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Bachelor's in Violin, Master's in Viola?Schools: I'm thinking of doing my graduate work in Viola instead of violin. Do yo think a school will take me?
Hi, I am a violin performance major in college. I have 3 more semesters before I graduate and so I have to start figuring out what I'm going to do next. For a few years now I've been doubling on viola. I've done a lot of quartet music on viola, and recently I've begun also taking viola lessons because of the minor instrument requirement for my major. I've been thinking about the possibility of doing my master's in viola instead of violin. I think I have the technique to be at that level, however I don't know if any music school would accept me into their master's program as a viola student since I don't know that much repertoire. Right now I'm working on the Walton concerto, the Brahms F minor sonata (originally for clarinet) the 3rd cello suite, and the 6th Brandenburg concerto with my teacher. What do you guys think? Any advice will be appreciated, especially if you happen to be a faculty member at a music school with a master's program...
From Connie Sunday
Posted on October 28, 2009 at 07:59 PM I don't know if this is relevant to your concerns, but I have an MM in violin performance and have considered getting a second MM in viola but with the Suzuki training. There are a number of good programs of this sort; one in Flagstaff, Arizona at NAU comes with a full scholarship, teaching assistantship and orchestra position which pays a little bit. Flagstaff is an amazing place and they do a Wagner series in the summer, also. I taught myself viola after a lifetime of violin, but I do need lessons and really would like to pursue this further, if I weren't so old!! Alternatively, there are a number of people with your background who have done violin, viola and then conducting. That may be the direction you're going in. I know of one individual personally who did the strings degrees in Korea and then a second masters in conducting at Rice, and has had a pretty good career. At any rate, whatever you choose, I bet you'll do fine. From Bill Busen
Posted on October 28, 2009 at 08:59 PM Both of the viola professors at Illinois have accepted violinists converting to viola: Masumi Per Rostad of the Pacifica Quartet and Rudolf Haken (of the whimsical viola compositions and viola pomposa). From Manuel Tabora
Posted on October 29, 2009 at 04:35 AM Connie: The program on Viola with a Suzuki teaching emphasis sounds really good and really marketable. Thanks for the suggestion and for your encouragement. Bill: It's nice to hear about those violinists being accepted in their "conversion"... There might be hope for me :-) From Ruth Kuefler
Posted on October 29, 2009 at 05:08 AM Manuel: what you're describing is exactly what my sister did, and she has been very successful. She got her undergrad in violin, then MM and DMA in viola. From the repertoire you're describing, you're at a fairly high level on viola. Honestly, as long as you can play well, I don't think grad schools are going to turn you away just because you haven't played as much viola rep. In some cases, it'll actually look better on your resume that you have experience on both instruments. I'm just curious — why are you thinking of switching? I play violin and viola as well so it's interesting to hear stories of other converts to the 'dark side.' :) From Manuel Tabora
Posted on October 29, 2009 at 12:24 PM Ruth, I'm switching for a couple of different reasons. First of all, because I always wanted to be a violist in the first place. When I started in music school in Honduras, where I grew up, most of us didn't have any previous experience with music, so the teachers had us write on a little piece of paper three instruments that we thought we would like to play, so that the instructors of those instruments could evaluate us and see which instrument was the best fit for us. Well, my list was Viola, Cello, and Oboe, but it got completely disregarded when the principal of the school (and main violin instructor) saw me. He said, "You are little, and you have little hands. You"ll be a violinist." Of course now I am no longer little and I don't have little hands. Most of the experience I've had with viola has been in a string quartet. This year I'm playing violin in that same quartet and I really miss playing viola. So I think I would enjoy doing that full time. Also, from a professional standpoint, it just seems to me like there are already too many good violinists looking for jobs. I feel that if I can be a very qualified violist, that will give me better job prospects than as a violinist. But, we'll just have to wait and see how this all works out :-) From Ruth Kuefler
Posted on October 29, 2009 at 02:20 PM In talking to my sister, I've realized that once you reach a certain level, the competition for viola jobs can level out. There are definitely more violinists to compete with, but on the other hand, there are also more violin jobs than viola ones. So what might actually help you more is concentrating on one instrument, but still being able to play both if necessary, so you have the greatest number of opportunities. I've realized over the past couple years that while I like violin a lot, I really love viola, and that's what I want to focus on. It just happens that there is a big need for violists in the place where I live right now, but that may change. My two biggest reasons for switching are that I simply love the sound of the viola and it's role in music, and I actually feel more physically relaxed on viola than violin (I have pretty long arms). However, I'm still going to continue play violin as well as I can, and I want to continue teaching both instruments. I definitely think you can go for a master's in viola if that's what you want. It sounds like you have the ability for either, so at this point it's really just going after what you're most passionate about. From Manuel Tabora
Posted on October 31, 2009 at 04:07 AM Ruth, thanks for your encouragement. This year I'm auditioning for the YOA on both violin and viola. I'm really hoping that I get picked for viola though, I think that trip could open a lot of doors for me. I have also made a first contact with the viola professor at a major school (think IVY league) and I'm hoping to set up a preliminary hearing with him maybe over spring break. Man, I'm getting excited about all this :-) wish me luck. From Dennis C
Posted on October 31, 2009 at 05:46 AM good luck! The "dark side" is great ! |
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