I've been playing violin for three years in my school orchestra and I take private lessons, and while I am one of the best violin players in my orchestra, the competition is really high for solos since there are people with very intensive violin schedules.

In addition, our orchestra has a pretty small viola section, so I was considering switching to viola, since it would help the orchestra out. However, I was wondering if I did switch, would I find viola much more difficult?

Has anybody switched to viola from violin before? I know that viola music is written in the alto clef - I know how it works, but I have never read from it. Would that be a strong disadvantage for me? Also, is viola generally more difficult than violin?

They're different rather than easier/harder, I would say.

Alto clef isn't that hard to read, it just takes practice. Viola players don't have to cope with so many leger lines above the stave, but you will have to deal with changes to and from treble clef. Stretches are that much wider, it being a bigger instrument (there are some that I actually have to think "oooh stretch" or I end up playing flat) but most people, even those with small hands, seem to cope.

Most things are similar but it's not the same - not *just* a big violin, it feels quite a different animal to play. Lovely though, and you will be in demand if you are any good. Good to be able to switch, makes you very versitile.

I'm biased - I love my viola - about as close as you can get to being cellist without having to start from scratch! You don't get so much high flashy stuff, but you get beautiful sonority and lovely harmonising parts.

See if you can get to try one... it might grab you or you might go back to violin with relief

Switching from violin to viola is extremely common and in fact used to be much more common that actually STARTING on viola. Generally the orchestra parts are a lot easier and if you are used to playing first violin you might find yourself bored - or you might well find yourself able to get into a better orchestra than you could get into on violin.

Liz

I always prefer to play the viola AFTER playing the violin. Doing it the other way round makes the violin feel really tiny and I generally end up overstretching on the notes for a while too.

As already mentioned, playing the viola is more about getting used to the instrument being a bit bigger and becoming confident at reading alto clef.

After a day of listening to 10 year olds playing on the E string of a violin, the viola is absolute relief to the ears.

can all too easily imagine!

'used to be' You mean it's more common now to start directly on the viola than switch from violin?

I don't know - it's ten years now since I've done instrumental teaching.

Liz

I think I know more people now who're first study violists rather than have swapped than I remember there being in school or other orchestras when I was younger...