Hey guys!

Just want your opinion on this matter. I've been offered viola lessons by a local violin teacher, who even kindly reduced her prices a bit for me. Now, although what she says, that the tecniques are the same although the fingerings are different, is going to be largely true, do you think I should go for it?

I omitted to ask if she had ever played viola (although I will ask soon) and, if she has, then I might feel more confident about it, but what do you more experienced folk say?

My first two violin teachers were both viola players (though both had played the violin).

I think for starters this will be fine. The hold, bow technique etc are broadly similar. Once you progress you may want to change to a specialist viola player.

My viola teacher is also a violin teacher. True that the two instruments are closely related, however the technical side is not quite identical. As a violinst, I believe it's easy to adapt for the viola, my suggest is go for it if there is no other options.

The best viola teacher I ever had was a violinist. She taught me up to beyond grade 8 and it was only down to my lack of practice that I never passed my diploma.

Liz

At the end of the day (...it gets dark )...it will depend on the teacher, you can't judge one violin playing viola teacher bythe success or not of another. You may find an excellent viola teacher who happens to play violin or a poor viola teacher who happens to play viola. Judge it on the teacher not what instrument they play.

Jane said it well

In an ideal world, you'd be taught viola by a specialist viola teacher - BUT - I think that lessons with a good violin teacher would be far better than either lessons with a bad viola teacher or no lessons at all. Go for it

Like sarah-flute, I couldn't agree more with what janexxx said. You need a good teacher - a person who will get the message across effectively, push you on without seeming too demanding etc and most of all make it fun to learn the instrument. If a violin teacher can do this, with teaching you the viola, until you get more advanced, I don't see it being a problem. If I was in the situation and I knew the teacher was good, then I would be inclined to go for it!

My violin teacher at college was actually a Viola player

He was a fantastic teacher

I now teach violin and viola - playing a little viola myself too

My viola teacher often mentions that I am doing something the way a violinist would do, not a viola player, so when you get more advanced they are indeed quite different

Thanks a lot for these tips guys! I think I might well give her a try once we're sorted out with a regular income and I can afford to pay the £££ needed for music lessons without worrying about how we're going to eat!!! Well, without Sir worrying about that, anyway!!!

Now then, some of you mentioned that if she's good, go for it. I haven't met her, just had a brief e-mail exchange, and I have no idea how good she is, or isn't. Supposing I start lessons with her, how will I know if she's good or not? I've never had music lessons before. And, I'm not even sure if she's ever played viola herself!

I certainly agree that I will need a more specialise teacher later on, but what sort of level are we talking about before switching? G3? G5? I do want to take the exams as milestones of personal achievement and also as I understand that working for exams pushes you to get your scales done properly! I don't suppose they're much fun, but they must be vital for intonation etc.

Got my other 4 viola CDs through whilst I was on holiday.

You should try to have a few lessons with her on a trial basis just to see if you get along with her OK.


Find out what her qualifications are (I would suggest she should have a minimum of grade 8 violin or viola to teach a beginner).
You could ask her to play for you (either violin or viola). If she doesn't sound good then she may not be able to help you to produce a pleasant sound (although this may be due to other reasons).
What is the highest level that she teaches ? (she might only teach to grade 5 or 6 and then pass pupils on to someone else).
Do her pupils obtain good marks in exams?
How quickly does she expect her pupils to progress?
You might also want to find out about her teaching methods -does she just concentrate on exam repertoire or will she work on other pieces with you?
Does she seem interested in her pupils?
Is she used to teaching adults?
Does she actually like the viola? (some violinists are very negative about violas and you wouldn't want to put up with that sort of attitude from a teacher for long).
Can she read the alto clef?
You could find out what she actually knows about viola repertoire - she should know enough about it to be able to select appropriate pieces for you to play.
How experienced is she as a teacher? Good teachers who have been teaching for a while usually have waiting lists.

There are loads of other questions you could ask.


You should be OK with a good violin teacher up to at least grade 5. After that it depends on the way that they play.



Which CDs did you get?

I am being taught by a violin teacher, though lessons are on hold for the minute.

Good ideas, Purple! I don't know if she plays viola, so I don't know if asking her to play that would be good and, as a total beginner, I'm not sure my judgement would be up to much anyway!!! Anyway, I can ask lots of questions during my first lesson and make it sound like general chit-chat!!! I wouldn't mind a teacher who expects me to work hard and won't put me in for G1 until I'm almost ready for G2 so that I'd get a belting result!!!!!

Anyway, the whole thing will be on a 3 month trial as I'll rent the viola to start with and, if I don't take to it, then I can just forget the whole thing, teacher included!! Anyway, we shall see and I'll report back!

The CDs I bought of late were:
Henry Vieuxtemps: music for viola and piano, (nice, cheap Naxos job!);
Bach: Cello Suites on viola;
Hoffmeister: Complete works for viola;
Viola Rarities: includes the Hoffmeister concerto in D, but a different version along with Hummel, Weber and something else which I've forgotten for now; and
Brahms and either Schumann or Schubert: viola and piano music.

I don't have the discs to hand just yet, but that's about it. Any more recommendations?

I've also just bid on some 2nd hand sheet music at auction for the early stages.

Can't wait!

Glad to know there is a generally positive feeling about violin teachers teaching viola and that others are doing OK with it. Thanks y'all!

Another very important question...will she help you prepare a piece for performance at the next forums concert?

And on CD repertoire the Shostakovich Viola Sonata, and the Walton Viola Concerto. Also Mozart K364...its for violin and viola but is one of my favouritest pieces ever.

Hmm, now there's a question!!! We shall have to see about that one, esp. as I have no transport and probably wouldn't be able to get to it, but you never know.......

I like more tuneful, easier listening music than Shosta and Walton, to be honest, but I'll have to know them for my DipABRSM, right????