Hi all,
This my first time, by the way.
Any tips for a violinist who has wanted to try out the viola for ages? I've played the violin for years and got to a reasonable enough standard (I've slipped a bit but I did Gd 8 about 20 years ago and I've played with various amateur orchestras since, so not toooo out of practice).
Unfortunately our town music library is pathetic, with absolutely no sheet music at all. I saw an advert from a local teacher offering 'trial' lessions and thought maybe I could go along for a few (and not buy a viola until I'm sure!). Otherwise, I need practice with the alto clef but I really can't face starting with the real beginners books...........

Honestly, all you need to do is buy some music, a book on learning the alto clef properly and have a play about for a while. If you're serious about playing the viola really well, a couple of technique lessons will go down well because there are differences between violin and viola, but if you start off learning the clef and then playing it, aiming for more dig in the string to make the viola sound - you should find yourself sailing along nicely. No reason to start with simple stuff, I think. I was about G6ish when I started playing viola (after a nasty virus I caught from a floot) and didn't start with simple stuff. I bought dandelot's manuel pratique pour l'étude des clés and went from there with a load of G5ish sheet music for it. Great fun.

Enjoy yourself!

I play the violin, my teacher teaches both the viola and the violin. Each time I go to her house, she lets me try out her viola...I love the deep rich tone! I don't know how to play the viola properly and I just play it like the violin for fun, but they are very similar instruments. It's just the alto clef, wider gaps between the fingers and some difference in the technique. I'm sure it won't take you learn to learn it. I would love to learn the viola, but I better stick to the violin until I get to around grade 6 or else I'll confuse myself.

Have fun!

Oh bosh! Go for the one you love best! If you wanna switch to viola, just do it.

My daughter took up Viola. She is G6 Violin and found the switch effortless. She is in much demand now playing both. However she dislikes the music and finds the music available very bland at the side of Violin Music available.

There's a Mary Cohen book called (I think) "Viola quick change" - and yes there is some really nice music out there if you dive in!