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)

[brightonbelle]

Back again...

Ok, so this is defnitely a goer!

I'm absolutely broke at the moment so I'm not sure how soon this will happen (sigh). Perhaps I need to give up the mobile phone (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Recommendations for good places to buy or rent cheapy violas? Gotta be cheapy sadly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[aesir22]

Back again...

Ok, so this is defnitely a goer!

I'm absolutely broke at the moment so I'm not sure how soon this will happen (sigh). Perhaps I need to give up the mobile phone (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Recommendations for good places to buy or rent cheapy violas? Gotta be cheapy sadly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

If you're gonna spend under ?100 I'd just look online at online music shops. Buy a cheap one, then kit it with really good strings. It will be suitable enough to get you going. In the future when you are more advanced with a superior instrument, go back and play this one again and you'll notice the difference lol but to start with if thats your budget thats fine.

Most music shops do a 0% finance scheme the government has put in place. Thats how I got my violin. Paid it off with no interest over 10 months. Much more affordable that way!