at last, i've chosen my third and last instrument (hopefully, i don't wanna add more..)
i chose viola because it is rare and cool
also because its rich tone

i bought it in christmas by my savings and it's so cheap (and low quality too of course)
i decided to buy a cheap ones because i wanna try first
i can't rent because there's no such instrument rental in my town.

its brand is skylark violin (although the brand is skylark violin but it also produces violas, cellos and double basses).
it's from china and i bought the 16 inches ones.
i quite amazed with the size because it's big
but i can handle it so far.

mm, well, for several months i didn't tried to get teacher because i wanna try it by myself
and i'm confused!
so, i tried to find a pdf files of suzuki viola school from 4shared.com and at last i found it!
i got book 1,2 and 4 (but not book three)
also got string builder for viola and a method book in germany (i can't understand the germany T_T')
i've tried the first suzuki and really enjoy it so far!

i have several questions for the violists in this forums :
1. should i take off the bridge and loosen the strings after playing?
2. should i clean the dust of rosin in strings after playing?
3. mm, till now, i can't handle the viola with only neck and shoulder (without left hand gripping)
is it too bad?? i don't want to use shoulder rest actually..
4. any other suggestions in general and for care of the viola?

thanks so much

m_b_r

Congratulations on your new viola!

1 No, you shouldn't take off the bridge or loosen the strings after playing - but do loosen the bow.
2 Yes, clean the rosin off the strings, fingerboard, violin body and bow stick after playing.
3 This sounds like a good start - but you would probably be more comfortable with a shoulder rest.
4 Avoid extremes of heat or cold.

ENJOY!

thanks misterioso for the reply

oops! sorry, i have to correct my post...


i mean, i can't handle the viola........

It's important to be able to play without the left hand gripping. This is especially the case later on, but it's best not to get into bad habits during these early days. You will find that a shoulder rest does help with this, and I'm sure it would be a worthwhile investment. Try lots out, until you find one that you are happy with. It could make all the difference. Good luck!

Edit: I have found Kun shoulder rests really comfortable.

You really need a shouler rest, even if it's just a homemade job with a sponge and elastic band until you've saved up enough to buy a decent one.

Yes, you shouldn't *grip* with your left hand, but the viola's neck should just rest lightly on the soft part of your left thumb. This will come in time and with a good teacher's help. Oh, if you're not having lessons or at least good advice from a friend who plays well, (and I guess you're not as you would have asked them your 4 questions) then that's also something you must think seriously about. I'm assuming you don't already play strings from your questions, so you really must have someone guide your first steps, or you'll get so many bad habits that will be VERY hard to correct and will be very unlikely to make a truly good sound - with a cheap or expensive instrument!!

I'm not sure that I agree with previous advice that you absolutely need a shoulder rest - without looking at you play and see how you're holding the instrument, I wouldn't feel confident saying that you do or don't need one. A good teacher is really the only way to sort posture issues out.

Shoulder rests aren't necessary for everyone - I play violin without a shoulder or chin rest and I also play viola without a shoulder rest. I have no problems with freedom of the left hand.

I think it's worth remembering that shoulder rests are not part of the instrument - they're an add on to be used to make playing easier when one has certain physical constraints. Often with correct placement of the instrument, we see that they aren't necessary in the majority of cases.

thanks for the replies!

i've tried several times to hold the viola with only neck and shoulder but it's quite painful and i make an awkward pose
is my neck too long??

actually, is shoulder rest for violin the same for viola??
well, maybe for now on, i'll try on sponge or stuff like that just as elizabeth_rb said..
because it's very rare in my town a music shop that really sell a spesific stuff like shoulder rest
the viola which i bought is also very rare and there was only one in the shop
they hardly sell like orchestral instruments and stuff for that
they only sell like electric guitar, drums, things like that..

mm, i'm afraid can't find a real viola teacher here, as i said, like music shop, classical and orchestral instrument s are not really popular in my country..

i'll try to find someone who play violin and help me for some basic on viola..

anyone knows about stephane grapelli??
he is damn cool!!
but so far can't find jazz violist.. anyone know?
really interested in jazz viola

Well, I don't have any sites specifically for Jazz violist, you might be interested in folk.
http://www.folkviola.com/

I have played without a shoulder rest and it wasn't significantly harder than playing with one, also I've seen many violist use a thick cloth instead of a shoulder rest so do whichever one feels best to you.

Jazz violists do exist - eg http://www.tanyakalmanovitch.com/
I don't really see why the violin should be more suitable for jazz than the viola. For some things (ballads?) a viola might actually be better.

I shouldn't like to be without my shoulder rest, but then, I might just be abnormal!!!

A violin teacher will do - many of the techniques are the same, just make sure they have some idea of the differences and, preferably, the ability (or willingness to quickly learn) alto clef.

thanks for replying


because of its deeper and mellower tone!
(no offense to any violinists )

till now, i haven't tried any cloth or rubber to help me, instead i'm trying to hold it with only neck and shoulder
still hard but i'm keep trying

actually, when we're playing viola, we're not 100% rely on neck and shoulder only right??
when our fingers play notes on viola, the left hand gripping will also support it (but only a little..)
is this right?

can anyone tell me what grade of abrsm is equivalent with suzuki viola school part 1?

mm, which size of viola usually violists in orchestra use?
is it 16 or 17 inches?
and what is the biggest size of viola?

ABRSM isn't the direct equivalent of any Suzuki book, because ABRSM grades include material from several periods, whereas once you are past Book one in Suzuki violin or viola, Suzuki is heavily centered on Baroque and then Classical for several books.

Also, beginner pieces (not only in Suzuki but also in the books the ABRSM exam pieces come from) are likely to be arrangements - hard to guess which is "harder" without seeing the actual music!

I worry about this - especially as you've mentioned it twice.

Don't try to support the viola just with shoulder and jaw. You will almost certainly clamp down rigidly and your entire upper body will be in tension. This can lead to physical problems, and may take you years to lose.

Here's a starting position:

Stand facing straight ahead, arms down by sides, violin in left hand, bow in right, feet slightly apart. Relax (take three deep breaths. Hunch your shoulders and drop them - repeat three times).

Stay facing straight ahead - don't move your head up or down or to left or right. Lift the violin/viola into position against your neck; put your left hand under the body of the violin/viola to support it.

Turn your head left and right. It should be completely free to move. Keep facing forward. Don't turn to look at your left hand, or tilt your head to the left (you see this a LOT! Try it without the violin and feel what it does to your neck muscles!).

If you have the correct chin rest/shoulder rest setup (every person is different) you should now be able to lean your head slightly forward so that the violin/viola balances on your shoulder with a little support from the left hand. DO NOT CLAMP DOWN with your chin.

You need only grip with your chin - if ever - when sliding from a higher position to a lower one. Make sure you relax again after.

With the instrument balanced correctly, your left hand should now be able to move freely up and down the fingerboard, just giving a little support to the violin/viola neck. If not, then your chin rest/shoulder rest setup is wrong. Go to a music shop and ask to try lots of combinations. Experiment until you can support the instrument without tension. Remember - head up, facing forward; shoulders relaxed.

Try all sorts. On the viola, I use a Wolf shoulder rest and no chinrest. On the fiddle I use a chinrest and a Viva la Musica shoulder rest. Find what suits you.

Tension is the enemy. Start out with a bad position and you may never lose it.

thanks so much for the info LDW!

i'll try it after this