Just about to finish my GCSE exams, and I'm hoping to learn how to play the viola soon. I'm a late starter at sixteen, but does this matter? I think I've found a good viola/violin teacher near my home. All I want to ask is, is hard to start off, does it get easier. not really looking forward the first schreeing noises, I just want tp play to a standard were I can enjoy the music I make and so can my friends. I love the deep music the viola makes, its lovely.

Hayley.

You are never too old to start learning a musical instrument, go for it. Viola and violin are quite hard at first and at the early stages it is very important to get all the basic posture and technique absolutely right so try not to get frustrated if the teacher seems overly fussy at first or things seem a bit slow for a few weeks. Just try to remember everything you are told and practise as often as you can - a little every day if possible.

Is this your first musical instrument or do you already play something?

Best of luck.

Thanks earplugs.

This is my first instruments. My dad was in the forces so I never got the chance to settle down till now and learn a instrument, put I have eleven weekes of (sort of) freedom, so I will have plenty of time to practice.

Hayley

Hi Hayley,

Go for it, you'll have a ball!

I agree with earplugs - in the first instance it might seem painfully slow as you have to get so many things right to begin with (posture, left hand position, right hand bow hold, use of the right arm, moving the bow absolutely parallel to the bridge - then comes the fun of actually putting your fingers on the thing) - on the other hand, when it starts to come together and you feel the wonderful vibration of the instrument when it's being played in tune - even on simple melodies - you'll realise it's all worth it!

Check out the thread on beginning upper strings in the adult learners' forum, some people on there started much later than you and are really loving it.

Good luck!

Allan
(I started fiddle at 28 and viola at 30 and love them both)

Hi Hayley!

Glad to hear you're interested in such a great instrument!

I too am a late starter with viola. In fact, I started on 1 Feb this year. No need to worry about age - I'm 35!!

It isn't easy to learn, no two ways about it, but it is fun. You don't screech as much as you could on a violin's E-string, so there's that to look forward to. As long as you bow in the right place, about halfway between the fingerboard and the bridge and keep your bow arm wrist nice and relaxed, you won't make an awful noise. My biggest challenge is getting the notes in the right place! I'm often sharp with my first finger and, since starting 4th finger, my 3rd doesn't want to be parted from it and that's getting sharp too, but it's all part of the rich tapestry of learning.

Oh, the upper strings beginners' thread is on this forum, not the adult learners' one and needs someone to post to it to bring it back to first page! I will go and do that straight away!!!

GO FOR IT!