Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(0 votes) 
Offline
[Sorry for the typo in the topic. I meant violinist. Can't edit that.]
Hi there from Vienna, Austria!
First of all, I want to introduce myself: I'm a complete newbie to this forum, to the viola and to string instruments in general. I came here because I loved violaman's instruction videos on youtube. I made my first steps into the viola world watching them... I play the piano and sing but would love to learn play the viola as my wife plays cello and together with friends (or our two children if we can convince them to learn violin) we could do some chamber music in the distant future 
I registered to the forum because of a question that concerns me a bit: I found a music school close to my place. The teacher there is a violinist though. I don't know if he ever had a viola student. He played viola for a few semesters aswell as his second instrument during his time at conservatory, but that's some years ago and now he's really only playing the violin.
What do you think? Should he be able to teach me? Is there any risk that he will teach me wrong techniques that I later on will have additional efforts to un-learn? Should I take care of anything? Or should I really look further for a proper violist?
If not necessary, I choose the violinist. The music school is really close, you know, it would be the most practical solution for me..
Thanks a lot for you suggestions!
Bensch
Members
Offline
From what I have read, mostly violists are taught to play the viola by violinists.
So it is seldom the case that anyone learning the viola is taught by a violist.
I think what a beginner should be looking for is the best teacher, & the nearest (?), without regard to whether the teacher plays the violin or viola (or plays both).
Maybe after some years in the beginning with a violinist as teacher, you might decide to switch to a violist teacher as you advance.
If there is a music school near you with a violinist as a teacher, I think it is very likely that teacher has been giving lessons to beginning violists before you came along.
(However, all things being equal, if you had the choice of two identical cloned teachers and one was a violinist and the other a violist, choose the violist.)
Offline
Hey Bensch and welcome to the forum,
Most viola teachers and players were once violin teachers. If you are a newbie you can definitely be taught by a violinist provided he or she is a good teacher.
Good luck with your pursuit
1 Guest(s)
Gordon Shumway
Mouse
Violaman
