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I'm Loving My Viola

July 26, 2011 at 2:59 AM

I have been playing the violin for years, and recently I was seduced by a viola.  (See my blog of Nov. 2010).

I've been befriending my viola, learning to play it, and absolutely loving the instrument.  I've discovered what a wonderful, severely underrated melody instrument it is.

Here is a verbal collage of what I have been doing with my viola in the last few months.

I started to learn about my viola by playing it in different ways.  I played songs I know, practiced improvising with recorded music, and played some of my written violin music.  I experimented by playing music in major, minor, and modal keys.  I tried playing the same tune on the two upper and then the two lower strings of the viola.  I also tried playing in the first position and higher positions.  In these ways, I had fun befriending my viola.

Then I got some good advice from friends.  The most important thing they told me was to use more bow pressure than I would on the violin.

On my luthier's recommendation, I bought the book From Violin to Viola:  A Transitional Approach by Harvey S. Whistler, and it has been a great help.  The very first page of text presents several fundamental concepts which boosted my understanding and the quality of my playing immensely.  I found some of Whistler's exercises very helpful.  

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Pauline, it's wonderful to read blogs from you after so long.  You're making the viola sound so enticing--I'll refer back to it some day when I 'm ready to take up the challenge.  I'll be looking forward to more.

Just read your Nov 2010 blog.  Are you still renting a viola, or did you buy one?  Want to tell us about it? --Fran

Ive been considering Viola, youve helped answer some of my questions . I look forward to more.

I'm glad you liked my blog.  The viola is definitely seductive.  I am renting with the option to buy.  I have already upgraded my viola and bow.  I'm using a carbon fiber bow, and it makes it easier to get the sound I want.

FINALLY!!!!! Violinists coming to there senses........It is werid that your friends said more bow pressure. Did any of them play viola? If they didnt, they might have thought, bigger instrument, more pressure. But viola is werid like that. Every time I have used more pressure, the sound quality just gets works. Try letting the weight of the bow pull  the sound from the instrument. It will help with dynamics.

 Another violinist converted over to the dark side!  My evil plan is working....  ;)

I'm happy you're enjoying it.  Hunter is right, it isn't a matter of "pressure" but of gravity and a scooping of the string.  Think of the bow of doing a sort of soft pizz. stroke.  The pulse or click exercise helps.

Enjoy your Cing!

Hunter and Mendy, you are right.  It's not about pressing down on the bow.  It's about letting the weight of your arm do the work and scooping the bow into the string.  I find the image of scooping very helpful.

It's fun on the Dark Side.  The viola can play happy music, but with soul.  There is so much to explore.  I'm having fun.

Good to hear from you!  Glad you haven't melted away in the DC heat . . . yet.  The Whistler book might help me too.  Thanks.

Thanks, Sue.  The heat here has been really bad.  Someone left a bow in the trunk of their car, and the rosin oozed and turned the bow hair into gunk.  Not a pretty sight.  https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150207109112252&set=a.10150207108857252.317732.18445082251&type=1&theater

Another violinist converted over to the dark side!  My evil plan is working....  ;)

Yes master.....the seductive sound of the viola is beginning to hypnotize humanity.  Soon, many more string players will be slaves to the Alto Clef, and your plan for world wide domination will come true.....

---Ann Marie

The plan is working.......they think they have supperiorty.......while we use the force on them......I love the dark side.........

 Pauline! Good to see you posting! (Although sorry you've been seduced away from the delicate, lovely violin!!)

 Viola and fiddling are a cool combination!  Are you going to take your viola to fiddle camp?  I'm impressed that you improvise harmony--how great for your musicianship, too.  

I didn't know they made violas in 1/8" increments.  When I was choosing a viola size, I didn't like the way the 15" or smaller sounded, and the 16" was too big and heavy and gave me some head and neck pain, but the 15 1/2" seemed to hit the spot, so that was the size I rented, and ultimately bought.