Violin to Viola
I'm going to get a viola in the Christmas holidays, but I would have to face the changes in order to play it properly. I'm currently finishing off the Grade 2 syllabus for violin, but I'm also interested in viola. Do you guys think I should switch or just leave the viola and learn it at my own time? I would prefer to progress as a violist, but my teacher told me that it's probably more beneficial to stay as a violinist (but she said that was just her opinion, and it was up to my decision). I do want to stand out, and I truly believe that a viola would be more useful to me than a violin. I've just started violin last year, so that's not long at all. Should I take the "risk"?

HAHA I find it VERY funny that she said it was more beneficial as a violinist. Because, you benefit VERY well from viola when it comes to scholarships, and schools. Afterall everyone needs good violists. THere are so many violinists its not even funny. To get a scholarship as a violinist you must be GOOOOOD. But as a violist you can be good, and not have to compete with thousands of violins. Get what I'm saying. I am very proud of being a violist, and it is the best instrument (dont hate me) in the world (my opinion). Just thought id say somthin. =) Jake

if you wanna switch go for it, just depends if u have enough time in life, im just self teaching the viola, im going okay id say, i love the viola parts in vivaldis seasons, summer and winter viola parts sound amazing. but then if u wanna keep playin violin, dun spend all prac hours on viola, make sure u switch or just manage ur time well. im doing 5th grade violin but the last time i performed was solo violin for spring 1st movement, that was an Amus song so yeah (dosent really sound like it..) it was said that the baroque factor made it hard.. im a person that prac's 2-3 hours a day (i only prac like 4 times a week. so manage ur time well

i hate you jake! }( haha nah jkz. Wai, if u want to switch to viola, then go for it. But that doesnt mean u should completely wipe out violin. U can learn viola and sometimes have a bit of fun on the violin too =)> Anywaizzz..VIOLIN RULES =) =) }D

That's what I thought exactly too Jake! I like to stand out when it comes to music, and I really like viola. I'm currently at Hong Kong, but haven't seen a single viola in a store at all :( UPDATE: Okay, I've been through a couple more music stores in the past few days, but haven't had any luck at all. I still have not seen a single viola for sale in any of the stores, just violins (typical) and one or two cellos. Book section? An entire column of shelves devoted for our precious little violin, and two shelves for cello. Viola? Nicely tucked right in the corner, only taking up half a shelf and out of sight. What is with this violessness business in Hong Kong? Don't they want to encourage violists to shine? Do they just want all-violin ensembles for the rest of their lives? I've also seen a few poorly written books for viola. One written "for viola" used the treble clef for all the pieces, and the words "Transposed for viola" were larger than the instrument's name itself. Aren't there any well-known pieces that were originally written for viola? After all, the "violin" family originated from the viola (violin = little viola, violoncello = big viola or little violon, violon = double bass). Then there are these people naming the viola as "violin III", which really annoys me. You can see famous violinists and cellists all over the music stores but rarely (if any) famous violists (I once dreamed of myself being a famous violist lol :G) I really want to get to know the viola, which is why I suggested switching. :S

Haha, yea, I go to pawn shops alot, and they never have violas... Until the other day! It was just a knilling.. The pawn shop people were sooo dumb, they couldnt tell it was knilling, so they put "Knight Violin" on the label! hahaaa... Its a viola first off, and its knilling. anyways, Im glad you agree with me wai!!!! EDIT: Hows Hong Kong? Sounds fun!!

Hong Kong's been great (apart from it being violess). Nothing much has happened though.

ah, whatcha there for?

Just to visit my relatives ;) Back to the topic, how did you get used to reading the alto clef? Any techniques? I can read the alto clef but not sight-read it.

im still workin on it to, u just gotta get use to it, like, instead of teh spaces being 'face' its now the lines thats 'face' just with a 'g' as the top line, and the spaces are ebdf (in treble it was every boy deserves fruit /always) so yeah. those could help, i just practised converting each note as i go, like, altos middle c is b in treble, so id read the alto note and just think of teh note above in treble and id no the note. im takin viola slow, concentratin more on violin