How many viola specialists make most of their living teaching violin? Do you hate it? Do you see it as the same thing or different? Is it just a necessary business decision? Perhaps you take violin pupils up to a certain grade and violas all the way? Maybe you are equal standard on each instrument and it doesn't really make odds to you. I am definitely poorer on the violin, never mind violin/viola conversions for small people, I need violin strings on a viola! What do you do, and do you think it matters?

I make some of my living teaching violin. Don't mind doing it - I started as a violinist before I saw the light! I enjoy teaching beginners, and there is a lot more repertoire for student violin than there is for student viola.

I wouldn't take on a high powered violin student, I would take on higher level violists, and I give all my violin pupils at least some exposure to the viola, so they can switch if they show an interest.

I see it as making me more versatile, as I can read both clefs, unlike yer average violin teacher!

And although all my performing is as a violist and baroque violist, I've recently been doing a fair bit of practice and even a gig or two on a newly acquired baroque violin, and my goodness, they do feel light and easy to play!