Viola
Faculty
About the Area:
Life with the viola at The State University of New York at Fredonia consists of weekly hour long lessons (in both Performance and Music Education), a weekly master class, chamber music, and orchestra.
The performance opportunities for both the Music Education and Performance degrees are plentiful, culminating in a senior recital for Music Education students, and a junior and senior recital for performance students.
The viola lesson is where you learn the craft of the viola, how to practice, and ultimately how to teach yourself. The goal of the lesson is to learn to play the viola as effortlessly as possible, and to interpret the great masterworks.
The recital seminar (or master class) is where we learn to perform. Music is, and always will be, a performing art. What we do on an instrument won't amount to much if it is not shared. Everyone in the viola studio, regardless of the degree, is given equal attention and nurturing in the art of performing.
Chamber music is encouraged for all students. Playing in a quartet or a trio is the best place to learn to listen (a musician's most important skill), and stretch out beyond your own world. Weekly coachings are given culminating in a performance at the end of term.
The atmosphere which is cultivated in the Fredonia viola studio is supportive, serious when necessary, light-hearted whenever possible, and in pursuit of artistry on the greatest of instruments – the VIOLA!