Watson Forbes - A Book of Daily Exercises for Viola Players

Corda Music Publications UK (Specialty Import) 

Watson Forbes - A Book of Daily Exercises for Viola Players

A comprehensive collection of daily viola exercises covering bowing, shifting, finger independence, double stops, finger patterns and trills.

A Book of Daily Exercises for Viola Players by Watson Forbes is a compact but extensive technical resource designed for the development and maintenance of viola technique. Suitable for players across a wide range of levels, the book provides varied exercises that can be incorporated into daily practice and warm-up routines.

Originally published by Oxford University Press, this newly typeset edition was prepared by John White in consultation with the late Dr Watson Forbes.

This book addresses a broad range of technical areas for both the bow and left hand. Particular attention is given to bowing technique, with five exercises covering one, two, three and four strings as well as string crossing and skipping. These exercises offer an extensive range of variations across different bowing approaches, including separate bows, rhythmic patterns, spiccato, and ricochet.

Left-hand studies address finger independence, shifting and double stops, with varied exercises designed to develop facility and coordination. Finger-pattern exercises provide further technical work across different tonalities, including harmonic minor patterns, while dedicated trill exercises use changing patterns and positions to develop control and flexibility.

The adaptable structure allows players to select and vary exercises according to their individual technical needs, making it useful as a daily warm-up, technical practice resource or supplement to scales, studies and repertoire. An excellent all-round resource for violists looking to develop greater technical facility, bow control and left-hand confidence through varied daily practice. 

Technical Areas Include:

Bowing exercises across one, two, three and four strings
String crossing and string skipping
Separate bowing patterns
Spiccato and ricochet
Rhythmic bowing variations
Finger independence
Shifting and position work
Double stops
Finger patterns
Major and harmonic minor tonalities
Trill exercises
Left and right-hand coordination

Specialist UK Edition – Limited Australian Availability

We’ve sourced a small selection of specialist editions from Corda Music Publications in the UK, including lesser-known repertoire, technical studies and valuable teaching material that can be difficult to find through regular Australian suppliers. These titles are imported in limited quantities. If a Corda edition is showing as out of stock, pre-orders are welcome and we can arrange a copy from the UK with our next shipment. Looking for another Corda Music title from the list?  Contact us if you’re looking for a particular work or edition and we’ll be happy to check availability. Other pieces include:

• William Alwyn – Pastoral Fantasia – Viola & Piano
• Adam Gorb – Tango – Viola, Clarinet & Piano
• Kenneth Harding – Rondo Capriccio – 6 Violas
• William Alwyn – Sonata Impromptu – Violin & Viola
• Adam Gorb – Humoresque – Viola & Piano
• Minna Keal – Ballade in F Minor – Viola & Piano
• Watson Forbes – A First Book of Scales & Arpeggios for Viola Players
• Watson Forbes – A Second Book of Scales & Arpeggios for Viola Players
• Watson Forbes – A Third Book of Scales & Arpeggios for Viola Players
• Gordon Jacob – Nocturne – Viola & Cello
• Watson Forbes – A Book of Daily Exercises for Viola Players
• J.S. Bach – Chaconne – Urtext Transcription for Viola
• Joseph Haydn – Adagio Cantabile – Viola & Piano
• William Wolstenholme – Canzona – Viola & Piano
• Benjamin Dale – Introduction & Andante – 6 Violas
• Stuart Orford – Violas in the Sun – 4 Violas & Double Bass
• Edvard Grieg – Halling and Springar – Solo Violin or Viola
• Stuart Orford – Filling Time – Viola & Piano
• Maurice Ravel – Pavane pour une Infante Défunte – Viola & Guitar
• Divisions on a Ground (Mr Finger’s Minuett) – Viola & Guitar
• J.S. Bach / Watson Forbes – Chaconne – Solo Viola
• Kenneth Harding – Divertimento – Viola Quartet
• Variations on Les Folies d’Espagne – 3 Violas or Large Ensemble
• Handel – Alexander’s Feast – 4 Violas / Viola Ensemble
• James R. Kalembach – Sophistication – Viola Quartet
• Stephen M. Horn – The Sporades Suite – 3 Violas
• Robert C. Ehle – Sonata Op. 81g – Viola & Piano
• Kenneth Harding – Concertante – 5 Violas
• Ian Gammie – Bratschentanz – 4–5 Violas or Large Ensemble
• D. Scarlatti – Sonata in F, K.113 – 4 Violas
• Handel – Two Movements from Horn Suite in F – 6 Violas
• J.M. Böhm – Concerto in G Major – 2 Violas & Continuo
• Handel – Six of the Best – Viola Sextet
• Schubert – Four Popular Songs – 5 Violas & Cello/Bass
• Lullaby of Viola-Land – 4 Violas / String Quartet / Ensemble
• John Jenkins – The Siege of Newark – Viola Ensemble arrangement
• Mozart – Theme & Variations from Divertimento No. 17 – Viola & Piano
• Kenneth Harding – Idyll – 12 Violas
• Gordon Jacob – Concert-Piece – Viola & Piano reduction
• Elizabethan Duos – 13 Duets for 2 Violas
• John Webb – Here’s Fine Rosemary, Sage & Thyme – Solo Viola
• Tchaikovsky – Variations on a Rococo Theme Op. 33 – Viola Part
• Arnold Bax – Concert Piece – Viola & Piano
• An Introduction for Viola Players to Two Songs by John Dowland
• Filippo Marchetti – Fascination Waltz – Viola & Guitar
• Boccherini – Sonata in A – Viola & Guitar
• Viola & Guitar Book 1 – Mozart Arias
• Beethoven – Variations on “Nel cor più non mi sento” – Viola & Guitar
• Edvard Grieg – Nine Lyric Pieces – Viola & Guitar
• Ar Hŷd y Nôs – Variations – Viola & Guitar
• Stuart McGowan – Sue’s Blues – Viola & Guitar
• D. Scarlatti – Two Sonatas – 4 Violas, or Violin & 3 Violas
• Brian Chapple – Viola Suite – Solo Viola
• William Alwyn – Ballade – Viola & Piano
• A Centenary Album – 3 Pieces for Viola & Piano in Memory of Harry Danks
• Kenneth Harding – Suite for 3 Violas – Five Movements
• J.P. Sousa – Liberty Bell March – Viola Quartet or Large Ensemble
• Matthew Locke – The Little Consort, Suites 6–10 – Violin, Viola & Cello
• Trios from Shakespeare’s Day – Violin, Viola & Cello
• F. Kotzwara – The Battle of Prague – Violin, Viola, Cello & Piano
• J.S. Bach – Andante for Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 – Violin, Viola & Cello
• Carl Stamitz – Quartet in D – Viola da Gamba, Violin, Viola & Cello