Viola Question? Options

[echelon]

I have to say that I'm NOT loving Alto Clef!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I'm just seeing the notes as positions on the strings rather than trying to name them as I'm playing - I'm hoping that it just sinks in that way, rather than making an intellectual exercise out of learning it!!!!

It's the only thing that's causing me probs really. Other than that, I LOVE the viola and it's great to have lessons.

My beginners book is full of music for kids though - I'd really like to have a 'proper' book with some classical stuff in. I hate the Old Macdonald stuff!!!!

If anybody can recommend a beginners viola book that's more geared towards adults then I'd be really grateful - something I can order off the 'net perhaps?

[nova]

I have to say that I'm NOT loving Alto Clef!!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I'm just seeing the notes as positions on the strings rather than trying to name them as I'm playing - I'm hoping that it just sinks in that way, rather than making an intellectual exercise out of learning it!!!!

It's the only thing that's causing me probs really. Other than that, I LOVE the viola and it's great to have lessons.

My beginners book is full of music for kids though - I'd really like to have a 'proper' book with some classical stuff in. I hate the Old Macdonald stuff!!!!

If anybody can recommend a beginners viola book that's more geared towards adults then I'd be really grateful - something I can order off the 'net perhaps?

If you treat the alto clef as an extension/overlap of the treble clef, with middle C on the middle line, it all makes sense - that is what is working for me anyway. I am a violinist beginning viola, and don't have much experience of alto clef but it's falling into place with this approach.
Also writing out simple tunes to play for yourself would help - I haven't really looked for any books yet so this has been useful for me.
Hope that is helpful,
N


And I have just thought, if you have something like Sibelius it is easy to transpose music so you could use some of your easier flute/piano repertoire as a way of playing things you like.

N

[maya3]

the way i do it (as i learnt violing first) is to either imagine that the not written in alto clef is a 3rd lower and play it as it would be played on a violin but on the viola. eg, middle C in alto clef would be the G above that in treble clef, 3rd finger on D string, so play that on viola, and it is 3rd finger on G string which is the C.

alternatively, the viola music has the same fingering as third position on the violin, so use 3rd position violin fingerings in 1st position on viola and it comes out right.

though knowing what the notes actually are and my ability to read them as 'viola notes' is improving.

[primrose]

echelon, I agree with nova. In fact, since you play the piano, you already know the alto clef. Think of the treble and bass clefs together, with middle C on a ledger line in between. Now imagine that the top three lines of the treble clef have disappeared (or turned into ledger lines). Same with the bottom three lines of the bass clef. Hey presto!

As to books, why is your teacher making you use a children's book which you don't like? Any decent teacher will be able to recommend a more suitable book. If yours can't or won't, you won't go wrong with the New Tune a Day book by Sarah Pope. Very clear, very sensible, no childish pictures etc. You can get it with either a CD or a DVD.