The viola is an important member of the orchestra, but is not often heard by itself. Because it is bigger than the violin, with longer strings, it makes a rich, warm sound that is lower in pitch. It's a little heavier, and its shape is slightly different, too. But it is still played on the violist's left arm, just like the violin.

Composer: Kodaly Piece: Hary Janos Suite Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra Conductor: Szell

	Look at Susie, our violist, and you can see how she plays. She rests her viola on one shoulder, and holds it in place using her chin and her left hand. She holds the bow in her right hand, and draws it across the strings. She can change the pitch in two ways: by drawing the bow across different strings, and by pressing on the strings with the fingers of her left hand. The viola plays a beautiful "middle" part in the orchestra's harmony. The violas can be hard to pick out when the whole orchestra is playing, but you would really miss the violas if they weren't there! The classical composers Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) were both accomplished viola players.