never mind! so what do you play then?

Violas are sooooo much better then violins. Whoever decided that violas would have to get the harmony all the time????? I mean really changes are nice. In orchestra, violins always give the violas all this crap about how we always get the harmony and they get the melody. Some songs we only play on one string!!!!!! Its soooooo not fair. At least violas are nice...........we don`t hog the melody!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HI!! I`ve read all of this thread and I think ya`ll are very funny!! :P
I`ve been playing the viola for about one and a half years. GO VIOLISTS!!!!

~~AJ~~

amy and steph how old ru guys and where ya from? wanna make a new friend?! lol we just played a piece in orchestra that had some gorgeous melodies and tunes, dvorak`s symphony number 7 (aka symphony 2) it`s a brill piece.

I`m 16 and I`m from IN, USA

im from england 17

Steph, how long have you been playing?

Ha Ha Hiaek! U guys are hilarious...This whole thread has turned out to be a joke... Why all the fuss? We`re one big `family` afterall...we`re ALL MUSICIANs...so, learn to luv one another , please...

Dear viola players, It is a delight to read your feelings (including pride) about playing the viola. I am a 60 year old grandmother with a 12 year old grandson who plays the cello and a son-in-law who plays viola in several Michigan city symphonies. Their pride in playing strings inspired me to start learning to play the viola this year, even at my age. I find the challenge great, but the rewards even greater. It takes so much concentration that it becomes a mind altering experience without any mind altering drugs. There are so many parts of your body you have to control and use properly to make a pleasant sound. I think it is more difficult than playing competitive tennis, for instance, and I did that for about 40 years. I really love the viola and just wish I could find a website that explained all the minor keys for the alto clef. Can one of you brilliant young persons help?

I dun think there`s a website for a combination of these 2 different topics...Are u talking about the reading of alto clef? Or just Minor keys? But, NTL, I will keep a lookout for u. BTW, this is how u read the alto clef: Yr middle line in the stave is the middle C note. And about minor keys...they actually share the same key signatures as their relative majors. IE: G minor= B flat major, so that`s why G minor has the same key signature as B flat major, and that is B flat and E flat. And pls remember that if the minor is a harmonic minor, then pls. do sharpen the 7th note then( not likewise for Melodic minor ). So, that`s why u ultimately play B flat, E flat and F sharp for yr G minor scale...Is this what u wanted to know?

Like yourself, I have picked up playing viola at a late age eleven months ago. I searched for sites on the internet that would help, but most would only go as far as teaching the notes on alto clef and not scales. There is a promising site that sells scales in e-books format at
http://www.innerscales.com/innerscales.htm
I haven`t tried them, but there is a cost that is comparable to printed book of scales.
The scale book I work from is Progressive Scale Studies for Viola by John Bauer (published by Mel Bay, ISBN # 0-7866-2970-3). The simple major and relative minor scales are printed on pages 13-19. The book has a wealth of additional studies in its 103 pages! Among them are arpeggios, double stop scales, two three and four octave scales, broken thirds etc. Fingerings are given and practice routines (different rhythms and bowings) are discussed.

oh yes, I`m 10 years your junior and started playing last November. I never played a string instrument before but did play piano for several years as a youngster. I find it interesting that you talk about going into a meditative state. I`ve wondered why I would practice so much and like repeating difficult passages over and over again. I really look forward to my daily practice time. I`m proud of my viola playing and proud of my progress.

Dear John, Thanks so much for your suggestions. That Bauer book sounds like just the thing I need. Good luck with your practicing.

First of all, as for the issue of Pride, I do not believe in the same definition of it as many of you do. Secondly, I believe in a religion other than your Judeo/Christian religion that you find in the Bible. On that matter, I think that people should learn to think for THEMSELVES, and be an individual, and not spout off biblical theories (and I was raised Christian, by the way, so I know both ends of the spectrum). And to me, pride was simply a matter of self-esteem; I simply meant that I wasn`t ashamed.

Dear Martina, I agree with you that pride is a form of healthy self esteem. I also know that practicing and playing the viola builds both self esteem and the esteem of others. It is a difficult instrument to master, and meeting the challenge, even if very slowly, is rewarding not only to the soul but to the ear as well. May your strings sing for a long and pleasant life.

Sean, JK means Joke. Also, you have a good point on pride and being proud. Just need to think about your theology. Jesus is God and the Bible says that you can talk directly to God due to Christ`s shed blood appeasing/placating God`s wrath. But, w/e, just letting you know. not to reopen the topic. you can e-mail me if you want to.