I'm brand new here, so first off, hello!

I've been interested in the Viola for a long time but hesitated to actually try taking it up. I really don't have much of a musical background. I played trumpet briefly in middle school, but I'm 25 now and all of that is all but forgotten. I vaguely remember how to read music, but thats about it.

At any rate, I just ordered my first viola, a 16.5" Gliga Genial 1, and I expect it should be here by next Thursday or perhaps sooner. What I'm wondering though is where to go from here? I do hope to take lessons, but at present I'm a recent college graduate and haven't found a job just yet so I don't have the money for it. A friend who plays the violin taught me to hold the bow, but thats about all I know. She lives in a different state unfortunately and was only here visiting so learning more will be more difficult.

Any advice?

Well, speaking as a violinist, I know that not all techniques of playing the violin can be applied to the viola. For instance, the method of vibrato is different. Violinists just need to vibrate their fingers or wrist, but violists need to vibrate their entire wrist or even arm. I suspect the way to hold the bow is also slightly different, with violists holding the bow higher up than violinists.

Try to get a violist friend to help you out, if you can't get a teacher for reasons.

Well, speaking as a violinist, I know that not all techniques of playing the violin can be applied to the viola. For instance, the method of vibrato is different. Violinists just need to vibrate their fingers or wrist, but violists need to vibrate their entire wrist or even arm. I suspect the way to hold the bow is also slightly different, with violists holding the bow higher up than violinists.

Try to get a violist friend to help you out, if you can't get a teacher for reasons.

Welcome to the forums, anyway!

Welcome to the forums bogie. Im not a string player , but you will get plenty of advice on here.

Hello bogie, welcome, and congratulations on your choice of instrument. I suggest you read the recent thread "Which notes on the stave are which pitches?" for some discussion on learning the violin/viola without lessons.

I play and teach the viola as well as the violin and you are far from accurate in some of your assumptions.

Yes the technique is slightly different. The instrument, due to its increased weight and length, needs to be held slightly more forward and even downward than the violin, but the bow hold is exactly the same. You certainly do not hold the bow further up the stick. The right arm and hand has to work harder, leaning the bow into the string more than you would on a violin, in order to achieve a good tone.

Vibrato on the viola is essentially the same as it is on the violin. It is on the cello that both the hand and forearm have to move together to achieve a good vibrato.

Thanks for the welcome and the tips. I sure wish I had the instrument in my hands right now. I've even been thinking of a name for it.

Oh come on.... a name for a viola??


Actually (confesses), mine is called "Deborah Cohen".
My melodeon (button accordion) is Tommy.
My oboe? Well Buffy of course.

Mind you, when I was little, even my bike had a name. I put it down to never having had a teddy bear.

Hey! There's nothing wrong with naming your instrument! Mine's called Violette, (like 'little viola', although she's standard ladies' size at 15.5"), but I always call her 'her' and not 'it'!!! My first instrument was Vicky.

Sorry if this sounds a bit of an 'off' question, but why do people want to name their musical instruments? Is this something some amateur players just tend to do?

While there are many who refer to cars, boats and aircraft as feminine (I sometimes call my Volvo the 'Swedish girl'), no professional I know has a name for their musical instrument, or even attributes a gender to it. This is not to say the instruments are treated badly, quite the opposite, if it is responsible for earning some dosh...

i've never named my instruments, but when i started the violin i named my strings George, Danielle, Annie and Edgar, though this was only to learn which string was which.

This amateur never has. Perhaps it's only those who are really committed who do so?

I don't hang out with a musical crowd so I don't know what people do and don't do. I have no intention of becoming a professional. I give my instrument a name because I want to and its as simple as that. If that simple act incites snobbery from the musical elite then so be it. I wouldn't waste my time with such people to begin with.

I don't know where snobbery comes into it. AmandaL just pointed out that it's something amateurs do and professionals don't, and wondered why.

ow, cant give you any suggestion because i'm a beginner viola student too

by the way
congrats for your new 16.5 viola
happy learning!