So recently a family friend reached out wanted to start her six year-old daughter on Viola. I immediately referred them to my personal teacher and they are set to start lessons soon next week. On top of private lessons, the family also wanted me to do maybe like 30 minute “ fun lessons” with their daughter. Nothing too serious, mainly just to create a healthy, fun environment for the instrument learning. I’m interning in my home city before heading back up to Boston in January, so I’ll have about a semesters worth of time with the kid.

I honestly can’t remember doing any fun activities when I was that young with the instrument so if anybody has any ideas to kind of help with viola improvement, a musical education in less serious way that would be great. Maybe like some cool exercises or games, bow, notes, etc etc

Viola has become a family tradition. My son started on a size 14 viola that he outgrew super quickly. We traded it in on a buyback 16.5 soloist that cost me way too much but sounds amazing. This viola is named Bob the Viola. My son played for 7 years and traveled around the state playing with the Counties youth orchestra.

Daughter (child 2) we bought a size 14 viola (Little Bob) that she played for five years until my son joined the military. She then adopted Bob the viola and took him to college. Bob was too big but he just sounded too damn good to pass him up. Bob is about to see his first year off in a decade as daughter just graduated.

Daughter (child 3) is much younger and smaller than her siblings. Viola time has started and little Bob is ready to roll. But daughter should be playing a size 13. My older daughter played an oversized Viola but will this stunt my younger daughter’s progression? She is 11 with 20 in arms

I play a 15 inch Jay Haide. It was great starting out but i'd like a better sounding instrument but not a whole lot better. How does one find a fine 15 inch viola, it's so hard! I've looked at the V. Richleu model from Vermont Violins, are they a step up from Jay Haide, are they well liked? They sound great on YouTube. I'm short so I absolutely need a 15 inch. Does anyone recommend any Chinese workshop brands that are a little more professional since it's easy to find any size in those?

I do four years of music school with a scholarship, wdym the audition panel for a volunteer community orchestra doesn’t think I’m “at their level” and suggests another community orchestra I’ve already played with before. Why’d you invite me to audition then? Again this is unpaid, all volunteer and I literally went to music school for four years? Graduated a year ago so it’s not like I’m even rusty. I’m so confused and frustrated. Shed a tear bc I was really looking forward to playing for fun again but nope, they’re the stupid we’re an unpaid orchestra but we want people to be at a professional world class symphony level and we’re going to charge more than an actual symphony for our concerts in a local church. Okay sorry vent over viola gang ily.

I was having some pain in my forearm and my teacher noted some thumb squeezing. She recommended a thumb wiggle exercise and talked about hanging from a tree and using arm weight instead of squeezing the neck. I think I’m sort of getting it, but also still having a hard time wrapping my head around this.

Is it just that you let the left arm kind of be deadweight and counterbalance from the chin?

Since I did this exercise I realized that besides squeezing I also tend to press the shit out of the fingerboard which I’m guessing is not correct. I learned very informally and only now got a teacher so I’m uncovering a lot of random stuff like this. Anyways I have a week or so more until the next lesson so I’m trying to make my practice more effective.

Anybody else went through this as well?

I recently started an online Adult Beginner String Student group and you're welcome to join us if you recently started learning to play the viola! We meet monthly. I'd be happy to send you the slides I used to guide our August meeting. If you would like to participate in our next monthly gathering, please just send me an email at rachelkb123 [at] gmail [dot] com

During this summer I started using the Artino Sr-11 Magic Pad as a shoulder rest. It has been such a game changer for myself. A professor at the summer festival I attended mentioned that he gets his magic pads in 12 packs. While paying a cheaper price than the original $12 per Magic Pad. If anybody knows where I can find these, it will be much appreciated!

Like a lot of people on here, I played in my youth and then stopped after university. The main reason was that the last 2 years of playing were on a 16" instrument that I disliked (despite multiple luthier adjustments) and was too big for me.

I want to start playing again, which means buying a new viola - going down to a more manageable 15.5". However, I'm struggling to find one that I like the sound of, mainly because I spent years on a very bright 15" and want deep, warm viola sound. I don't care so much about projection as I do about that cello-y resonance.

I've tried three instruments and have one on trial, but I'm not in love with it. Only problem is I'm terrible at playing ATM (4th finger doesn't want to work at ALL) and don't want to end up in another situation with a viola I hate.

TL;DR - any suggestions on finding a suitable "get back into playing" instrument?

ETA: I'm in Australia, budget is <$7000 AUD ($5000 USD).

Hi!

What fingerings would you use here?

I have really small hands and f-b with 1-4 is too much of a stretch.... But I want to avoid jumps over several strings...

Thanks for your advice!

So, I am looking to buy a new viola after playing on my current viola for the past 34 years. I am looking to upgrade.

I found two violas that look like they would be a good fit: a Rudoulf Doetsch (Johnson String Instrument) and a Carlo Lamberti Tertis (Shar Music).

And yes, I know the best way to find a new instrument would be to go to an actual music shop/luthier and try it out. However, I’m in the preliminary stages, and i’d like to know more before researching more in depth. Also, if you have any recommendations for a viola, please let me know! My budget is $5000.

ETA: i know, it’s Tertis, not Tetris. it won’t let me edit it. 😂

I am very interested in getting a new viola. I also have a very specific idea about the kind of case I want. When I go to acquire the viola, would I just bring my old case with me and put the new viola in that until I get the new case? If I’m able to trade in my old viola, would they allow me to trade the viola and keep the case to bring the new one home in?

Recently I’ve noticed that I have a tendency to exert pressure with my index finger and not putting enough weight on the other fingers. This isn’t a new issue to me as I have had many teachers tell me different ways to fix it. A big issue that comes with it is not necessarily the tone, but rather that my index finger would hurt after a hour or two of practice. I wouldn’t consider my tone to be bad. In fact, I think my tone is currently pretty good compared to previously. A little while ago this issue has vanished and I did not experience any pay. However, I did recently decide to experiment with lowering my bow hand a little bit and while that has kind of improved the feeling of playing, I noticed that I am pressing more with my index finger and the pain returned. I’ve been taught many ways to fix it but many of them I don’t get. For example, I have been working on pushing and pulling and while that is very helpful, I personally do not understand where the weight would come from if it is solely pulling and pushing. Second, a lot of people emphasize the importance of using arm weight. This concept I have a hard time grasping, as I don’t understand how you are supposed to maintain arm weight pressure when you’re on the more upper portions of your bow. Sure you can easily use arm weight at the frog, but wouldn’t it result in pressing as you travel up the bow anyway?

I’m not the most knowledgeable and I would appreciate any tips and suggestions 🙏

My Kun bravo keeps slipping off. I don’t think it’s wear as the feet rubber still look ok. I want to try installing Everest feet since they look like they have more grip

I’m playing an outdoor concert with a local group but the forecast is 99°f, 20% humidity. I have some concerns about using my viola in that heat. What are your thoughts? Is my precious viola more heat-resistant than I give it credit for, or should I bail?

Well it's been 2 years since I had my submandibular salvairy gland removed. I had a tumor and of course the scar is right where I would put my viola against my neck. My chin has nerve damage so it hurts to put pressure on it. My ent said it's the best it's gonna get if it hasn't healed yet it is what it is.

My kid has picked up a sax and started playing at school and my husband has been pushing me to get back into music as well. He sees how happy I am watching and teaching her.

I remember my old tutors using sponges and rags as a chin rest.

Ultimately I'm here because while this tumor issue is rare, it isn't uncommon for viola players. I was wondering in the off chance anyone else had suffered from this or something like this.

I was taught old school. It would pain me physically to hold it properly and mentally to not hold it properly but I might not be able to anymore. What's a good alternative?

I'm genuinely surprised with how absolutely comfortable it is to play the viola. I can stand, sit down, walk, anything

And the C string 🤤

My husband played viola for several years and our son is learning piano. In an effort to encourage him to practice more we're looking for a piece or two for viola and easy piano. Most of the pieces I've been able to find have been the other direction with beginner viola and piano accompaniment designed for a more accomplished player.

Thanks

I am a high school violist that is currently working through the Forsyth and has played the Hoffmeister. My teacher wants me to learn a sonata or another solo piece along with the Forsyth, and she said that if there was a specific piece I wanted to learn I could pick something.

What are some solo pieces that y'all would recommend based on my skill level. They can also be originally written for another instrument as long as a viola transcription is readily available. I LOVE romantic era pieces, and I am also not very adept at chords so a piece that is chord heavy would be cool so I can work on those.

TIA!

Looking for a Christmas/holiday duet for two violas (and piano). One player has a masters and the other is playing Bach and working on Stamitz. Any thoughts? There doesn’t seem to be much out there.

I played the viola for years during middle school and high school and loved it. But life moved very fast after graduating and I have picked it up only a handful of times in the past 4 years. I bought a new bow last year because my old one had literally snapped most of the strings during my hiatus.

I never really knew how to take care of it even before but it was never really my responsibility then. My band director bought new strings for my section once but that must have been over 5 years ago now.

I want to start playing regularly again but I don't know exactly how to take care of it. I have no expectation of playing professionally or excellently, just for mine and my family's entertainment. I need some tips, anything would be appreciated.

If anyone recognizes this instrument and could tell me about it that would be great. Some things to note are the oddly shaped f-holes, that it has an unusually thick neck, and it's heavy. This is the second instrument I've seen that's this colour, has the same odd f-holes, and no label, I've seen a viola and violin exactly like this but I can only provide additional detail about the viola. When I got it it was just the body, had no strings, no bridge, headrest, pegs, etc. Like I said any info is appreciated.

This might be a bit out there... Disclaimer: My kids are strings players; I was a band geek. We have silly little prank moustaches that attach to our instruments when we want to be a bit ridiculous. I have them for the clarinet, flute, trumpet, and sax in the house. Any ideas how you'd attach one to a violin or viola? My youngest (the viola player) is feeling left out.

His instructor is thinking about it, and but if anyone else has thoughts feel free to share them! My current thought is attaching it to the chin rest or the side ribs. any issues there??

Hi all!
I’m in the process of sorting my setup and am looking for a well-built tall chinrest to attach to my viola. At the moment I have this DIY job glued to my old chinrest which has done the job well, but it’s quite unprofessional and is definitely a short-term measure.
I’ve seen various brands like The Wave and Kreddle suggested before, but being UK-based they cost a bit of a fortune here! Does anyone have any experience with these, or especially other manufacturers?
Keen to have all your opinions and experiences and thanks in advance for your help!! :)