I've got a Handel sonata im working on for grade 6 viola. It's an allegro part and the semiquavers are mad!! even though im taking it slowly it still makes my bow arm ache when ive finished how can i try and stop this? do you get used to it as you play it more?
thanks!
jess

I play viola as well and sometimes that happens to me. I get shoulder ache and back ache more often though. I think if you just practise but make sure you stop when your arm begins to ache then you should be OK.

I used to play the viola for a while, and I'm sure with practice you'll find which muscles can relax, such that it feels as if the arm is swinging up and down over the strings. Try doing the movement away from the viola with a relaxed arm, then playing the passage slowly with a relaxed and freely flowing arm, then gradually speed it up - whilst keeping the arm and wrist relaxed. An exaggerated but relaxed movement can help in practice, with such relaxation issues.

Any viola teachers around on the Forum?

Problem seems to have become worse! I think i must have bad posture or something because whenever I play in my orchestra I get a really bad ache in my arm that I hold my viola with, it felt like I was going to drop it on Monday which is really not good! My teacher has also told me I look really tense, any tips to help combat this?
Thanks!
jess

It might help if you use your wrist and elbow more than you use your shoulder. Just RELAX!
Also make sure your viola is in a comfortable position parallel to the ground.

I think posture must be the key to it, because sometimes when I have bad posture when I play the flute, I get pains up my arms and shoulders. Talk to your teacher about it

Its all about posture, and how relaxed you are. If you're really tense before practicing, do some spin your arms from your shoulders to loosen yourself up, does that make sense?

QUOTE (isabelsmells @ Feb 10 2005, 04:49 PM)

Its all about posture, and how relaxed you are. If you're really tense before practicing, do some spin your arms from your shoulders to loosen yourself up, does that make sense?

Yep, that's what I was going to say. The tenser you are, the worse your posture is likely to be become and the more your arms will ache. Deep breathing exercises can help as well.