I've just been going through grade 8 Viola scales with my teacher, and have noticed that when doing 3 octave scales and going into silly positions (:-D) like 7th/8th, I find it really difficult to keep my fingers in the square position they usually have and my 4th finger almost bends the wrong way! I don't know if it's because I'm not bringing my hand/thumb/wrist enough or anything like that, but I get stabbing pains in my wrist afterwards but this just might be because I'm not used to having my hand there.

With Eb major double stop scale in 3rds I also find it almost impossible to put my 4th finger on the C string and 2nd finger on the G string together to get G and Bb, one is always sharp or the other's flat because I can't stretch my hand enough. Has anyone else experienced this or does anyone have any advice?

Thanks,
Jess

If you are finding the stretches very big and you are getting pain in the hand as well, it could be that the viola you have at the moment is a little on the big side for you.

What size viola do you play at the moment? If you are playing a big viola, it may be worth considering a smaller instrument.

I'm assuming that your viola is the correct size for you.

When playing 3 octave scales you will probably have to change your left arm position as you go to the higher positions. The left elbow will need to move further to the right, and your left thumb will need to move across to the right so that your hand can reach over the top of the viola. You may also need to adjust the position in which you hold your viola. It can take a while to get the positions of the viola, thumb and elbow correct. Your teacher should be able to help you with this. You shouldn't get stabbing pains in your wrist if doing this correctly. I have been working on four octave scales and have found that I need to hold my viola further to the left (ie more on my left shoulder) so that I can bring my left elbow far enough to the right to allow my hand to reach over the viola. If the position of my viola is slightly incorrect I just cannot reach the string with either my third or fourth fingers after about 9th position.

When doing the Eb major double stop scale in 3rds, when you get to the difficult stretch you could try placing the 4th finger on the C string in the correct position first, then reach back to find the correct second finger position as it is a lot easier to stretch backwards than forwards. I have been working on doing scales in 10ths recently and at first they seemed impossible, but after working at them in this way I am starting to be able to do them.

It is best to work at increasing your reach on viola a little at a time, otherwise you risk injury. So just work at difficult stretches for a few minutes at a time, but work at them often and they will become easier. If it starts hurting, then take a break from it.

I play a 15.5inch viola at the minute, I thought that was relatively small for a viola. My little finger also looks a lot shorter in relation to my other fingers, that might just be an excuse though

Purple viola-that rings true, I do hold my viola more out in front of me rather than nearer to my left shoulder, I'll try moving it and see if that helps.

Thank you,
Jess

Playing the viola should not be painful - well, not to the player anyway. If you are getting pain, that shows there is a problem in your position: it's probably a symptom of tension - and no wonder.

Try this:

Hold out your left arm straight out in front of you, fingers slightly parted, palm up. Now bend the elbow and wrist towards you so that your fingertips fall onto your left shoulder, a bit like a crab. Got that?

Stand the fingers on their tips. Now press down hard with your little finger onto your shoulder. Making sure your whole arm remains completely relaxed all the time, exert all the pressure you can. How are you doing?

Is this a normal position for the human body? - No, it's clearly barmy. The little fiddle is barmy enough: a great big viola is stark raving bonkers. My point is that the whole position is totally unnatural: we therefore have to a) build muscle; b) increase flexibility; c) cheat if possible.

Build muscle by exercising the LH pinkie (do you know that thing of putting the LH fingers on the RH wrist?). To increase flexibility, look at your whole position: is it too tense? Too curled up? Are your fingers gripping the neck like a vice? Is your chin clamped rigidly down on the rest? Move the instrument around - up down, front, side - till you get maximum comfort. Remember it's OK to swing the instrument about depending on what you're doing with it. Get in the habit of taking your chin off the rest when you shift position upwards and only bear down when you shift down.

Is your shoulder rest right for you? Take it off and try playing without. Take off the chinrest and try without that too. Then put them back and see if you're happy. I'll bet you won't be!

Now play in 7th position. How is it? Is the air a bit thin up there? Damn right: if you'd wanted to play all those notes you'd have taken up the violin...

If you have a short little finger, choose fingerings in the high positions that avoid use of the little finger, so that you are not straining your wrist too far round. There's flexibility and strength and then there's a tipping point at which the maximum of those is achieved for your own physique. Anything further than that can lead to RSI/tendinitis.

Listen to your own body, we are all built differently and adapting your playing in high positions to make you comfortable and able to play in a relaxed manner is important. Regimented fingering methods where one-size-is-supposed-to-fit-all are outdated.

I play a 15', and yes, it's on the small side but it sounds good and doesn't hurt me to play - half an inch can make a lot of difference with a viola.