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October 11, 2005 at 8:45 PM

Well, the choice between violin or viola just got more interesting. My viola teacher told me today that if we could afford this really nice viola he knows of and we can't get a case or a bow he would give me an extra case he has and lend me one of his better bows to use while I scrounge up the funds to get bow. The viola he is getting in from Mark Womak (the violin/viola maker) was made by Coe. In fact, my viola teacher owned this exact viola 8 years ago. The only reason he sold it was because he was in a bad car accident and sustained injury to his shoulders. This viola was too heavy for him so he had no choice but to sell it to get a lighter one. He said that if he had had the money to rebuy it he definately would. It's a 16 5/8" viola, like the one I have now. Mark regraduated it to make it lighter and he claims it sounds better than it did because he did that (he is a violist so he should know). Anyway the asking price on the viola is $3,500.00. I'm just not sure. I haven't gotten it yet, it should come either Thursday or Friday.

I just don't know if I should get it. I don't know if I'm actually going to switch to viola or not. Should I risk loosing such an instrument even if I don't switch in college. The maker is around 80 years old and when he passes away the viola will probably be worth 3 times as much. I mean, if I don't switch I could always use that viola and my current violin as trade in value for a better violin and bow. I also have to consider that I may become a better violist. If my teacher is willing to give me some of his personal stuff (the case and the bow), he obviously thinks I have the makings of a great violist if he is willing to give me viola case and lend me one of his nice bows. Argh, the choice just got harder. Well, I have symphony soon so I must stop writing.