Hey I`ve been playing violin for 7 years now and I`m going to play viola too. Any good tips on learning the clef change faster?....

I find, when switching from viola to violin, that the hardest thing to get used to is the change of clefs. If you can master the wonderful alto clef, then you`ll be fine. ...Of course, the violas never get the melody and are some of the most underappreciated instruments in the orchestra, but other than that, it`s great! You might want to stick with violin (people seem to like violinists much more). One thing you`ll find different is that the violin has a bright, sharp sound, especially on the E string. The viola has a warmer, darker sound, especially on the low C. Good luck!

I used to play french horn, but I stopped playing several years ago; but the treble clef is still fresh -- it`s like riding a bike. What ever you do, do not transpose in your head; that is, add an extra step (like a process) that changes from one clef to another. Why, you might ask? It takes up extra brain cycles to transpose. Plus, you won`t learn the alto clef. Pretend it`s all new, and you will pick it up pretty quickly. Best of luck. Matthew.