hi folks, thanks for all your helpful comments. I've been practicing viola for half an hour a day without fail, but I feel like I'm getting nowhere. I've been learning for about 6 months - how long does/should it take to get any good? I mean, I'm using all 4 fingers (left hand) but terribly out of tune no matter how hard I practice. Am I being impatient? I'm just beginning to dread practice now and that can't be good...!
Thanks everyone xxxx

Im not sure, as i dont play the viola, but it took me a ages to get started with my flute, but now its fine!

I don't play viola either but these things take time. Just keep going and I'm sure you'll realise that your getting really good Try working on a piece that you really like and that might motivate you more.

But sometimes it's worth remembering not to flog the dead horse.

I recently stopped having keyboard lessons after five+ years. I reached a stage where to progress further took more time than I was interested in practicing for - and without the aim of doing exams (not possible to do keyboard exams on a piano) it started to feel pointless. I haven't stopped playing - just stopped lessons and having to practice things I hated.

My problem I had was that I'm not a quitter and I really had to convince myself that it was time to stop. Though non of it was wasted and my piano is used more now than ever (those Composition exams).

Sounds like you've given it a really good try - perhaps you could try a different instrument, maybe one where the notes are already pitched... like the flute

I think you need to get the advice of someone who know and understands Viola playing, your teacher if you have one. From what I've learnt about string instruments getting them to sound good is a time consuming thing. Is it possible that whilst you are not playing up to the standard that you want/need to be but that you have improved?

I know my daughter found it very easy to conquer the fingering on violin but had to be patient about getting the right sound. Her teacher helped by giving her suzuki pieces to practise to a CD and not letting her move on before she sounded reasonable.

You will know yourself if you like playing Viola, don't forget everyone has times when they feel like they are not making progress.

Good luck whatever you decide.

The OP has only been playing 6 months - it's really not a long time on any instrument, especially one that is so tough in the early stages.

It took me ages to get started on the violin(i think it was because i didnt practise very much though), but then one day, it just clicked, and recently, ive been doing pretty well. I had a huge reluctance to use my 4th finger at first, but i found that the more you do it, the better you will be at it, and the easier it will be. Im judging from the basis of the violin here, but take it slowly, and play every note in tune before you move on. I think that instead of a set half an hour or practise a day, let yourself practise until you feel satisfied with what you have done, whether it may be an hour or 15 mins, and this will give a much better result. If you find you're losing interest in the viola, listen to some viola pieces and it'll remind you why you wanted to play this wonderful instrument in the first place!

i also play the viola- and my tuning is not that good too- i started about 5 months ago.
But my tuning is getting slowly better.
Maybe, go back and play some really easy pieces from the beginning of you books- so the notes are no problem and then see if you can get good tuning (even if only using one finger!). When worrying about the notes, even just a little, this sends your tuning off to the back of your mind.
It will get better,

There's a site called violinmasterclass.com. I think their exercises could be applied to a viola too. There's an exercise in there which states that for every piece. Slow the entire piece down. Play EVERY note as if it's the same timing. Make sure it's in tune before going on to the next note. After a few times, you gradually speed it up till it's at correct tempo. Then you can move on to the next piece. It's time consuming but I think it will work very well because it literally forces you to listen carefully for the note.

I don't know if you've learnt shifting yet. Another exercise on it is to play scales on 1 string with 1 finger. Slowly shift till you arrive at the correct pitch and play that note. You have to make sure it's the correct tone though. Go through with all 4 fingers. It improves finger strength and intonation. After all these exercises, I hope your intonation will improve! I know the shifting one did for me. I find the exercise fun because you get to shift to really high positions which I'll never learn until eons from now.

Good luck! Oh, and get a chromatic tuner. Some people call it a guitar tuner. I call it a tuner. It's the one where you play and there are 3 lights. Left and right are red and the centre one is green. If the note you play gets a green light, you're in tune! =) It's quite a 'cheat' way but it's one way too! You've gotta be careful though. They aren't good all the time if you have like a fan blowing or some background noise. Anyway, keep at it! String instruments are really hard in the beginning because it's unlike the piano but once we get it, we'll have loads of fun! I'm in the beginning stages too and I struggle more with pain.

Well sometimes it is a good thing to take a break...

It seems to simulate my mind even better!

I've been playing cello for about 4 years now and it's only been pretty recently that i've been getting what i'd call a mellow, nice sound out of it. I mean, before, it sounded nice, but not singing or anything. I don't know if it's the same on the viola, but it sounds as if you (did) have the motivation and are practicing well, so i'd say maybe give it a rest for a day, maybe two and then it might get better after that.

Sorry, it's not much help!

Sorry that you're losing motivation. I don't play the viola, but I do play the cello. When I started I was 7 or 8 and found that the sound that I thought "sounded nice" then would sound horrific if I made the same sound now. Intonation I found took time - again something that was "in tune" then, would horrify me now as the years of practicing have meant my ear has much improved. So I personally think that if you play another instrument and/or are used to listening, it's not surprising that the sounds you can produce now don't really satisfy you now. Hope this helps.

I've played the violin for 6 years now, and I'm around Grade 6 standard, and still lose motivation. (Which may suggest that it's not the instrument for me, but if we just ignore that for the moment...) Because it's my second instrument it always gets less practice than piano/organ and I never thought it sounded particularly good.

But the other day I went back to my 'very difficult' (at the time) Grade 4 and 5 pieces and could sight read some of them - it made me realise that I have actually made progress. Sometimes you just don't realise.

I sometimes get this urge to practise in the middle of the night (not very convenient!) Then during the day it's gone completely- I kind of lost the motivation today and couldn't get one in five notes right!

There are different sorts of tuner... they are a great idea. They don't all have lights, some have 'pointers' - it's worth going into a music shop to find out.
There is one that is a metronome and tuner combined (two for the price of one )

Korg make one that clips onto your instrument and picks up the vibrations, so it isn't affected by something like a fan or another instrument nearby.

I have the tuner with metronome in it. It's really useful because it's so portable! I don't tend to use the metronome with the tuner when I am playing, I either use one or the other, but it saves carrying around two different devices between home and school!