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)

[lilly763]

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)

Go for it! I'm a violist and also under 5 feet - I have a wonderful 15.5 inch viola which suits me just fine (I'm at a moderately advanced level), and I certainly don't have any problem getting a big sound! I could probably learn to play an even bigger instrument if I wanted to - it's really a matter of getting used to it - but I really like my viola so I don't feel the need. At the beginning, it's not that important to get the most incredible sounding instrument anyway.

If ensemble opportunities are something that you're interested in, viola is THE instrument - very few amateur orchestras have enough violas and conductors will literally beg for you! Violas are also important to many types of chamber music, and again, there are disproportionately more violinists and cellists than violists. Also, viola parts tend to be easier than the other string parts (especially in easier pieces), so you'll be able to get involved in ensemble playing even faster.

Regarding tuning, it is certainly a skill that comes with time. I don't naturally have perfect pitch or even good relative pitch (grade 8 aural was a nightmare for me), but over time with the help of teachers and/or tuners initially, you gradually gain a sense of what a perfect fifth should sound like.

I definitely think you should spend some time with a teacher though, especially at the beginning - string instruments are quite difficult to get the hang of at first!

[willobie]

If ensemble opportunities are something that you're interested in, viola is THE instrument - very few amateur orchestras have enough violas and conductors will literally beg for you! Violas are also important to many types of chamber music, and again, there are disproportionately more violinists and cellists than violists. Also, viola parts tend to be easier than the other string parts (especially in easier pieces), so you'll be able to get involved in ensemble playing even faster.

Just a word of caution - as more people have this same idea, we have orchestras with a glut of violas and a serious shortage of violins. Remember that an orchestra needs a lot more violins than violas...

W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[lilly763]

Just a word of caution - as more people have this same idea, we have orchestras with a glut of violas and a serious shortage of violins. Remember that an orchestra needs a lot more violins than violas...

W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I have NEVER come across an orchestra with too high a viola to violin ratio. Ever. Every conductor I have met has gone out of their way to be nice to me and get me into their orchestra (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But I suppose there might be reasons why our perceptions are different: 1) I live in the US - maybe we have fewer violists for some reason? and 2) My experience is mainly with orchestras composed of some combination of advanced students/amateurs and professionals - maybe the orchestras you speak of are at a different level?

[Arundodonuts]

Just a word of caution - as more people have this same idea, we have orchestras with a glut of violas and a serious shortage of violins. Remember that an orchestra needs a lot more violins than violas...

W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I have NEVER come across an orchestra with too high a viola to violin ratio. Ever. Every conductor I have met has gone out of their way to be nice to me and get me into their orchestra (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But I suppose there might be reasons why our perceptions are different: 1) I live in the US - maybe we have fewer violists for some reason? and 2) My experience is mainly with orchestras composed of some combination of advanced students/amateurs and professionals - maybe the orchestras you speak of are at a different level?

My experience too. I think Nottinghamshire must be a viola magnet. Send some of them over here.

[sbhoa]

Just a word of caution - as more people have this same idea, we have orchestras with a glut of violas and a serious shortage of violins. Remember that an orchestra needs a lot more violins than violas...

W (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I have NEVER come across an orchestra with too high a viola to violin ratio. Ever. Every conductor I have met has gone out of their way to be nice to me and get me into their orchestra (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But I suppose there might be reasons why our perceptions are different: 1) I live in the US - maybe we have fewer violists for some reason? and 2) My experience is mainly with orchestras composed of some combination of advanced students/amateurs and professionals - maybe the orchestras you speak of are at a different level?

My experience too. I think Nottinghamshire must be a viola magnet. Send some of them over here.

Regardless of the demand I'd say beware of choosing an instrument only because you think there will be more opportunities to play.
With any instrument it is going to take time to be able to play in an ensemble, especially if it's a first instrument or one taken on when you are still only in the early stages of learning another. You may find that you really grow to love the instrument but that might not happen if it wasn't chosen just because you really wanted to play it.

[Arundodonuts]

Regardless of the demand I'd say beware of choosing an instrument only because you think there will be more opportunities to play.

I agree but the OP didn't raise the issue of demand in choosing to have a go at the viola. That popped up further into the thread.