Greetings all, I have returned after about 3 weeks in the virtual wilderness thanks to a pc virus. I have 35 unread pages of topics which I really can't be bothered to trawl through so if anyone wants to update me on major developments or items of interest I'd be grateful.

Anyway onto the exciting news, I finally have the viola I have been craving since I first joined the forums. It is about 10 years old and has recently been fitted with a new bridge and set of strings. I've been attempting to sight-read and play by ear everything in sight and I'm making slow progress.

What I would like to know though from any string teachers is any bad habits that I might develop by teaching myself to start with, are there some that students tend to develop that I can look out for. I remember Oboebunny saying recently that she can't pregress any further due to bad habits she developed and I'm terrified of that happening to me so I'd appreciate any input on that.

Good to be back (although probably no-one noticed I was gone anyway ).
Boo

Wooo! Have fun with it!

I'll leave the serious advice to others as I have my own massive set of bad habits and don't want to inadvertantly pass any on...

If you *can*, a couple of lessons with a good teacher just to get you right in the basics would be a reeeeeeeeeeeeally good investment.

Hi Sarah, great to see you back, is this for good? I was thinking that it might be a good idea to get the basics sorted but I wouldn't want to mess any teachers around. Maybe one of my violin playing friends could show me the ropes (or strings ). Hope all is well with you.

I noticed actually . People were saying boo in a thread (in the anti-cheering sense) and I wondered where you'd gone . Glad you made it back .

I shan't attempt any advice on viola playing though .

Boo, as long as you let the teacher know what you are doing, then you shouldn't worry about messing them around: if they are not willing to take you on just for a few lessons, they will tell you so. If you started and then after a month said "I'm giving up now, bye!" that's bad, but if you are honest and explain that you just want guidance and not to start off wrong, then with a bit of luck you'll find someone willing to help you: you may also find that if a teacher knows your lesson time will be limited, they will endeavour to make sure they give you the basics as well as they can; they will hopefully prioritise the basic good technique, which can only be a good thing if time is limited!

And yup, my computer is now fixed! Woo!

I'm afraid I didn't notice you were away, but considering I have hardly been here for two months, it's probably my own absence which caused that

Woo! Good to have you back Boo! And glad you finally got a viola I'm afraid I'm in Sarah's boat in that I don't want to pass over any bad habits so I'll just keep shtum Good luck with it though

Don't worry, it isn't that dangerous being in a boat with me...

(sorry..............)

Thank you, it's nice to know I was missed by someone at least. The forums is a kind of time tardis though, time goes really slowly when you're not inside.





Cheers, I will keep everyone posted of course as to how I get on. I've been playing some Einaudi by ear this morning. No proper string players have seen this thread yet then. *waves viola above head to attract attention*

Hey, be careful with that thing, you'll take someone's eye out!

Welcome back Boo! I'd noticed you weren't around.
You were playing Einaudi on the viola? What piece was it? As for bad habits - well mine are movement in the bowing fingers and playing too near the fingerboard but that's just me. Sorry I can't be very helpful, but if you had a more specific problem I might be able to be of some help.
Well done for choosing the viola!

Welcome to the forums once more!

Welcome back Boo Radley!

Car Expert

I noticed you went, Boo!

Hehe, I've been giving quite a few a go:
Le Onde - quite easy
Nefeli - not so easy but I can get most of the notes
Two Sunsets - get a bit carried away with this one, again pretty easy
Into the Night (can't remember the Italian) - easy mostly
+ most of the others on the Reflections cd which are in easyish keys, I just try and play notes when I can.

Thanks, I will watch out for those, I don't know if I do have any bad habits yet but I really don't want to develop any which is why I was wondering if there are some general areas of playing where most people go wayward.

Thanks for all the noticement and welcomes, I should be back for good now.

I noticed you went too, but then I probably disappeared for almost a month myself.
Glad you have taken up the viola. I have some bad habits too, but am slowly trying to change them. I tend to bow into the bridge occassionaly, so I'm afraid am not in a position to advise.

Just because I didn't give you any decent advice doesn't mean I'm not a proper string player!!

I know, sorry I thought twice after I'd written that bit. Does no-one want to give me advice?! *gets down on knees and weeps*

I'd love to advise you, boo, I just don't have a clue where to start... sorry

Well OK, seeing as it's you ... when you play on your fourth (little) finger, make sure it stays bent and doesn't "collapse" (that is, go flat). If this happens, you need to force yourself to keep your little finger bent, otherwise playing gets harder and harder and vibrato is nearly impossible...that's my bit of advice (not very useful for beginners I know, but I've learnt from it!! )

Hi everyone, just an update on the viola - I have been invited to play for Plymouth University orchestra! I went to a concert by them last night and the guy I bought my viola off is one of their resident composers. Afterwards he introduced me to the leader whoe really wants me to go along now as they usually only have two violas. They are only an amateur orchestra but still make a pretty decent sound most of the time. First rehearsal is next Thursday, I can't wait! I've been practising for 3 hours today already!

Well done!!! *jealous*

Congratulations Boo

What a great incentive for you to exercise your viola!

Well done!

Well done!

Car Expert

Woooooooooooo! How fantastic! Let us know how it goes

Cheers guys, the good news is that at the same concert, another chap approached me, asking me if I was going to play viola for the orchestra from then on (doesn't good news travel fast!! ). When I said yes, he said that he is also a beginner on viola and that if I played then he would too, as he wouldn't have the courage otherwise. I discovered afterwards that he is actually a beginner of two years as opposed to my two months ( ) but even if the learning curve is steep, I'm sure I shall enjoy it, benefit from it and hopefully contribute to the sound (eventually ).

Kind of a different situation, but I ended up on a very steep learning curve with viola a couple of years ago: having not played for a few years I foolishly told my new employers I played it a bit when I got a job in admin at a Saturday music school: I did some after I had done grade 6 violin some years before, and played it about twice in the college orchestra at uni. Several years later: come the first Saturday, I found myself with a huge and not very nice viola, not really remembering how to read alto clef, and having never ever read treble clef on the viola, playing in a quintet with 2 diploma level cellists and 2 diploma level violinists

Very steep learning curve but I improved enormously very quickly out of sheer self-defence. Well done you for throwing yourself into it and it will improve your playing I'm absolutely certain!

Well I did it! They decided to ease me in gently with Night on a Bare Mountain, Barber's Adagio for Strings (5 flats!!) and Holst's Suite in E flat (grr, no open A strings)! But it didn't go too badly. First of all, I played on the same desk as the beginner chap I mentioned above and we both struggled through the first few pieces without too many disastrously wrong notes! After a little while, the best violist arrived and was sitting in front of us by herself so my beginner friend insisted that I move forward a desk, as I would learn more from her than him. First desk is highly scary! I just missed out all the note values below a quaver and tried to get the right timing primarily and then the right notes, although I was lucky to get either most of the time, let alone both! But it wasn't too bad, everyone knows that I'm there because I have a viola, not because I can play a viola so I didn't disgrace myself too badly and I've brought the music home to practise so things can only get better. Concert is in 8 weeks so I've gotta keep practising hard!

Oops double posted! Blimmin computer!

Well done, Boo, sounds like you did yourself proud

Yes, well done Boo! If you're still looking for technique advice, you'd do a lot worse than getting a copy of the violin and viola technique doctor book - it's only about four pounds or so and has loads of helpful advice and a section which lists problems that a player might have and then solutions to go with them.

You can find it in most music shops, or do a search for 'Dr Downey Violin and Viola technique doctor' online - I know you can buy it from their website.

Good luck!

Allan

It's postage free from their website which I thought was rather good.

Thanks Allan, will definitely look into that!

Well done Boo, you should be really proud of yourself! Sounds like the rehearsal went well considering you haven't been playing long. Good luck with the concert, let us know how it goes!

Sorry I didn't reply to this thread earlier - I must've completely missed it! I'd noticed you hadn't been on the forums too. Welcome back!

Lisa xxx

Thanks Lisa, I will definitely keep you all updated as I attempt not to make a fool of myself!

Don't be silly! You definitely won't make a fool of yourself! If you can get into an orchestra when you've only been playing for two months, you must be good!

Lisa xxx

Update on the concert - it is this Thursday at 8:00 and our programme is:

Alford - Colonel Bogey March
Holst - Suite in E Flat
Mussorgsky - Night On The Bare Mountain
Holst - Brook Green Suite (strings)
Handel - Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba (strings and oboes)
Elgar - Pomp And Circumstance March No. 4 in G

I'm fairly confident with my ability to mime so there shouldn't be too many problems. My main concern is that I get the bowing wrong and as the bows of the whole section of upper strings sweep downwards as one, my solitary bow goes up by itself. Argh!

EDIT: Oh and I'm having my first taster viola lesson this Wednesday!

Oh dear! Just I remember that feeling well - sometimes you just have to decide between hitting some of the right notes or not standing out

I'm sure you'll be fine