Open String Bow Workouts for Viola, Book One One great thing to add to the beginning of your viola practice (at any level of playing!) is a short study on open strings. Open-string studies on the viola can help you focus on your bow and how it interacts with the string. Good bow technique is essential for creating beautiful sound. This book of new and exciting bowing workouts for the viola gives you 97 exercises to train your bow on open strings before you begin the rest of your practice. Since there are no left-hand notes, you can focus entirely on improving the dexterity and control of the right (bow) hand. Useful also for students who are struggling with reading notes , this book gives violists a tremendous resource for creating better tone. The exercises work on bow distribution, rests and retaking bows, slurs, triplets, dotted rhythms, double stops , string crossing and more. Note: The main focus of this book is achieving a steady, even, smooth tone. Dynamics, staccato, spiccato, and other articulated bowings are covered in Open String Bow Workouts for Viola, Book Two .