Originally published as short, unaccompanied works for the violin in a beautifully illustrated book containing detailed practice guides, Ovation Press is proud to be able to offer the viola community the sheet music for 12 Etude-Caprices in the Styles of the Great Composers. Suitable for intermediate to advanced viola students, adults returning to the viola, and violinists choosing to strengthen viola skills, these compositions are as perfect for study and contests as they are for the recital hall. Having been internationally recognized, in its first incarnation, as a unique method for the study of style within an historical context, it has received rave reviews from such violinists/violists and teachers as Jaime Laredo, Paul Kantor, Stephen Clapp, Joseph Gold, Gerardo Ribeiro, Charles Avsharian and Patricia McCarty. See below for a selection of reviews with many more available at Ms. Barlowe’s website www.amybarlowe.com.

The composers represented are as follows:
 Vivaldi
 Bach
 Handel
 Haydn
 Mozart
 Beethoven
 Paganini
 Brahms
 Sarasate
 Ravel
 Bartók
 Copland

Click below to watch a video of Siyu Zhang performing Amy Barlowe's Caprice in the Style of Bartok for Violin.

Reviews for 12 Etude-Caprices in the Styles of the Great Composers published by Alfred Publishing Co.:

"This collection of Etude-Caprices is absolutely fantastic & should be in every teacher's & aspiring violinist's library. The Bartok Etude is simply ingenious."

-Jaime Laredo, Internationally acclaimed solo violinist, chamber musician, and conductor

"In this wonderful volume, Amy Barlowe creates a new genre: the style-study. For generations young violinists were subjected to the mind-numbing, repetitive drudgery of traditional etudes. Here, the focus is on creativity and imagination as the student is enticed with the idea that individual composers speak with distinctly different voices. Each style-study is accompanied with helpful prose delineating strategies for achieving the stated goal. With her experience as a concert performer, the creative skill of a composer and the abundantly evident care of a dedicated teacher Ms. Barlowe has made an important contribution to string pedagogy."

-Paul Kantor, Violin Faculty, Cleveland InstituteArtist/Faculty Aspen Music Festival and School

"Amy, I enjoyed playing through the Mozart and Bartok examples, thoughtfully presented with practicing suggestions. More interesting than Kayser and Wohlfahrt, they provide an opportunity for young players to expand their technical and reading abilities. A worthy addition to the repertoire!"

-Stephen Clapp, D. Mus.Violin and Chamber Music Faculty, The Juilliard SchoolDean Emeritus, The Juilliard School

"Wonderful book. Very well organized, informative and useful. A very practical way to deal with the various issues of style, interpretation and overall technical cleanliness."

-Professor Gerardo Ribeiro, Coordinator of the Strings Program,Department of Music Performance,Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music,Northwestern University Artist, Faculty Meadowmount School of Music

"Amy Barlowe has done it again…..creating something totally original. The etudes themselves are, for a change, musically pleasing when compared to many other technique builders. By providing her section on technical elements and musical features to be addressed, something only a trained and highly competent player/teacher might provide, she has added frosting to an already award-winning cake. I have seen too many more pedestrian efforts that I myself would never consider presenting to a student. Bravo Amy!"

-Charles Avsharian Concert performer, Violin teacher, CEO Shar Products Company