Three Concert Etudes for solo viola belong to a cycle of Etudes for various instruments, titled "Play of the Thought," which provide performers with challenges suitable to prepare them for the repertoire of the 21st century. Dr. Tsanoff was motivated to include works for solo viola in his cycle to refute the notion that the viola should not be expected to handle technically demanding works. The composer also believes that music of the 21st century will increasingly utilize irregular meters, therefore creating the necessity that performers are able to handle such irregular and changing meters to perfection. He has heard many capable and expressive soloists who "become helpless as a child" when confronted with such material, and so this features prominently in these Etudes.