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Hello all, My name is Barry and Im an Admin here at Violaman.com , Please introduce yourself and feel free to browse and post. Also if you have any questions you can post them or PM me directly. We also have a chatbox feature for real time conversations.
Again, Welcome !!
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Bach : As the greatest expert and judge of harmony, he liked best to play the viola, with appropriate loudness and softness
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Hello:
My name is Toni. I am new to the viola forum. I am a new violinist. (2.5 years). I am looking to learn how to play the viola also. I have never played viola before. I owned a cello for a brief time and fell in love with the rich deep sound of it. I think a viola would be much easier for me to manage than the cello. I don't currently have a viola.
I have not mastered music reading on the Base Clef, but I can decipher it note by note.
Looking forward to know more about the viola and make viola friends.
Thanks and Hello!
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Welcome to the forum. You don't actually have to learn the clef if you want to play the same stuff on the viola as your violin. You just can't play the E string. 
Viola uses Alto Clef:
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Thanks Violaman!
I did find out about that Alto Clef in the past few days. Yahoo.. (I was familiar with Bass Clef (Barely) from my dabbling in Cello for a bit. But I failed to take note of the Alto Clef. I see it falls just in between Bass and Treble.
Very very cool about the viola. Learning much about it and I am kind of excited to learn and meet new Violists.
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Hi all,
I have just rented a viola (in a rare moment of clarity) and am trying it out for 6 months before committing to buying one. I usually decide I want to try an instrument and go ahead and just buy one, so I am quite proud of myself for renting first this time!
I have played double bass for 2 years, and as beautiful as it is, it is not 'my' instrument. I played saxophone when I was younger and I am really looking for an instrument to replace the feeling I got playing that. I am hoping that viola will be it, as I have tried many since (including sax, just doesn't do it for me any more!)
After trying so many different instruments (it's embarrassing) I am pretty clear to what I want in an now -
Melody/Harmony Line capable (not rhythmic or bass line focused)
Preferably not too commonly played
Will fit as carry on luggage on a plane
Versatile. Classical to Folk to Rock.
Ideally be able to sing while playing
Viola seems to fit those requirements. I'll see how I go! It's great to have this forum and the learning resources available. I'm learning the alto clef, after avoiding learning the 'Terror' (Tenor) Clef (as my teacher called it) while playing Double Bass.
Thanks Violaman for the site and looking forward to getting to know everyone!
Sorry for all the ()'s
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Welcome aboard Tramalian. The Viola fits all those requirements and more
Bach : As the greatest expert and judge of harmony, he liked best to play the viola, with appropriate loudness and softness
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Preferably not too commonly played Check
Will fit as carry on luggage on a plane Check
Ideally be able to sing while playing Mmmm ? Possible ? It may be a pre-requisite that you become a ventriloquist first.
Or try a Viola da Spalla (as it is not played right up against your neck and cheek, these are much more uncommon than conventional violas)
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The Viola da Spalla sounds very nice! Looks a bit big to fit in overhead storage on a plane though. There is always a catch.
I tried singing with the viola tonight. Apart from needing more singing practice, it seems to work so far (though my hold of course needs improving), but I am open to learning ventriloquism if necessary!
I was hoping that as I shouldn't be clamping down too hard with my chin there should be some room to move for singing.
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Sorry, about that, but a viola da spalla is smaller than a cello and smaller than a guitar. There is probably very little modern / contemporary music written for it.
Maybe if you still want to sing and play along, you could attach a strap to a conventional viola and play it as you would play a viola da spalla, as an experiment.
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Welcome Tramalian. Sounds like your moment of clarity yielded great results. A new Viola. Congratulation.
I am a newer violinist... and I am a viola wannabee.
I am here to learn and get inspiration to play on the "dark side"
Good luck on your Viola journey. I can't wait to hear and know more about it.
Toni
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@Donald. Viola Da Spalla.. wow.. that is so cool. I have never seen or heard of that instrument. I think it is just about the coolest thing I have seen all week.
It is gorgeous too. Beautiful sound too.
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I laugh every time I see that video. It's like playing a cello under your chin. That guy reminds me of "Jaws" from the James Bond movies. LOL
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Don't all viola players look like that in real life ?
You've seen one you've seen them all.
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Hi folks! My name is Rob. I've been playing various musical instruments since I was eight (which was...a while back). A couple months back I took up viola. I bought a cheap, "silent" model to start with, so as not to drive my wife, kids, and the dog insane. It was a good call, as I spent several days sounding as if I were torturing a goose. At this point, I'm convinced that I'll be sticking with it (viola, not goose-torturing), and I'd like to get a "real" student viola. Here's where I could use some help. I'd like something with a fairly mellow tone. It doesn't need a lot of volume, as I'll probably only play it in my living room, and maybe some day at church, where I hope everyone will be very forgiving. What body size, or other features, might work best for me? I'd appreciate any input.
Thanks!
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Hello my name is Andreas and I began to learn viola about 3 years ago (2011). I´m learning at home without a teacher so it´s very cool to find teachers online :))
Greetings from Germany
Andreas
P.S.: Merry christmas to all of you 
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Andreas said
Hello my name is Andreas and I began to learn viola about 3 years ago (2011). I´m learning at home without a teacher so it´s very cool to find teachers online :))Greetings from Germany
Andreas
P.S.: Merry christmas to all of you
Andreas said
Hello my name is Andreas and I began to learn viola about 3 years ago (2011). I´m learning at home without a teacher so it´s very cool to find teachers online :))Greetings from Germany
Andreas
P.S.: Merry christmas to all of you
Merry Christmas to you and welcome aboard
Bach : As the greatest expert and judge of harmony, he liked best to play the viola, with appropriate loudness and softness
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Hello all,
I'm awaiting delivery of my 15.5" Glaesel to begin my middle-aged musical journey. I've only ever played the stereo before but I always wish I could sit in up there at classical and baroque concerts, but not as the center of attention. I'll probably end up just playing along with recordings as I'm such an introvert but if it goes well who knows? I am already noodling around with a 1997 Romanian violin to learn bowing and stuff. What I have learned first is that new movements make my arms hurt!
Hope to play along this year with one of the projects!
Peter
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Welcome MiddleAgeMusic, and Andreas and notagain.
I'm very happy to see a little more action here. I'll try to stop by every day.
@ MiddleAgeMusic - How big are you? What size is the silent version you have now?
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Hello everyone. I have no talent for playing an instrument or singing but I have always loved music. I come from a talented family, my dad plays almost everything and my mother is a drummer. I am the only child out of 3 children that has been interested in learning an instrument but I have not learned anything except picking at the guitar and the piano. I really want to learn to play one instrument well and not just by hearing a song and trying to pick it out. I have always wanted a violin because they sound so beautiful. I received a Viola for Christmas this year and I am determined to learn. There are not many Viola teachers out there or videos on YouTube for a beginner to learn. I did find a couple on how to hold your viola and bow properly and I hope I am doing that correctly. I found this sight by seeing a video from fiddlerman on YouTube and I a now hooked. I hope to learn something here and by finding some beginning videos. So far most of them are for people who already know. By the way, I am way older than most new beginning students so, I hope that doesn't hinder my efforts.
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