It is a really fun instrument. I play it at school (i don`t pay for it) and it was my first instrument. It is easy if you are prepared with a stand and all your music. The best book to have for beginners is All for Strings by Gerald E. Anderson and Robert S. Frost. If you buy one make sure it has viola in the top left corner. It is easy all you have to do is learn the parts and there you go your on your a Senior viola already! It took me about a 2 weeks and I started learning in 5th grade and i am going to keep going.