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I am 68 years young, retired and tending toward creative expression of my artistic side. I began learning the violin a few months ago. I am not very good at violin and don't presume moving to the viola will make me any better. When I voiced my intention on the Fiddlerman Chat I was asked if I was going to the Dark Side and I guess if mellow is dark I tend to the dark side. I have sent an Email to Pierre's store with a request for string suggestions. I have both an acoustic fiddle and a Cecilio  CEVN-1NA Red Mahogany 4/4, Electric Silent Violin in Style 1 

I find myself on edge every time I am required to bow even an "in-tune" E string. In this time of shifting loyalties I cannot afford a new instrument each time my tastes shift. I propose to restring my electric fiddle by installing a "C" string and shifting the remaining strings down one string position and playing the instrument as a viola. Since the electric has no resonant body, improperly tuned resonance should not be a problem and neither should any extra string tensions.

My major concern as I make this experiment is finding suitable sheet music. My MO to date is to practice the school pieces in my beginner books and hunt down relatively simple tunes with a decided preference for old scottish pieces. I particularly like Neil Gow's 'Lament for the Death of his First Wife" and a piece called 'Jock O'Hazeldean. I have found the Lament being played on a viola. I trust this forum will be as friendly as the folks at Fiddlerman.com

Ray