I had amazing professors that helped me grow into a better violinist, and helped me explore other outlets in music. Various reasons. (I have a bumper sticker that says 'my viola can beat up your violin'). Why I love playing the viola - by Clio Tilton. Free of any prejudgment, I listened and decided that that was the optimal stringed instrument and the one that made the noise I'd like to have under my ear the most. The violin can play higher notes and hit that sweet spot within compositions. It sounds like a warm hug, unlike the shrill nagging of an ex-wife that a violin sounds . And what are the advantages of the electric violin? This is why you hear violin solos and not viola solos. In this case, I am talking about just violists who only play the viola. After hearing a night of incredible fiddle music, I was hooked. Found inside – Page 597While with the orchestra, he served as soloist in concertos by such composers as Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, and he played in German premieres of works by Debussy, Dukas, and Bartók. In 1923 he began playing viola instead of violin ... It takes awhile to get used to the subtle, but real, differences, and clef dyslexia can be a problem, but all that goes away as you get used to the back-and-forth. Violas are in a roughly equivalent place in an orchestra. It was said that she had a tremendous voice and was just as talented a violist. It is always better to play with others instead of alone. In comparison, the violin nearly plays itself with little effort. It must be tailored to suit your build so that the tilt of the violin is perfect for you. I don't think there's any serious malicious intent here--everyone knows that the violist is the butt of the jokes in the orchestral world. So violists can be fun too. Answer (1 of 11): I don't think many people do dislike the viola. When most musicians make comments about the viola, they're being facetious...I hope this guy never has to make his living playing weddings, or he'll be in trouble, having irritated the wrong people. The violin tries to match, but the viola always can say . After hearing a night of incredible fiddle music, I was hooked. Violists get to play violin music, cello music, and our own music. Personally, violas sound good, but I have no desire to play one. It didn't have to be this way. The rule was that you could start playing in a string quartet (two violins, viola and cello) a year early if you played viola instead of violin, and I jumped at the chance to play in another ensemble a year early. Janis, if you want to hear the worst viola jokes, go ask a violist. 1. Found inside – Page 275This is also indicated by the well known fact that the resonance note of a violoncello is about a twelfth below that of the violin , while that of the viola , instead of being a fifth below that of the violin , is only a single tone ... I started out on the violin because I was ordered to play the violin. If you know how to play a violin, then you can easily learn to play a . However, I watched the videos, I heard the jokes. :-)  It might be fun to try it, but it's not a targeted desire for me and I think I can live without it. As far as loudness, my viola is louder than my violin, and the other violinists that I play with. i think it is done out of affection, since many of you play both. Found insideISBN 1-58951-176 - X by Joanne Martin 9 " 781589 " 511767 Trio Tapestry Trio Tapestry Cello Violafest Violin ... pieces by Joanne Martin with flexible scoring that can be played by any combination of violin , viola , and cello . :). All the big names in composition favored the violin when composing their best stuff. Is the average violinist generally a better musician than the average violist? Step 1: What to look for when buying a viola. I think most of you miss one significant point--it's well known to all violists (and we make sure it's one of the best-kept secret in the orchestra) that while you all violinists work so hard to play the beautiful melodies that (admittedly) we get a bit jealous of, WE get to sit centrally in the 'band' and hear everything with a better balance than any other section in the orchestra--but we don't say so too often, because then everyone would want to play viola ;). Stroh Type Violin. I can say that, because I do play both instruments in ensemble, about equally often, these days, and the experiences are qualitatively different (and, I suppose, quantitatively different, too, in sheer number of notes/rehearsal...). I agree with the critic and broadcaster Hans Keller, who argued that viola playing is a 'phoney' profession. Viola bows are generally a bit heavier, and sometimes the frog is curved instead of straight-edged, like this: 4. Want to play the cello but don’t feel like lugging it around? If you wonder why, my only explanation is rooted in primitive instinct: the squeakier wheel gets the grease. This is why when violists switch over to a violin and vice versa, they will have a hard time locating the position of their fingers. Instead, it adds a low C string below the G string. And my circle of friends consists only of violinists and cellists - if we're ever going to do string quartets then someone is going to have to take up viola. Violin For Dummies helps budding violinists of all ages begin to play. If you’ve never read a note of music, this book will show you how to turn those little black dots into beautiful notes. Both instruments are worthwhile, and only a vested idiot would say otherwise without having experienced both. . Unlike the violin, the viola does not come in a standard size. It's fairly safe to say as a generalization that if a concerto works really well as a cello concerto then it's going to work less well as a viola concerto irrespective of whatever tricks one might come up with to make it playable as a transcription. Regards. The viola is something of a compromise between acoustics and practicality, isn't it? Found inside – Page 5Nevertheless, most musical historians now believe the viola and violin developed at exactly the same time and were designed ... from 1220* Cork that shows that soon after its introduction, children were being raised to play the fiddle. However, learning how to play viola has a lot of advantages. The viola picks it up, and the violin soon joins in. With this new guide to the Baroque violin, and its close cousin, the Baroque viola, distinguished performer and pedagogue Walter Reiter puts this power into the hands of today's players. Some would seem to be naturally suited to it - Air on a G string might be a great example (though this is a violinist speaking :) ). Violinists top the audio spectrum and grab the audience's attention. If you know how to play a violin, then you can easily learn to play a . Found insideFor that reason, I teach Baroque viola students exactly the same repertoire as the violinists and I encourage all violinists to play the viola. Violists may well find it more convenient initially to work through the lessons on a violin ... The difference between the violin and the viola becomes clear in their different roles in an orchestra.The violin is more of a soprano and the viola more of a middle instrument. I don't have more time to practice - but that raises a question: does also playing the viola complement, hinder or have no effect on learning the violin? Originally published: London: Macdonald and Jane's, 1976. The cello balances out the loud, high pitch of the violin section, bringing the music back down to earth. Given its uniqueness in sound, this can inspire you as to why viola is a good instrument to invest your time and effort. Known History: I don't know much about the history unfortunately. The viola still strikes me as a solo voice because it's so similar to the human voice. I love to make jokes about it, but deep down, I want one. Though the violin was introduced to the world in the middle of the sixteenth century, there was a similar looking instrument made in about the fourteenth century called the viol.The viol thrived in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and the violin and the viol actually coexisted in the Baroque period. Having a playing related injury, I was able to play violin without pain long before I could manage viola again. My brother played the violin and got into orchestras. These skills require daily practice to master, so make . 2077a Danforth Avenue (at Woodbine), Toronto, 2489 Bloor Street West, unit #305 (at South Kingsway), Toronto. Watch this video to find out. There must be a hundred or so concerti written for viola but unfortunately only a tiny number are routinely played. A violin and viola look pretty much the same, so what exactly is the difference? However, violins are more difficult to play than violas. Even the violist's pin-up of choice was cruel to the viola. Found inside – Page 10The rhythm section ( piano , drums , bass line ) should play on all arrangements . Students love to help put the arrangement together . sample arrangements : arrangement no . 1 tune ( play twice ) : Violins Violas , Cellos Basses Tune ... I remember a time in the middle of a large orchestra performing a Tchiakovsky symphony when I was so carried away by the emotion of it all that I could hardly contain myself (and Tch is not even my fav). Nylon bow hairs are fine: Some companies stress how important it is to get bow hair that is made out of real horse hair instead of nylon. Violas really DO sound like people. As soon as I could play the viola, I fell in love with it and it very quickly became my first instrument and violin my second. The viola's high register especially has a more nasal sound that is not for everybody, in terms of mass appeal. The viola is globally considered to be about -7db from the cell or violin, from what I've read, perhaps that's the traditional design, alternative designs may have bridged that gap somewhat. Pre-Baroque Stringed Instrument. Why does the oboe tune the orchestra? the viola and its repertoir has gone too far since 17th, 18th century and we are lucky to enjoy some transcribe pieces and great viola player  who really can play out there. Your email address will not be published. When I was driving up to Tennessee over the holidays, a car pulled up besides me in Louisiana and started honking. I prefer ensemble playing to solo playing, but even when it's just me I like hearing myself play the viola better than the violin. Playing viola can help strengthen fingers and improve bow pressure, or at least give a different perspective on both. The viola da braccio and the viola da gamba were both used in court. It seems to me that the violin is to the viola as the cello is to the double bass, which has historically had similar problems; as large as it is, its sound is often gentle and not very penetrating by itself. Violin, viola, cello, or double bass? That isn't to say that there are not a few viola players out there that can get big sounds, such as the viola player (Drucker?) Again, any comments from the violists among us? If you look at the relevant passage in the cello score (2 bars before Fig 5) you will see that in the first of the two bars the soloist  has the dotted quarter notes B - A - A# in the middle of the A-string, and then the second bar starts at the lower B on the A-string followed by the cadenza-like rapid 2-1/2 octave scale to the third E at the very end of the fingerboard. Found inside – Page 626I will play the Allemande from Bach Suite # 5 , a cello suite in C minor . ( Ngwenyama played viola ) ... It is entitled “ As Fast As You Can Play It . ” It is a wild movement . ... Why did you become a violist instead of a violinist ? Beats me. Because of this, you will learn how to read many different clefs, giving you the upper hand in future music theory classes. So I started to pester my parents to let me give up the clarinet and play the violin instead. After having played viola, especially a large one, you pick up a violin and it feels so light, and the response is so quick and your fingers can be so light, the difference is huge! The viola has such a deep rich tone. Viola bows are generally a bit heavier, and sometimes the frog is curved instead of straight-edged, like this: 4. Given the choice though, I still prefer violin. Because the viola is "in between" a violin and cello, it comes in many sizes and lengths for all types of people, tall or short. I also think fractional sized violas sound terrible in general. Found insideEvery shade of all the emotions may be revealed by a violinist, viola player, or 'cellist, with the gift of expression. In these days (or have we already outgrown them?) of the idolatry of technique, this supreme distinction of the ... Found inside – Page 8So I'm in my Juilliard-themed bedroom, playing the Glazunov Elegie. It's the piece my teacher played me to convince me to ditch the violin and take up the viola instead for good, and it worked. This piece gives me goosebumps. But I still wonder if I'm missing something and I envy those who study both. One who makes the decision to transition from violin to viola must acquire an ever-more thorough awareness of the role for which they are responsible in an ensemble setting. She was quoted as saying that the viola matched her voice. Often the second violins have to come out of the musical texture and play the melody themselves or play in unison with the first violins." (1). There is something about the rich, lower range of the viola that I find to be more expressive of certain emotions and musical ideas. There was an established quartet based at my government work place. In a way, Black Violin owes its existence to a golf game. When I went to university, I knew it would be hard to play both instruments at the same time, but I was nervous about picking one instrument over the other. When learning to play violin add to the list: pitch, intonation, straight bowing, clean shifting of position, bow control, good bow hold, and balance between bow speed and finger coordination. I had a 5-string violin that sounded wonderful, and had a great range. Sure, there are more violin concerti than viola, but that' not the daily reality for most of us, is it? The sound of a viola is therefore lower than that of a violin. It’s unique. It is obvious that a violinist will not use the electric violin to play classical music. In the classic string ensemble, there's glory to be had on the first violin, the cello, and some on the second violin, but the viola generally got "filler" parts - it rarely leads anything, it rarely stands out, it's just there to complete the 4-part harmony. Right now though I'm playing almost exclusively violin, because I think that 1st violin orchestral parts are more fun than viola orchestral parts. (While not a music major, I did study with members of the famed Pro Arte Quartet while in college.) so for those of you who live to shine,,,you gravitate toward violin out of vanity, haha. There may not be a lot of stuff written explicitly for it, but every tenor or alto aria ever written is PERFECT for it. Elise, learning viola should, if anything, enhance your violin playing. The vibration of the string is no longer regular, but switches to a chaotic pattern. Why go to the electric violin? Mozart, Beethoven, many other composers I read when asked to accompany a quartet choose to play the viola! There is also a maximum acceptable bow force. Beautiful things are associated with the word “viola:” Viola (the flower), Viola Davis (the actress), Viola Thompson (the baseball player), and even a character named Viola from Shakespeare’s play. Check out my FREE beginner course including 10 video lessons and my beginner book: https://violinlounge.com/learn-to-play-the-v. This is definitely audible. He said he needs it for his big hands. Any comments from violists here? Here are her thoughts on why viola is a great choice for your musical journey: Want to play the violin but can’t sing that high? The best way to find out is to visit a violin shop and try out different sizes. Guadagnini viola, Turin [Editor's Note: Chang also used to play the 1768 "ex-Vieuxtemps" G.B. | Episode 32. The New York City area is full of art and culture, and a fantastic location for taking music lessons. BTW: I'm selling the very one hand made Czech viola I show you in the video for € 579 incl case and bow. A viola size normally ranges from 15.5 - 16.5 inches. You always seem to be someone who wants to know the whys and hows of what makes things tick, and playing viola, especially in orchestra or chamber music, gives insight into the guts of the music. The viola also has a larger body and slightly thicker strings, which means the instrument is set up in such a way that it naturally produces lower tones than the violin. I don't see any true difference in musical ability between Michael Tree, Kim Kashkashian, Roberto Diaz, to name a few, and their violin-playing peers. Wil Baptiste, who cofounded and plays viola in the Grammy-nominated duo Black Violin, wanted to play the saxophone when he was in junior . The viola is easier to learn for a beginner; if you can play the violin, you can also play the viola. Answer (1 of 10): I was asked to play viola after I was fully qualified to play violin at a symphonic level following college. This also makes the viola a great instrument for people who are shy and like to blend in. If the neck hadn't been too narrow for my big fingers, I would still have it. The viola's size is perfect for me for two reasons. You have to read everything with alto clef instead of treble clef "Give up the violin and play the viola, they said. A viola can sound notes that are 4 steps lower than the lowest note on the violin. The bridge should fit flush against the body of the violin without any gaps. In fact, he had the following to say about anyone unfortunate enough to play one: "Viola players were always taken from among the refuse of violinists." Ouch. This is too small a difference to sound out of tune if you just play two strings, but if you tune all four strings a perfect fifth apart it adds up. I know that at a youth level, violinists tend to have better technique in Orchestras than violists. The viola belongs to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and was a donation from an old amateur violist. But if you want solo virtuosity, you'll have to hunt pretty hard to find pieces the public will recognize. It sounds a fifth below the violin and has the same proportions, so it would have to be 50% larger; but because you couldn't easily handle such an instrument on your shoulder, it is in fact only 15-20% larger, and the rest of the difference must be made up by heavier strings, lower tension etc. Firstly, my 16″ viola fits my arm length and finger size comfortably. Once the viola is tuned, maintain good posture to play the instrument with your bow. Of course there are some very fine viola players out there, so maybe we need some other instrument to become the butt of jokes from now on? However, I believe that in the higher youth levels to professional, the violists are all good. Choosing the right size is important as the perfect violin size will depend on the artist's arm length. "As far as loudness, my viola is louder than my violin, and the other violinists that I play with. It's much more complete and exhaustive. MORE GIG OPPORTUNITIES. I used to sing in a large choir. Violin, viola, cello, or double bass? check out his website and his youtube channel. Still a n00b, with a long, long ways to go.) I have loved getting to know the city and its wonderful musicians! Listen to the pitch. And yes, it's true that Mozart preferred the viola - I believe so much so that he owned a viola at his death, but not a violin. The most avid collectors of Aggie jokes are Aggies themselves. Found inside – Page 60Page # All Books Violin Viola Cello Down-Driven BOwin 29–30 and Corrective Slurs g - reg 31 “top” | Bonaparte's ... W1th V1011nS 39 Technique High 3rd Finger (play . .. violins) o Clock ) Advanced 2nd pos 40 Grandfather's Clock H3, ... This year, I purchased my first good viola to use for gigs and teaching, and this last weekend, I performed with it for the first time. Unlike the violin, violas produce husky and mellow sound making it authentic and more fun to learn. Found inside – Page 12DEAR SIR , - In the number of VIOLIN TIMES just received , you have a notice about Mr. Dunn's having played the 1st Paganini Concerto , in which you say that Paganini tuned bis violin in B flat ( instead of in A ) , by which means ... I like a good viola joke as much as anyone - but only in fun. It means the viola sounds great and is fun to play. Is't a violin only a viola made in the correct scale? As a pianist, I've never played in an ensemble of musicians before in my life, which never struck me as oddball until I started hanging around here. Because the viola is “in between” a violin and cello, it comes in many sizes and lengths for all types of people, tall or short. Also, this is a popular instrument so you will have more competition in skill level and number of players. in the Takacs who can really project and give it welly. Found insideThe use of the plural, and the reference to both La Marche and Schmitt playing on the instrument, suggests that ... the term 'violin' perhaps describes the playing position, holding the viola d'amore on the shoulder or chest instead of ... I think everyone should spend time on both instruments. Viola's are measured in inch. All through high school I played violin and viola interchangeably, taking private lessons on violin and playing viola in quartet and orchestra. This discussion has been archived and is no longer accepting responses. Nobody really hates them; the jokes just play a cliché that dates back to the 1700s. To me, they are a chance for a joke, not an indictment of the instrument or its players. I think a lot of viola players may not want to play transcriptions becuase they are "stolen" from other instruments and may want to bring to the forefront the repertoire that is actually well written for the viola. Pretty, but a bit extreme. However, I ultimately decided that I wasn’t finished taking violin lessons and decided to major in violin performance at Wilfrid Laurier University. Anyone else have an opinion on that? How come the viola repertoire is not more appreciated? What do you think of the viola in general; what do you think of the normal violist? The harmonies are like getting beneath the skin into the muscles, tendons, and bones, the whole structure. here is something i came across:  i was told that a person has decided to play viola instead of violin because it is easier to get into a better orchestra. There's also the problem of balance with the orchestra. Someone more knowledgeable can back me up on that one (or not, if it's not true). Another way to differentiate violins into types is to look at the varying sizes. Even though I was inspired by fiddle music, when I came home I started taking classical private lessons. (Book). Here is a totally new and expanded edition of the 2005 original. But, instead of installing C-G-D-A, as on a standard viola or octave viola, instead I installed G-D-A-E, that is fiddle tuning, thus creating a large octave fiddle (or "baritone violin," as Bill calls it). problem with telling jokes is that you can never be sure who will find it funny and who will find it offensive. As I have already stated, I play viola in addition to violin.

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