What viola would you recommend I buy?

What size would I need? I'm only 5'2" and small built, would I even beable to handle a Viola?

Would progress be painfully slow? One of my main motivations is to get into a local orchestra can't get into one with Clarinet for love nor money, that and I like the Violas range and I like a new challenge!

Lessons - would 1 hour per fortnight be enough for me?

While I appreciate everyone is different I'd just like to get a general idea of things

I think the best thing would be to go to a good violin shop and try some violas - see which ones fit you (even if you subsequently don't buy from them) - or if you can try renting one from a luthier to begin with - that way you'll get it set up to suit you and don't have to keep it if you don't get along with it.

In all honesty, if you've never played a string instrument before, progress is likely to be painfully slow at first, yes - it takes an eternity to master bowing and fingering, but things do seem to get easier for players of other instruments after the initial hurdles. Another reason why renting might be a good idea - try it out see if it takes you longer than you're prepared to give.

Good luck!

Allan

Thankyou

Sheenans (sp) in Leicester do rentals on European instruments which I presume to be better than Chinese? May be worth a trip down.

May ring Turner Violins up too as they are closer to me.

Certainly think renting would be the best idea

Give it a go - you may well love it!

Just an aside, European instruments are not better than Chinese instruments, necessarily - and often, at the same price, the Chinese instrument will far outplay the European one. The days of most Chinese instruments being shaky are long gone.

Forget the nationality, I say - follow your luthiers advice and, later, your preference.

Enjoy!

I'm 5ft1 with a tiny frame, and i have a 15 1/2 inch viola... though i've also tried a 16 inch, which i had no problems with. So you will be able to handle a viola

Fantastic soooooo excited about this now am going to go to the Viola shop (lol) tomorrow and ring some teachers up!

Brilliant! Let us know how you get on.

Allan

Yay

Will let everyone know

That's not my experience: Progress was extremely fast in the beginning, but reached a plateau after three or four months. Ever since then, progress has been frustratingly slow.

Can't go shopping today but can go tommorow

So benn looking on the internet, Foulds my local music shop do this Viola on rental - http://www.fouldsmusic.co.uk/index.php?tar...;product_id=672

Though this looks the bargain - http://www.normans.co.uk/Items/Item.aspx?S...%20%c2%a3170.18 Only if 15.5" is right for me though!

Anyone know either product?

I'm not sure what exactly Turners have in stock at the moment but I generally find them very helpful and well informed. They usually have a good range of cheaper and more expensive, larger and smaller instruments and will let you take one away for a week on approval before making a commitment.

My suggestion would be to go and try a few different sized instruments to see what you feel comfortable with (especially reaching to the C string). Just explain what you are trying to do, and by all means tell them that you are looking around before you decide. They may also be able to recommend a teacher in your area.

Consider your budget carefully too. If you buy an individual instrument from a luthier you will also need to buy the case and bow separately, however if you buy a whole outfit, this will not be the case. You will also need music! When you are in Nottingham pay a visit to Windblowers on Derby Road (metered parking right outside) as they have a very good selection and, again, will be able to offer you advice if you haven't got a teacher yet.

DO make sure you get lessons from the start as it is much, much more efficient to learn the right habits right from the start than to have to unlearn and relearn the basics later. You will also make a much better sound much sooner. Playing a stringed instrument is a very physical activity and you will find a teacher will guide you through the basics of posture, bow control, sound production and intonation and suggest improvements constantly which you cannot really do yourself just from a tutor book.

Once you have discovered what size you are likely to need do shop around. In general, be wary of instruments that look 'too good to be true' on the internet, however several of us on the forums here have had very good experiences with instruments from Elida Trading and from Yitamusic (just don't go for Yita's very very cheap model - it's the T or M 19 or 20 that are the good ones). You should be able to find out more about these by doing a forums topic search.

As others have said, yes, you'd be able to handle a viola just fine. To see whether a particular size would suit you, hold the viola in the playing position and gently grasp the scroll of the instrument. If you can do this comfortably - with a slightly bent arm and without stretching - you'll be able to handle an instrument of that size.
I'd say that's plenty to start with, although I'd be inclined to split it and have half an hour once a week at this early stage of learning. Obviously you'd probably find it physically hard work to have an hour-long lesson when you're not used to the instrument; also it is important to get your technique correct from the start and frequent lessons are a good way to do that. Have fun, it's a fabby, fabby instrument. Oh and you may find there's some overlap between your clari repertoire and viola....

I'm 5'4" with tiny hands and I cope okay with my 15" viola. I have difficulty using my fourth finger sometimes, but my teacher assures me that the finger will adapt in time and I'll be okay.

I have one lesson a fortnight and that is fine for me.

The viola is a lovely instrument and you'll always be welcome in any orchestra! My ambition is to join the amateur orchestra too

Thankyou everybody I have my first lesson on Friday and NO INSTRUMENT ... will go to Foulds tomorrow and rent one for four months it is only £31 for four months and £22 for a furthur four months, you get this price off the Viola if you decide to buy as well!

So excited, can't wait

Congratulations !