I am a pianist wanting to take up the viola as a 2nd instrument, and wanted recommendations on a beginners Viola outfit........ someone suggesed the Stentor II outfit....

Hmmmm, I would go for Gliga if I was getting one.

Oh no, another "I'm getting a viola" thread.......how long can I last before the temptation finally gets a hold of me and I get one

Is there anything wrong with getting a viola?

Not at all!!!

I just need to concentrate on my violin at the moment, but keep being tempted

I plan on taking up viola after getting to about G5 cello.......

I'd have thought that a musician of (hopefully!) dipABRSM calibre would soon find a Stentor 2 quite unsatisfying to play.

Liz

till tonite?

nothing at all. i think janexxx meant by "Oh no, another "I'm getting a viola" thread" that it's quite a popular subject / choice of instrument.

soon they will have to start a viola sub-forum!

I can heartily recommend Gliga.

You temptress!!!

*Jane goes off to check out Gliga website and funds in bank account*

Go on Jane, you just know HOW much you really want to....and it's really just like playing the violin, just bigger and tuned a 5th lower. You could even practice some of your violin pieces on the viola



That's what I thought too. It's one of the pitfalls of being a capable musician when you suddenly decide to take up another. Your ear is extremely discerning and you want a professional sounding instrument from the start......

Are you being a bad influence again Amanda?

(tis Amanda's fault that I have a Gliga Gama, not that I am complaining... it's lovely! )

I didn't used to think that my £250 violin was at all bad. Now, I think I'll nick my sisters next time I'm home: she never plays it (she's in London; it's in Lancashire) and her bow's worth as much as my violin

lol... we're tempting you back to it gradually, aren't we?

He'll be buying a viola next

Actually, it's true, I used to hate playing the violin, now it seems OK. One of the big differences is that I didn't used to like listening to violin music: I do now. That, and the camaraderie of the ensemble rather than a misanthropic conductor helps

I'm even starting to entertain the thought of being in the university symphony orchestra, back desk 2nd violins. Auditions are only held for the first few desks, so they might just about let me in. Can't hurt to ask

Back desk 2nd violins is the best place to be in an orchestra....no-one can see you airbow, and you are right in the middle of the music. (Flute in your ear can be a bit offputting sometimes though!)

*grin* and zen our mission vill be komplete...

I love listening to really good violin music except that it reminds me I'll never play like that....

Playing in orchestras is a lot of fun, usually, and at least at the back of 2nds you don't have quite so much pressure as say the wind players do being one to a part and stuff.

Yes it is hopefully I am afraid!!, I await my dipABRSM results with some anxiety (it went awfully I think). The stentor was suggested as something cheap in case I dont persist, but I will check out these Giglas....

try back desk of violas - trumpets or trombones in your ear depending on the shape of the rehearsal room!!

Liz

Out comes the trident fork and my little pair of devil's horns

tsk tsk!

Well, why not rent a viola for a quarter before you invest in one of your own? That way, you get to see if you take to it before you spend hundreds of pounds on an instrument you may find you don't use later on???

Doesn't look like we're going to have the money for me to learn anything for the foreseeable future, so I rather envy anyone who can talk about buying Gligas outright!!!

That's one of the disadvantages of cellos. It could be worse, at least you're not hankering after a double bass or a bassoon ....

Liz

Yeah, or an oboe or......

When I realised that I wasn't going to have the dosh, I did then wonder about starting with the viola. Half the price to hire/buy the instrument and I can get v cheap tuition from a music student at the uni.

Well, music won't go away and, if I have to wait a while, I have to wait!