- One-to-one lessons at the school
- Learn for fun or work towards grades
- Beginners and violinists switching over
What viola lessons involve
The viola looks like a slightly larger violin, but it has a deeper, warmer voice and reads mostly from the alto clef. Lessons start with the essentials: how to hold the instrument and the bow, drawing a clean, steady sound, and reading simple melodies. From there you build up scales, shifting, vibrato and a growing set of pieces, whether that’s orchestral parts, folk tunes or film music.
Every lesson is one-to-one and planned around the student, so you move at your own pace and spend time on the things you actually want to play.
Who viola lessons suit
Viola suits children and adults alike. Many players come to it from the violin, often because a school or youth orchestra is short of violas, and find they love the richer sound. Others start on viola from scratch. Smaller sizes are made for younger children, so age isn’t a barrier, and there’s no upper age limit either.
If you already play the violin, the switch is mostly about the alto clef and a bigger stretch for the left hand. A few focused lessons make a real difference.
Grades, if you want them
Viola grade exams run from Grade 1 to Grade 8 with the main exam boards, and Grades 6 to 8 carry UCAS points. They’re optional. Some students like a clear target to work towards; others would rather learn for the enjoyment of playing, and lessons can be built around either.
Lessons at our school in Thornaby
When viola lessons are running, they take place one-to-one in our purpose-built teaching studios in Thornaby, at our standard price of £18 for 30 minutes or £36 for an hour. It’s pay as you go, with no contract or term fees. Lessons are by appointment, Monday to Thursday between 3pm and 9:30pm, with free parking at the rear and a bus stop outside the door.
Register your interest
We don’t have a viola teacher on the timetable at the moment. If you’d like lessons, get in touch and we’ll let you know when they’re available. If you’re happy to start on violin in the meantime, our violin lessons are running now for beginners.