The Powell Music Studio in Barrie offers VIOLA lessons

by award winning music teacher Sherrie Powell.

THE  VIOLA

           The viola (in French, alto; in German Bratsche) is a stringed musical instrument played with a bow which serves as the middle voice of the violin family, between the upper lines played by the violin and the lower lines played by the cello, and double bass. The viola has an extremely rich sonority, much more full-bodied than the violin, dark-toned and earthy. Being frequently used for playing inner harmonies, the viola does not enjoy the wide solo repertoire of the violin, and though its deep mellow voice has a unique beauty, the viola is often underrated. In the right hands, it is capable of expressing both a mournful, penetrating melancholia and a dignified, joyous voice, singular and delightful in its restrained clarity. There are very powerful soloists who play the viola with tremendous volume and energy, as well as very challenging pieces of music for viola which demand flair and a large range of emotions.