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I was wondering, are there any techniques or systems or methods you have tried in learning to play viola or cellthat worked, or still work, better for you? 

I know there are many methods of learning the same instrument. Some work better for some people than others. I am finding that I seem to do better by not watching YouTube videos. They are good for added information, but I don't find learning from them very helpful. I find watching someone try to teach you an instrument, say viola, just doesn't work. For one thing, I find more videos are made by people who just really do not understand that camera angle is important. I do not need to see the face, I need to see the fingering, the bowing how the instrument is held, etc. That is rarely the case in the Youtube videos. I find illustrations in books more helpful.

Most of the time the instructor makes it too simple. It makes me feel that if I can't do it as easily as the instructor says, that I probably cannot do it. I wish they would explain more about the issues they had when learning, and how they conquered those issues. And don't make it sound easier than it is. They are probably the same issues we all have. It would be helpful if they were addressed.

I learn better from books. I get most made into spiral bound so that I can open them flat. Not the plastic comb, but actual spiral bound. 

I also find forum information helpful, as long as the info provided is from personal experience from the poster, and not a video link, again, they help most people, but defeat me. 

I also am finding that I can learn better with music that I like, not crazy classical - even what is considered easy is beyond me. I do like some classical, but seriously, at my level, to make that piece easy enough for me, all the beauty of it is lost.

I need to learn with pieces that I am familiar with. I can't learn proper bowing and fingering in a piece that I do not know. If I am trying to figure out what it is supposed to sound like, that detracts from being able to use it for learning bowing, fingering, etc. Save the new pieces for after I can actually hit the right notes and bow properly.

How about you? Is there something that works best, or not at all for you? Join the forum and share, it might be helpful to others,