It seems to be commonly believed that the musical world is short of viola players but from my time spent on these forums I have begun realise that, in fact, viola players are taking over the world! This was confirmed this week on the ELLSO string summer school. I managed to get a place on the course purely on the grounds that I play viola (badly) but, come the chamber music sessions, I found that there were surplus violas and a real shortage of violins. Guess what I spent the week playing..?

W

YAY! We're taking over the world!

deleted - posted in wrong thread - sorry!

Hang on, Sarah, you're a violinist too, I believe...

willobie, this is exactly why I have urged barry-clari to take up violin rather than viola for his Challenge...

I play the violin, too - better at viola though!

I think it's a consequence of a lot of different people deciding individually that viola would be a nice rare instrument to learn, so there would be lots of opportunities for ensemble playing. A few years down the line, when they've reached the standard for aforementioned ensemble playing, they meet all the other people who had exactly the same idea...

But unfortunately viola recitals are still quite rare. Maybe this will change if more people start to learn the instrument.


Did you enjoy the summer school? I think my viola teacher was going on it as one of the tutors, you might have met him.


I've heard you play viola and you don't play it badly. You have a lovely tone.
There are some good pieces for multiple violas, shame you didn't get a chance to play some of those.

Yes I had a fantastic time. Who is your teacher - all the tutors there were really wonderful players!

I probably spent about half the course playing violin (some of it through choice) which I haven't played for about fifteen years. I bought a new (Gliga) violin at the Leicester concert and this was the first time I had really played it - it has got a lovely sound.

Now that I've moved I am determined to find an orchestra nearby where I can do some playing - if the viola section is not over-subscribed..

W

Glad you had a great time. I would be too nervous to go on a course like that. My teacher is Piotr, his main instrument is violin, but he sounds amazing when he plays on my viola.

It's good to play in a local orchestra. I started playing in an orchestra again about a year and a half ago after a very long break and am really enjoying it. I now play in about three orchestras. I've never yet been to an amateur orchestra where the viola section is oversubscribed, so I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem.

I guess that Chesterfield is too far for you...but we are actually DESPERATE for viola players. If you are interested (indeed if there is anyone else with a viola, or come to that we could also use cellists and a few violins) is in reach of Chesterfield PM me for details.



I know Piotr...he is amazing! I love it when he improvises the gypsy and jazz stuff. And you would absolutely love the ELLSO summer school, no need to be nervous.

I went to Piotr for the viola technique sessions each day - he really is amazing. I also went to his gypsy sessions and it was wonderful listening to his improvisations!
The course is very non-threatening - I even dared to play 1st violin in our chamber group!

W

I think that the Viola is a realy good instrument, but I don't play it. the open string notes are the same as the cello isn't it?

Glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself, Willobie. I was thinking of you all off for the week.

Purple viola - if you can cope with Piotr you can certainly cope with ELLSO! Piotr makes me laugh. He is great. You are lucky to be studying with him.

Its good to know that viola players are taking over the world!!!

There are indeed. I have been researching them recently. It'd be grand to be in a viola band...

I know. For a long time I couldn't find anyone who would teach viola beyond grade 8, so I am very lucky.


If you came to a forum concert maybe we could form a viola ensemble with some of the other viola players around and play through some pieces just for fun, not to perform. Corda Music Publications do some viola ensembles that might be suitable, but there are other publishers that do them as well.

Yes, they are, just one octave higher.

Further proof! I've just contacted a local orchestra; they have plenty of violas - could I play violin..? Ho hum...

W

Perhaps the people you are meeting on here make up most of the viola plaers in Britain, and keeping in mind we have as population of about 55 million, that's not really that much.
P.S. I am sorry if you were becoming all happy because you thought there were loads of violaists, but there probably are anyway, because i'm normally wrong with issues like these.