hi everyone does anyone play the viola i have for 9 months

great!..keep up the good work

Yes, quite a few of us on here.

Liz

quite a few? theres a severe lack of viola players

that`s explain why this viva string forum are more inactive than others

in general, rare instruments are
Oboe
Bassoon
French Horn
Tuba
Double Bass
Viola
Trombone?

in malaysia(my country)........its all about piano, piano, violin ,piano, guitar and piano.........very hard to find ppl who plays other than these instrument.

Hello! Welcome to the forums lewisviola! I've been playing the viola for about 18 months and usually have an opinion on the viola topics raised on this forum

I think Liz meant there are quite a few viola players on the forum, which there are.

I am one of them, Lewis!

Viola rocks

I studied it for 3 years at school, and passed my grade 4. Even though I got into university as a clarinettist, I was always getting asked to play the viola, which I was nowhere near as good at! But I love its sound. Sadly haven't played for a little while as my bridge is broken and my bow's worn out - need to save up.

I can play a C major scale on viola (can't I Sarah!)

Hmmm that's another temptress here trying to convince me to get one....... well maybe if my premium bond comes up this month.

How's your recorder playing progressing?

Sorry I should have asked that in a different forum!

Slowly...3 notes so far.

I just thought my viola playing and piano playing are at the same level. C major scale

The thing that puts me off viola is having to learn a different clef....so glad I don't play cello (Oh and the investment!)

Very nice C major scale it was too!!

Vasile's a very friendly viola

The different clef takes a bit of adjusting, but as long as I am playing with some regularity then I usually find it's OK.

It's basically the nearest you can get to that wonderful cello sonority without actually having to learn a totally new technique for the cello, not to mention having to buy one and they ain't cheap! I love my viola

I know what you mean! I wish I'd started on cello now but then I'd have had to carry it everywhere! At least I've got the best of both worlds: the size and the portability (?)

plus, only two clefs!

Yup, I can't stand tenor clef!

Went to a string orchestra day on Saturday (it was very good-Vaughan Williams
Tallis) and worked with three teenage viola players.I am middle aged myself! I would be interested to know whether violas are heavy to hold under the chin-or is that just when you don't quite follow the technique.
I notice that the sound seems to be nearer to the cello than that of the violin.
It is a shame that not more solo music is written for the viola. I did notice in the street however during the summer a young player playing a transcriotion (think that is the word) of two pieces from the Bach cello suites. Very nice too.

It's not heavy if you get the right one for your size and strength. I wanted a bigger one than I could handle, but was rightly advised against it (I'm only 5'2"). I think mine is 15 3/4". The one thing which I did find uncomfortable is that playing for a long time made my left arm ache, but that's more to do with the rather unnatural hand position you use to play it than the weight, which of course is taken by the chin and shoulder.

its not fair 3 clefs and back ache for us cellists

Yes, but you get to play one of the most beautiful instruments ever, so...

take it or leave it..... preferably take it!

And one should say that for cello music there are two defined interpretations for notes in the treble clef, i.e. old-style notated 8ve higher than pitch, and modern at pitch. This makes four different clef reading requirements.

yes i play the viola ive been playin for nearly 2 years yay. keep playin the viola we need more violists !!

I play the double bass as my 3rd instrument, and attempting grade 7 this year.