Fourth Position for the Viola

Name: Fourth Position for the Viola
SKU: CHP270
Price: 11.95 USD
Availability: InStock

$11.95

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Are You Ready to Learn Viola Fourth Position?

Learning fourth position opens the door to a wider range of repertoire, smoother fingerings, and greater confidence across the fingerboard. Fourth Position for the Viola provides a clear, systematic approach that helps students master this important position one step at a time.

Rather than overwhelming students with too much information at once, the book introduces the notes and finger spacing of fourth position through carefully sequenced exercises and engaging short pieces. Each exercise is designed to reinforce a specific concept, allowing students to build solid technique while developing secure intonation and reliable shifting.

The method emphasizes the various finger spacing patterns found in fourth position and teaches the shifting techniques needed to reach the position accurately and consistently. Concepts are introduced in a logical progression, helping students understand not only where to place their fingers, but also how to move confidently between positions.

Whether used with a private teacher or for independent practice, Fourth Position for the Viola makes learning fourth position approachable and efficient. By focusing on one skill at a time, students gain the technical foundation they need before applying fourth position to scales, etudes, and repertoire.

Designed for advancing violists, this step-by-step method removes much of the uncertainty that often accompanies learning a new position, making fourth position feel like a natural extension of the student’s existing technique.

This book can be studied along with C Major Shifting for the Viola and Serial Shifting for the Viola.

by Cassia Harvey
75 pages CHP270
978-1-63523-006-2
©2017 C. Harvey Publications

SKU: CHP270 Categories: Intermediate Level II Viola, Viola, Viola Positions and Shifting

Additional information

Clefs Used	Alto clef only
Heterogeneous Class Use	No, cannot be used in heterogeneous classes
Level	Intermediate and late-intermediate
Positions Used	First and fourth position

Common Questions About This Book

Who is this book for?

This book is for intermediate violists who are ready to learn fourth position. It is ideal for students who are comfortable in the lower positions and want a clear, systematic method for adding another position to their playing with confidence.

What will students learn from this book?

Students will learn the notes, finger spacing patterns, and shifting techniques needed to play confidently in fourth position. Through carefully sequenced exercises and short musical studies, they will develop accurate intonation, reliable shifts, and greater comfort moving around the fingerboard.

What is included in this book?

This book provides a step-by-step introduction to fourth position through progressive exercises, focused shifting studies, and short pieces that reinforce each new concept. Every exercise is designed to teach a specific technical skill, allowing students to build confidence one step at a time before moving on to more advanced material.

What makes this book different from similar books?

Many position books introduce a new position by immediately presenting scales or longer studies. Fourth Position for the Viola takes a more gradual approach by teaching each finger spacing pattern and shifting concept individually before combining them into music.This systematic progression helps students understand why each pattern works instead of relying on guesswork or repetition alone. The result is a less intimidating, more efficient path to mastering fourth position and applying it confidently in repertoire.