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So close to Fiddlershop! In fact, I am hopefully taking my violin in for a much overdue cleaning and string change tomorrow morning, Elsa and its spawn permitting. I've also asked to listen to a number of violas, as my first experience with stringed instruments was with a much loved but painful-to-me viola. It was simply too big for me, and I hope to find a viola that speaks to me and is comfortable. A big sister for my violin.
It has been 10 years since I picked up my violin last week and attempted to play, and I look at my music in open mouthed amazement. I used to play that? It is all gone, as there has been a lot of water under the bridge in the last 10 years. But with the help of Alison M. Sparrow, I am making headway. Last night I tackled The Blue Danube from Alison's Songbook I, and most of it is tolerable. Those pesky accidentals keep tripping me up!
I look forward to meeting other members of this community and growing in my understanding of the violin and viola.
Best,
Elle
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Welcome, and I'm jealous that you can "just drop in" to Fiddlershop! I'll see your 10 years and raise it to 58 years from my single semester in the world of strings. It's been a fun ride the last two months and hope it will continue on for a lot more. Hopefully you will find this an awesome group to help you, give your opinions, and just hang out with some great people.
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Welcome to the forum, @Elle Dechene! Tell Fiddlershop Mouse said, "Hi" when you get there! They are great people.
So glad you joined our lovely group of people. I have violin, viola and cello. Not really good on either, but I am having a lot of fun.
I started with a 16" viola and it, like ypu said, was painful. It was just too big. I ordered a 15 1/2" Concert Viola Deluxe from Fiddlershop and it is lovely. The pain from thw much too large viola disappeared. Amazing what that 1/2" size difference makes. That stretch strain really was too much.
Have fun poking around the forum and I hope to see more posts about you journey in the future.
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Elle Dechene
Welcome to the forum
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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@Elle Dechene -
Welcome to the Fiddlerman Forum!
WHAT?
No 5 string consideration? (lol)
Yeah, I'm jealous you're that close to the Fiddlershop, too. 🙄
Really great you're connecting back up with these instruments!
Seems we're having a run on Alison Sparrow students, lately -
it's GREAT!
Can't wait to hear more.
- Emily
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Welcome to the forum!
Jason
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Hello everyone, thank you for the welcomes.
JohnG, I guess almost 30 years is just a drop in the ocean of time, and no better time than now to take up the viola again. I was successful in my search and have downloaded Suzuki Viola School - Book 1. I can transpose my violin music down a 5th and get along that way, but there's no avoiding the alto clef, is there? I also found the resources on Violaman.com very helpful, including Pierre's YouTube videos.
Mouse, I passed on your greetings to the Fiddlershop folk while I was there. How nice that you also have a cello! There was a fella playing a cello when I was there and he sounded glorious. I ended up with a 15.75" viola and it feels smaller in the scale length. My fingers are comfy and adapted surprisingly quickly to the different scale size from my violin. Fiddlershop was great, they set up a bunch of violas in advance and I got to hear and feel the different sizes. Surprisingly, the 15.75" felt the most comfortable. I think it has a Tertis shape as it required a 16.25" shoulder rest.
Emily, funny you should say that, I actually started speaking with Fiddlershop with the desire for a 5 string electric acoustic viola so that I could plug it in and record. But I went Olde Schoole in the end and am just thrilled.
Best,
Elle
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I am so glad you had a wonderful visit and went away with a viola. Also, thanks for telling them, "Hi" for me. I would love to go there some time, but, that would be quite the haul.
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Tertis violas aren't the only shape with wide lower bouts. But your viola is quite similar in size to mine -- I play a 15.75" Tertis pattern.
I think the hardest difference to adjust to when switching between violin and viola is bowing technique, not finger spacing.
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Welcome to the community
Cant beat a sunny day
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AndrewH said I think the hardest difference to adjust to when switching between violin and viola is bowing technique, not finger spacing.
Oh then I’m probably doing it all wrong, because I haven’t played the viola in almost 30 years, but did take violin lessons more recently.
I’m meeting with the director of a local music school tomorrow evening to be evaluated for the right teacher, and I’m hoping that there will be a teacher who focuses on the viola and doesn’t mind taking on an adult.
I’m excited about the idea of a music school where keyboards, vocals, solfege, and more are taught. Hopefully I’ll be able to play in duets, trios, and quartets some day. Right now I’m struggling to read the alto clef, keep having to translate the page in my head, so it will be awhile before I can keep up with anyone else.
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Mouse said
I am so glad you had a wonderful visit and went away with a viola. Also, thanks for telling them, "Hi" for me. I would love to go there some time, but, that would be quite the haul.
Twinkle twinkle little mouse, now I wonder where you are.
Can you tell I’ve been working on the Suzuki variations of a certain song?
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@Elle Dechene -
Every new adventure is exciting, but this one sounds extra special!
Can't wait to hear about your experiences with this music school!
...you'll have a GREAT time!
- Emily
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I don’t give out much info on where I am, but not Florida.
Twinkle Twinkle is actually a good song to learn with. There are a lot of verses for this song. You should Google it.
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