r/Viola

You are unchanging and sharp; a cliff(clef) written with a balance, the middle of the sea(c) —in direct center with a sonic perfect sun; which all music radiates from— directly aligns in your middle with rigid lines of precision symmetrically following

I am imperfect yet. I read and know you, learn you more each day, and follow you to the best of my ability. Although I have trouble speaking and projecting, saying what I want to. The economics of the way I am make me prone to falling flat, tension, injury. I’m an imperfect instrument, following your perfection

(IM AWARE THIS IS SO CRINGY but this came to me in a dream and I have no one else to share it with. So I must subject you to it as well)

How good do you have to be to submit viola portfolio to selective non music schools (i.e. Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Yale)?

My pieces would be Hindemith Der Schwanendreher and Bach Suite VI Prelude (original key) but I've played Stamitz, Hoffmeister, Vieuxtemps in the past.

My main extracurricular wasn't music so I never got into competitions but I was in All State (9th & 10th grade, not as comp as TMEA/NY) and highest youth orchestra in state. And was at Interlochen Arts one summer.

Senior RN so I'm lowkey stressed out with so much stuff but if this helps I can grind.

I (25M) just started to take cello lessons in my small town conservatory (in France). I have played drums as a child for ten years and dabbled on my guitar for a few years. You can count me as a total beginner in melodic music.

Learning to play seriously a melodic string instruments has been something I have been thinking aboout for a few years now and this September, I finally decided to go for it. I would really like to play in an orchestra someday (not professionnaly though), but I love to play for myself as well.

The issue I have is that, after a few lessons, I wonder if I made the right choice by picking the cello ? I would say I like equally the sound of the viola annd the cello, but I am torn between the two. I know the cello has more melodic lines in orchestral set-ups and a richer repertoire. Nevertheless, I already feel like the logistics of the cello are cumbersome. I live in an apartment, take the bus the my lessons, have to take the train to go home pretty much every month. It is beginning to hurt my back to carry it, and play it as well (my teacher corrected my position, but it still hurts somehow ...)

I did not think much of it before renting a cello and starting lesson, but I do not know if should make the switch before it is too late. I would be grateful to have your opinions ! :)

I've been playing for years with neck pain. I have tried several shoulder pads of all types and shapes with minimal luck. For whatever reason, I kept swapping the shoulder pads and never thought about changing my chin rest. I've gone through several shoulder pads and was starting to think I needed to put the viola down or go to a smaller size.

Recently, though, I found an old post here suggesting some chin rests for similar issues. Based on some other forums, I ordered a couple of chin rests without a lot of optimism, but I got the jackpot on my second try!

I never realized how much I was forcing things to fit. I ended up even doing some physical therapy because (in part) of trying to make things work that weren't fitting me well.

The whole point of my post is simply to say keep trying if you have any discomfort! There is a combo of shoulder pad and chinrest that will work. Don't focus just one one or the other - both play a role in being comfortable and reducing the risk of injury.

That's all. Happy and wanted to share.

I’ve been a violinist primarily, but I ended up picking back up viola this year. Something that’s been making me worry is that for me to feel like I have control of my sound, I need to tighten my bow almost to the point where it’s flat. This shouldn’t be happening right?

I am a freshman in HS trying to tackle my new NYSSMA Solo piece (Level VI)! Before you say why am I even doing the max level as a freshman, I got a 94 last season doing a Level V, soooo… How should I start practicing this piece?!?!? The first few measure are easy but even if I practice really slowly it’s gets pretty confusing with the string changes every beat. Tips?

If i’m using Hoffmeister for college pre screenings, should I purchase the urtext edition? My teacher has always used the international but it has some weird cuts and rearrangements.

Sup everyone! I just made my first sourdough starter and wanted to see if anyone has any viola (or general orchestra) themed names for it?
Thanks!!

I am returning to viola after a nearly 15 year hiatus. I was an ok player in my youth but a lazy student and didn’t practice nearly enough. Picking up my instrument has been a mixed bag—my intonation suuuucks and my ear has decayed badly—but I think there’s still a lot of good there and I’m hopeful that this is an opportunity to drop some of my old bad habits.

While I think I have enough of the fundamentals left to get started again on my own, I know I need to find a teacher and actually have no idea how to find one suitable to my level and my goals. Any advice on how to start looking? I don’t have any classical music relationships in my current city.