Viola

The VIOLA is a unique instrument with a really special job in the orchestra! Imagine the viola as the glue that holds the orchestra together! 

The viola usually gets to play the harmony parts in the orchestra, but they sometimes get the melody too! The viola is especially unique because they read notes using the Alto Clef. The Alto Clef is so rarely used by any other instrument, it is actually known as the viola clef, how cool is that! 

The viola looks a lot like a violin, but it is a larger instrument, and has lower notes and a deeper tone. Click here to learn more about the differences between the viola and the violin. Because the viola has lower strings than a violin, it can play a big range of notes, low notes and high notes.

Fun Fact: A Viola made by the masterful craftsmen Antonio Stradivari was put up for auction for $45 Million, making it one of the top ten most expensive instruments in the world!

The VIOLA is a medium sized instrument, it can play high and low notes, and has a rich warm tone.