# The Speaking Bow, Viola

Martelé, staccato, collé, and spiccato

The viola's heavier bow and longer strings demand a slightly different approach to articulation than the violin. These lessons give you full command of the spoke bow strokes, from the hammer to the bounce.

Intermediate · 5 lessons · approximately 100 minutes of material (not a mastery deadline).

## Before this module
- [The Moment It Becomes Music](/learn/viola/moment-music), Phrasing, shaping, and musical intention

## What this module covers
1. **Martelé on the Viola**, A decisive hammered stroke that starts with weight and releases cleanly (20 min)
2. **Staccato on the String**, Short, separated notes without leaving the string (20 min)
3. **Collé, The Pinched Stroke**, Catching the string from the surface for crisp articulation (20 min)
4. **Introduction to Spiccato**, Finding the natural bounce point on a heavier viola bow (20 min)
5. **Combining Bow Strokes**, Mixing stroke types fluidly within a single phrase or passage (20 min)

## Practise with a free reference
- [Free metronome](/tools/metronome), Use a steady pulse while you count or repeat a short phrase.

## What comes next
- [One Step Higher](/learn/viola/one-step-higher), Second and third position

## Where should I start with the speaking bow?
The curriculum places The Moment It Becomes Music before this module. Review those topics if they are unfamiliar. The first lesson is “Martelé on the Viola”: A decisive hammered stroke that starts with weight and releases cleanly. The order is a study guide, not proof that every learner needs the same pace.

## How long is the the speaking bow module?
The 5 listed lessons total approximately 100 minutes of material. That estimate describes lesson content, not the practice time needed to become comfortable with martelé, staccato, collé, and spiccato. Revisit one task at a time and use feedback from a teacher where physical technique is involved.

## What can I try here without an account?
The the speaking bow description, lesson sequence and prerequisite links are public. There is no full worked lesson sample for this module yet. The linked public tools and references are free. A free account includes the complete five-lesson foundation module in each instrument and five lessons in music theory, with saved progress and no expiry. Later lessons require the relevant paid package.

## Continue in Arco
The complete five-lesson foundation module in each instrument and five music theory lessons are free with an account, including saved progress and no time limit. Later lessons require the relevant paid package. Public samples do not assess your physical technique or certify exam readiness.

[See packages and pricing](/pricing) · [Back to the viola curriculum](/learn/viola)

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/learn/viola/speaking-bow