Complete Beginner on Viola- Decisions!

March 15, 2013 at 08:21 PM · You throw yourself on the mercy of public opinion, so here are my $0.02 worth...find a good teacher and ask him/her what to do for an instrument. The teacher can help with size and guide you to good sources in your area. It's always better to develop a relationship with a violin-maker/luthier/shop in your area so you have a good go-to person.

I'm sure you'll get LOTS of different opinions, but personally, I've found it useful to start by getting a trustworthy expert on my side.

March 15, 2013 at 09:03 PM · Funny...I just got a bassoon...

For what's it worth...don't waste your money on a $170 dollar viola. It will be unplayable. And getting good strings for it won't help. It's like having leather seats installed in a rusty Lada.

I'm not a fan of renting an instrument, but in your case that might the way to go until you decide how interested you are. Then expect to spend about $1500 for an outfit that is 'good enough' to not hold you back.

I made sure when I purchased my bassoon...that it was 'good enough' to take me as far as I'm likely to go on it...good quality used Schreiber...so at least I know when I sound like a homesick cow, it's NOT the instrument that is at fault...it's me or the reed, etc.

So don't settle for a VSO.

BTW...several years ago I purchased a $50 violin for fun - just to see what you get. Frankly - you get what you pay for. I was able to get a bit out of it...but a beginner would have been discouraged enough to quit...

March 15, 2013 at 09:17 PM · I'll put in my 2 cents as well:

I just received a viola from this "shady EBay den of iniquity"

Enter at your own peril!

I couldn't be happier. I, like yourself, am a beginner. I have a 15 1/2 Eastman VA100, but I'm taller and wanted something with some more gusto, so I won a bid on a wide, Tertis style 16.25" viola and took a chance on it...it paid off big time. Definitely as high quality as the established Eastman, but with a much deeper tone, as would be expected of the larger body volume.

It doesn't look as if they have a 16" at the moment, but drop them a line and they may be able to accommodate you. They were quite helpful during my purchase.

It may not satisfy a virtuoso, but it is also far from being a squeaky VSO piece of junk as well.

Take it for what it's worth from your humble servant, Seraphim...

March 16, 2013 at 02:59 PM · Rent a decent viola for a year instead of buying a cheap one. You can trade up (or buy) if you wish later after you've decided if you want to keep with it or not.

... and get a teacher....

March 16, 2013 at 04:44 PM · Yes, I guess that is conspicuously absent from your original post.

Step 1- Find a viola teacher in your area. Violin teachers are MUCH more common, finding a viola teacher is not always so easy.

Step 2- If you plan on learning without a teacher than it doesn't really matter what viola you get it will not get you very far.

Lessons are expensive and are also totally worth it!

March 17, 2013 at 01:23 AM · Cecilio? this brand, no matter if they make violin, viola, or cello, still sounds crap, IMHO. This brand is considered VSO, once you buy, you need to find luthier to set it up properly, and it can cost more than the money you've spent for your viola.

Totally not worth the money, 170$ is too expensive for a crap sounding instrument, really. Many novices may think like this,"yes, the instrument is cheap, but i am just a beginner and i will buy a better one once i am advanced" -- oh this is totally wrong! cheap, unplayable instruments are very demotivating and student may end up giving up. plus, to be able to play a bowed instruments like violin, viola, cello, double bass, etc, u need to relay on your ears, you have to train your ears in order to hit the note accurately, and i find that it is more harder to find the correct pitch on VSO instrument. (VSO is actually Violin Shaped Object, or in your case, Viola.)

What you better can do, i recommend, find a good luthier and rent a viola if you can't buy it yet. (rent price varies from 15-20 euro/month, i dont know in the USA, i am living in europe, netherlands to be exact).

don't get fooled by internet advertisement that says: brand new, cheap professional instrument

brand new, cheap but professional? :/

don't get fooled by the low price, we all buy bowed instruments because of the sound.

cheers,

V

March 17, 2013 at 05:23 PM · i bought a cheapy ($350) viola from an ebay dealer in germany recently and am thrilled with it - a shoulderless (or cornerless) 16" viola with lovely proportions and all the husky allure of a "chin-cello." perfectly suited for the medieval/renaissance music i play.

violas are mysterious. apparently, bach preferred his over all the other instruments at his disposal.

'nuff said.

March 20, 2013 at 12:28 AM · Based on the recommendations here and in other venues, I've decided to forgo the allure of a shiny new inexpensive viola and rent a decent one from a dedicated string shop in my town. For about $25/ month, they will set me up with a decent viola and handle all repairs to viola, case, or bow that some up plus replace strings (and replace or re-hair the bow) if necessary. AND 100% of rental fees apply toward the purchase of a higher-end instrument should I find I'm any good at it and want to stick with it. (Is this pretty much standard in the trade?) So, I think I've made a good decision and I will be meeting with one of the owners (a cellist with our symphony) within the next week or so. Thanks for all your advice- and warnings- and I will keep your thoughts in mind as I progress.

March 20, 2013 at 01:04 AM · Get a good teacher, a well set up beginner instrument, and put your heart into learning it. Don't ever give up.

March 20, 2013 at 02:44 PM · seems like a good decision, john - auguroni!

August 19, 2013 at 10:19 PM · Hi John,

Wish you all the best learning the instrument. When I became debt free, I decided to pursue a long love for playing music. The sax was the choice for many years (because I played the clarinet in school), but after living in northern Canada for a bit, where the fiddling tradition is strong, I decided to go for a string instrument and ended up with a viola.

I live quite north in Canada in a rural community and the only advice on learning I got was to get an instrument, keep it in tune, and learn to jam. Other musicians will offer their advice and criticisms by ear. That was how everyone else learned.

If a teacher is available and you can afford one, he or she can greatly improve the learning curve. If your options are limited, self-teaching is doable. Patience is important; a mirror and the Internet helps; record and play back to evaluate progress. It's also important to analyze what your physical limits are to know when you are playing in pain (again, this is where a teacher is handy), because handling the violin/viola is awkward compared to most instruments. Learning how to mitigate the problems is part of the fun.

The goal in mind is the most important. I play to relax, for family, and for church.

For my first viola, I rented for months (switching violas whenever I was in the city) before buying. The program was exactly like yours.

Have fun.

August 20, 2013 at 03:20 PM · >So, I think I've made a good decision and I will be meeting with one of the owners (a cellist with our symphony) within the next week or so.

You did (make a good decision, that is). Renting is the way to go. Your ear will change dramatically over the next few months.

Best of luck, from another late starter (who also opted to rent, and a few months later, bought out the instrument).