation of exciting and meaningful arts innovators. The viola community at Hartt is supportive, interactive, and rigorous. Through the many performance opportunities, lessons, classes and lectures, students become leaders in the local community as well as on the world's stage. Violists that have graduated from Hartt can be found in top symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles and institutions that include the Houston Symphony, the Cleveland Pops, the St. Lawrence Quartet, Camerata Roman (Denmark), the Adaskin String Trio, the Copenhagen String Trio, The Hartt School, and Penn State University.

A typical semester consists of weekly private lessons, studio repertoire classes, studio recitals, orchestral repertoire classes, audition boot camps, viola ensemble rehearsals and community performances, and guest master classes and lectures by world-renowned artists and teachers.

For audition information, visit the audition requirements page.

Private Lessons

Weekly hour-long private lessons focus on all aspects of playing the viola: technique, sound production, rhythm, and how to develop musical ideas and a sense of personal style. Students learn how to maximize their potential on the instrument while remaining injury-free. Special care is taken to observe the most ergonomic approach to playing this historically awkward instrument; physical methods taken from Alexander Technique, yoga, and Pilates are often integrated into awareness of body placement and balance. All types of solo repertoire from every musical epoch are covered as well as scales, exercises, and etudes. Students are expected to participate in weekly Studio Class, Studio Recitals, and guest master classes and lectures. In addition, students are encouraged to add to the viola repertoire by transcribing existing musical works of any genre into works performed by one or multiple combinations of viola and other instruments. Graduate students are expected to present two solo recitals and undergraduate students are expected to present a Junior Recital (half) and a Senior Recital (full). Each student is assigned an accompanist for the semester.

Studio Class

At the weekly Studio Class, students are given valuable performance opportunities in front of their peers. All aspects of the repertoire performed get discussed: recordings, history, practice techniques, performance techniques, and problems. Each week there may also be special focus on one particular technical aspect of the viola: vibrato, double stops, bowing techniques, etc. Constructive comments by peers and visiting instructors are encouraged. Participation in Studio blogs encourage students to explore expressing themselves and sharing insights on the internet, as well as exploring ways to use technology to communicate to a broader, worldwide audience.

Studio Recitals

A Studio Recital is presented by each viola studio to the public once or twice a semester. All students perform at least one piece from the repertoire and gain valuable performing experience.

Master Classes/ Lectures

Prominent performers and teachers are invited by Hartt faculty to come give guest master classes. All viola students are expected to attend and perform at some point during their time at The Hartt School. At these events, valuable insight is given on technique, music, and other schools of performing and thought. Recent past guest masterclass artists include Heidi Castleman, Roland Vamos, Paul Neubauer, Wilfried Strehle (Berlin Philharmonic), Carol Rodland, Maria Lambros, Steven Ansell (principal of Boston Symphony), Karen Ritscher, and Chauncey Patterson (Miami String Quartet).Lectures on various aspects of the viola and other practical applications will happen during the school year. Topics include Alexander Technique, basic viola maintenance and repair, and various career-applicable advice.

Viola Ensemble

Underscoring the importance of being arts ambassadors to the local community, the Viola Ensemble performs at different venues throughout Hartford and its environs. The group explores all aspects and genres of music, and performance of current students' transcriptions is encouraged. The ensemble consists of both undergraduate and graduate students and can be broken up into smaller groups to play at local hospitals, nursing homes, and elementary schools, as well as sporting events and pre-symphony concerts. Emphasis is placed upon blurring the boundaries between classical and pop genres by creating events for the whole community to enjoy.

Orchestral Repertoire Class/ Audition Boot Camp
The hour-long weekly Orchestra Repertoire Class prepares junior and senior undergraduate and graduate students for professional orchestra auditions. Each week, one to two different excerpts are assigned. These are often coordinated with actual professional auditions that students may be taking. Every aspect of the orchestral repertoire is explored from bowings, tempi, fingerings and dynamics, to sight-reading techniques, to being an active and contributing orchestral musician. The psychological aspect of auditioning is given equal emphasis, with exercises given on how to be flexible during an audition, nutrition and sleep preparation, and how to prepare mentally for any stressful contingency. Mock auditions take place as mid-term and final exams, and once a year students participate in the "Audition Boot Camp" which utilizes techniques from the United States Navy SEALS and sports psychologists. Students participate in exercises created by Don Greene, author of books such as Audition Success, Fight Your Fear and Win, and Performing Under Pressure.

The Viola Faculty

Melinda Daetsch
Steve Larson
Rita Porfiris