Comments

Once in a Nutcracker performance a violist took 10 minutes to tune her viola, she hadn't played it much in the last 10 years. She eventually had to have the concert master do it. There are some good 15.5" violas on the market that you could try. When I first started with the 16" I was in pain for about the first month. Buri gave me a great tip that helped: take a hand towel and roll it up in a tube and place it in your left arm pit. It helps take some of the strain out of your left arm, back and neck until you build up your strength. The thing that you have to get used to the most is that your left arm is in a MUCH more extended position, which requires a different set of muscles to hold and maintain over a long period of time. It's much like holding your arms straight out in front of you for hours.