Adult Learning Viola, Some tips before I commit.... Options

[brightonbelle]

Hello everyone,

I?m an adult beginner. I?m on maternity leave next year and I?d like something (else!) to occupy my time as I found my brain cells melted slightly last time when I had my son. A few years ago I gave the flute a try and found I was actually not too bad, and I got really interested in theory (geek) but if I?m going to invest time and money into this I want it to be the ?right? instrument.

Anyway, I?m not much of a musician (yet!) but really I?d like to try something that would offer good playing opportunities for someone amateur. I know if I continued with the flute I?d have to get really, really good before being able to join any sort of ensemble and I?m not sure how likely that is to happen given my time restrictions! I thought of trying a string instrument and the viola particularly appeals as a long term project ? the sound is beautiful, and I hear that it?s not such a popular instrument ? I really like the idea of learning something a little more unusual.

Blimey ? I do ramble don?t I??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) All I really want to know is whether this is a good idea ? first of all I may be able to afford the odd lesson but I?d be largely on my own (I know this isn?t ideal but I?d be quite prepared to put in the time avoiding bad habits). I?m also really small ? I?m under 5 foot and have very small hands so I?m not sure I?d be able to get a small enough viola? I?d also like to know about tuning ? I?m not much cop at tuning string instruments (I find I can hear when a string is out of tune but not so good at getting it into tune). Is this a skill that can be learnt? Or is it something I?ll probably never be good at?!

Opinions would be welcomed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[aesir22]

Do it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Classical music is apparently good for babies to hear (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

You may struggle to stay in a decent posture if you have a massive bump lol but thats the beauty of being able to sit down with it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'd say definitely get a teacher at least for a few weeks. To show you proper posture, bow hold etc etc I really do think it is essential.

Don't worry about tuning. You can download audio tuners where you pluck the string and it tells you how high or low you need to tune. It worked pretty well for me when I first started. I could largely get it in tune but it was good for when you were struggling being slightly out.

Violists are sometimes joked at by other string players. Without good reason to be honest. Their parts in some orchestras are sometimes a little less exciting than other parts but they are by no means dull. Being a violinist I personally think you should go for violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) lol but I do like the viola too.

You don't need to spend loads of money on your first. Just buy a standard beginners outfit and kit it up with some really good strings to improve the sound. And spend the money you saved by not buying an expensive instrument on a teacher (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Arundodonuts]

Ignore the jokes from violinists.

Q Are violins really so much smaller than violas?
A No. it's the violinists heads that make them look so small. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

The viola is gorgeous - the BEST of the strings.

As previously mentioned, you will be in demand and may need to board up your front door until you gain some confidence to get out there with it. Last year I joined a local orchestra as an oboist and the first greeting from the conductor was "Oh I hear you play viola". I had said nothing, someone else had blabbed.

Don't worry about tuning, it's something you get used to, though a tuning machine is a good investment (in my viola days it was a tuning fork). You will need to get used to the alto clef but that's not a huge issue.