Jazz Viola Wizard Jr. is designed for beginning and intermediate middle and high school violists in the tradition of the parent method, Jazz Fiddle Wizard--a breakthrough approach for string players who want to learn to improvise within the jazz style. No step is left out in this sequentially arranged introduction to the role of rhythm, call and response, articulation, scales, and chord changes in jazz improvisation. The exercises are turned into catchy tunes arranged to work in any configuration of string groups. That is, three-part arrangements for each tune may be played with any number of like instruments or in conjunction with Jazz Fiddle Wizard Jr. and Jazz Cello Wizard Jr. books. Suitable as a self-instruction book or for use in private and/or group string instruction, Jazz Viola Wizard Jr. contains piano accompaniment parts as well as access to an online audio recording that provides a full rhythm section accompaniment for every exercise and tune. The appropriate tone and style are modeled by the author's performances of more than 50 sample exercises and improvised solos.

Improvising with Rhythms
Tuning note A 440
Play-along: Rhythms on open A, four times each
Repeat rhythms, one measure each
Answer with different rhythms
Repeat rhythms, two measures each
Answer with different rhythms
Solo: Twelve-bar rhythm solo, first listen then play your own

Improvising with Rhythm and Pitch
Play-along: D minor pentatonic scale, one octave, three times
Play-along: Figures on one-octave D minor pentatonic scale
Repeat figures, D start note, one measure each
Repeat figures, A start note, one measure each
Repeat figures, D start note, includes skip, one measure each
Repeat figures, any start note, one measure each
Answer with improvised figure, one measure each
Answer with improvised figure, two measures each
Solo: Example solo by Martin Norgaard
Solo: Empty backup track
Advanced: Adding the Blues Note and Effects
Play-along: D Blues scale, three times
Repeat figure
Answer figure
Play-along: Listen to the "Blues effects"

Wizard Blues
Play-along: Martin Norgaard and Paul Nelson play all parts and solo
Play-along: Empty backup track

Using the Entire Scale
Play-along: G major scale in quarters, swing eighths and mixed rhythms
Play-along: G major scale with rhythms from Lesson 1
Play-along: G major scale with two different rhythms
Play-along: G major scale in eighth notes
Play-along: G major scale with improvised rhythms
Play-along: Change direction on the scale using only quarter notes
Play-along: Change direction and improvise rhythms
Play-along: Start on a different note
Play-along: Add repeated notes
Play-along: Add skips
Answer with improvised figure, two measures each
Solo: Example solo by Martin Norgaard
Solo: Empty backup track
Advanced: Adding Triplets and Sixteenths
Play-along: G major scale in triplets and rhythms
Answer with improvised figure using triplets, two measures each

Sweet Rose
Play-along: Martin Norgaard and Paul Nelson play all parts and solo
Play-along: Empty backup track

Improvising with One Note Changing
Play-along: Listen to see how B and B-flat fit each chord
Repeat rhythms on B and B-flat, one measure each
Repeat figures, start on B or B-flat, one measure each
Repeat figures, any start note, one measure each
Play-along: E minor pentatonic scale with B changing to B-flat
Add rhythms to the scale, four measures each
Change direction, four measures each
Use different rhythms on Em and C7, four measures each
Solo: Example solo by Martin Norgaard
Solo: Empty backup track
Advanced: Using the Full Register
Play-along: E minor pentatonic scale with B and B-flat in full register
Play-along: Change direction
Full register, four measures each

Canta Island
Play-along: Martin Norgaard and Paul Nelson play all parts and solo
Play-along: Empty backup track