I played the viola in elementary and middle school. I got to be pretty good and even made all city orchestra in middle school. After my 8th grade my home circumstances changed and I moved to a very small school that had no orchestra, had to return my rented viola and was never able to play again. I am now 70 years old and my husband bought me a beautiful viola for Christmas. Although I still have all my beginning books, I don't even remember how to read the music. :( However, I am determined to pick it back up again and play. I dearly love the viola and have missed it immensely through the years. I am so happy I found your video and look forward to learning again!
Hope you learn how to play again and remember to always have fun well at least that's what I do I am in middle school playing the viola and I am still in 6th grade beginners orchestra but we're all pretty good that I am sure that all of my friends in orchestra will make it to advanced orchestra we're having another concert really soon but violins where the hole school year just like saying like let's do Can-Can for our concert and they convinced the teacher to do that for the spring concert and in our first concert the winter concert we did Jingle Bells, Ode to Joy, and New World Symphony
I am in the exact same situation, except I'm about to be in 10th grade! I've always been nervous I'd never pick viola back up, but I'm determined to watch these videos and become better. I can recall the basics of viola, but have dropped it since 8th grade.
Dmitri Xallo Because we don’t get the exciting parts like violin or violoncello. Some can be boring, some can be really great. It’s a mix between, plus we have a weird clef to read and play mostly the harmony
I just got a viola and while I've an idea about how to make sounds on a viola, I've got no real knowledge or know how yet. This video and part two have been great and really accessible. It's given me a good foundation and I feel more confident handling the viola and feel like I can be more creative without feeling lost. Thanks man!
This is really great! I'm about to turn 30 and I told my husband I wanted to learn viola since I was a child but never got the chance. For my birthday in a few weeks he said he'd buy me one and I am trying to look around for lessons but I feel it's hard to find instructors who take adults. I'm trying to soak up as much info before starting as I can!
Good luck. There is so much free info on the web so it's good to have a look around first, but nothing beats an actual teacher. Zoom? Viola Time Joggers starts out real easy so you might want to start with that, esp. if you're teaching yourself. czcams.com/video/7cobrNa1Frk/video.html
SUGGESTION:Do not take your hands completely away when testing your ability to hold the instrument between chin and shoulder: rather keep them in the general vicinity just below.
That's great. Work on setting up good habits - holding the bow properly with round thumb & pinky finger, and holding the viola up on your shoulder withe head without supporting it with the left hand. You might need some lines for when you start playing with fingers, but your teacher should be able to help you with this. Good luck!
OwO I’m excited to actually watch this cause ima get a Viola and play it over the summer and get prepared for 6th grade with orchestra.Tbh my mother talked me into a Viola,it’s truly a amazing string instrument,My mother used to play a Viola so she could teach me this summer.
I play the violin (ready for my grade 3 exam, just haven't done it yet) and joined the school strings group. There are about 10 violins and no violas, so my teacher asked me and a friend (us being the oldest 2) to try on the viola... I tried, and failed miserably. So here I am! Gotta say though, this isn't what I'm looking for 😂
I used to play double bass in middle and high school but have lost interest after graduating 8 years ago and ended up donating the instrument to the school as it was getting too small for me anyways. I only recently became interested in music again and started playing piano about a year ago but I wanted to get back into the string instruments but did not want to deal with such a large instrument as one of the few things i remember and do not miss was the logistics of having to carry it around to and from school, to practice sections, to rehearsals, auditions, etc.. so I was originally thinking of violin but even a full size felt too small for me as i am 202 cm but when i picked up a 42cm viola it felt still a little small but not too bad and I can easily get used to it. fortunately I still knew how to read music when I began piano last year so my sight reading practice from that should hopefully make learning viola a little faster for me, or at least the sight reading part of it.
Lifelong pianist/keyboardist here... I never enjoyed toting an 88-key synth around, so I totally get that! Viola is the greatest string instrument. Such a human voice quality, so uniquely rich and odd (just like voices!) Go for it!!! Many blessings upon you!
My family is INSANELY musical. All memebers exept for dad peforms together on events and we play diffrent instruments. I’ve played Cello for 9+ years and recently my mother gave me a viola. I guess this was her way of saying “Homework is overrated anyways”
@@StringlifeOfficial ya i had a bad habit of constantly touching it when I first started and I went through 5 bows before some one finally told me lol.
I'm 60. I played French horn in the Houston Symphony during my mid-20's and have played piano for 53 years, many pro engagements through the years. These days, I play trumpet (playing better and better) and enjoying playing acoustic and electric guitar. I am determined to purchase a good viola and bow and add that superb experience to my life! Saving $$ for it - I LOVE the viola!
The viola's string setup is different than that of a violin, friends of mine had the same issue when they would try playing my viola back when I played regularly w others I knew. You'll learn eventually, just takes practice 👍🏽 Trying a new hold on your bow may also help, sorry if I wasn't of assistance
gerard max Oh never feel alone especially when you encounter difficulty, it's the same thing for any applied skill. Falling down, failing in ANY sort of way is gonna be what makes up like 90 percent of your journey at first. All you can do, all ANY of us can do, if just be totally okay with completely screwing up so we can get through that initial ninety perfect and hit those last ten where all of the training comes together for a total win. It's hard work, but never feel alone in it. That's how you know you're doin it right lol.
Just started playing Viola a couple of months ago. I have played pico for over 40 years, so it is taking me fine time to get used to alto clef. However, I was encouraged to try a new instrument after my twins joined orchestra two and half years ago playing violin and cello. They practice several hours a day, and I got tired of them asking me to play viola parts in their music on the piano. I have always wanted to play another stringed instrument besides piano, and I played french horn and trumpet between 6th grade through 10th. Gave them up, and solely focused on piano. I’ll continue watching these tutorials to get better!
I haven't played the viola after 7th grade and I'm 22 now and just recently bought one and the one I got was in bad shape since I got it online by someone who left it in there closet for 2 years. So I had to tune it and get a new bow for it as well and I'm glad they had strings for it since they're worn out which I've been getting out of tune within 5 minutes and replaced them with the new one they had for the instrument. So now I'm practicing on how to play it again.
I just watched it. I am 60 years old and determined to purchase a good viola and bow. I have 'mastered' (always striving to master, of course!) several instruments, piano (53 years, now) being my start. I searched for 'beginner viola for adults', saw this video and thought, "Hey, gonna check that out!" Glad I did! Exactly where I need to start when I get my viola in hand.
The way u hold the now isn't the way I'm getting tought is the bow bunny so u make the o shape with the ring and middle finger with the thumb on the bottom then you rest your index finger on the wood and u move your ridt with it so it looks like uve got a fancy hold of a glass then u arch ure pinky finger to touch the wood
it's a combination of activities I've collected & developed over the years. Some of them in particular are from Colour Strings and AMEB technical workbook
This is a great video! I’m also a professional violist and teacher and just started a series on how to play viola too! How To Play Viola - Introduction czcams.com/video/2R_HsFd8CSc/video.html
@@StringlifeOfficial Reminded me of the old joke: Why is a viola better than a violin? --- It burns longer! What's better than a dozen roses on your piano? Tulips on your organ. LOL!!! Thanks for the very fundamental first lesson, btw!! Wonderful start to my viola dreams!
I played the viola in elementary and middle school. I got to be pretty good and even made all city orchestra in middle school. After my 8th grade my home circumstances changed and I moved to a very small school that had no orchestra, had to return my rented viola and was never able to play again. I am now 70 years old and my husband bought me a beautiful viola for Christmas. Although I still have all my beginning books, I don't even remember how to read the music. :( However, I am determined to pick it back up again and play. I dearly love the viola and have missed it immensely through the years. I am so happy I found your video and look forward to learning again!
Hope you learn how to play again and remember to always have fun well at least that's what I do I am in middle school playing the viola and I am still in 6th grade beginners orchestra but we're all pretty good that I am sure that all of my friends in orchestra will make it to advanced orchestra we're having another concert really soon but violins where the hole school year just like saying like let's do Can-Can for our concert and they convinced the teacher to do that for the spring concert and in our first concert the winter concert we did Jingle Bells, Ode to Joy, and New World Symphony
Woah that’s so cool!
That’s is amazing you can do anything that you put your mind to.
I am in the exact same situation, except I'm about to be in 10th grade! I've always been nervous I'd never pick viola back up, but I'm determined to watch these videos and become better. I can recall the basics of viola, but have dropped it since 8th grade.
Paula McClure I have about the same story...best of luck to both of us.
Violas are an underrated instrument..
Thats the reason i play it for my school band to show its good XD
Me too! :3
Why are they so overlooked?
Fuck off
Dmitri Xallo Because we don’t get the exciting parts like violin or violoncello. Some can be boring, some can be really great. It’s a mix between, plus we have a weird clef to read and play mostly the harmony
I'm here to remind myself how far I've come and that I'm not a failure.
Charlie Duke Dog you are not a failure !
Same
Are you calling him (the guy in the video) a failure then?
Dont give up!
The only failure is is NOT TRYING to do something you want to do.
I just got a viola and while I've an idea about how to make sounds on a viola, I've got no real knowledge or know how yet. This video and part two have been great and really accessible. It's given me a good foundation and I feel more confident handling the viola and feel like I can be more creative without feeling lost. Thanks man!
This is really great! I'm about to turn 30 and I told my husband I wanted to learn viola since I was a child but never got the chance. For my birthday in a few weeks he said he'd buy me one and I am trying to look around for lessons but I feel it's hard to find instructors who take adults. I'm trying to soak up as much info before starting as I can!
Good luck. There is so much free info on the web so it's good to have a look around first, but nothing beats an actual teacher. Zoom? Viola Time Joggers starts out real easy so you might want to start with that, esp. if you're teaching yourself. czcams.com/video/7cobrNa1Frk/video.html
Me too. Now I am 32, wanna to play viola just bought it and cannot found private tutor or school for adult.
I have a sponge instead of the shoulder thing for my viola
Yes that's a good idea if a shoulder rest is too big
The sponge should be the right size
I'm in a school orcrestra and I don't have anything 😂
so do i
Same
SUGGESTION:Do not take your hands completely away when testing your ability to hold the instrument between chin and shoulder: rather keep them in the general vicinity just below.
Thank you so much. I just started middle school and I'm in orchestra and I don't even know how to play this thing but thank u😀
That's great. Work on setting up good habits - holding the bow properly with round thumb & pinky finger, and holding the viola up on your shoulder withe head without supporting it with the left hand. You might need some lines for when you start playing with fingers, but your teacher should be able to help you with this. Good luck!
@@StringlifeOfficial thank u!!!
I'm right with you 7th grade already know how to play one song after watching this
@@dawaunrobinson9457 congrats!!!
I am in 5th grade and iknow how to play 3 songs
Viola gang
OwO I’m excited to actually watch this cause ima get a Viola and play it over the summer and get prepared for 6th grade with orchestra.Tbh my mother talked me into a Viola,it’s truly a amazing string instrument,My mother used to play a Viola so she could teach me this summer.
be prepared for dumb viola jokes 😑
and enjoy! I love my viola.
Brumby Bailey XD
Dear god its a furry
wah Luigi okay,so?
Nova The Wolf ew furry
I play the violin (ready for my grade 3 exam, just haven't done it yet) and joined the school strings group. There are about 10 violins and no violas, so my teacher asked me and a friend (us being the oldest 2) to try on the viola... I tried, and failed miserably. So here I am! Gotta say though, this isn't what I'm looking for 😂
Thanks I play cello but my sister used to play viola and quit. So I started to learn viola on her old viola.
I used to play double bass in middle and high school but have lost interest after graduating 8 years ago and ended up donating the instrument to the school as it was getting too small for me anyways. I only recently became interested in music again and started playing piano about a year ago but I wanted to get back into the string instruments but did not want to deal with such a large instrument as one of the few things i remember and do not miss was the logistics of having to carry it around to and from school, to practice sections, to rehearsals, auditions, etc.. so I was originally thinking of violin but even a full size felt too small for me as i am 202 cm but when i picked up a 42cm viola it felt still a little small but not too bad and I can easily get used to it. fortunately I still knew how to read music when I began piano last year so my sight reading practice from that should hopefully make learning viola a little faster for me, or at least the sight reading part of it.
*wait, the double bass got too small for you?
Lifelong pianist/keyboardist here... I never enjoyed toting an 88-key synth around, so I totally get that!
Viola is the greatest string instrument. Such a human voice quality, so uniquely rich and odd (just like voices!)
Go for it!!! Many blessings upon you!
I am doing the viola next year in school thanks for teaching the viola on you tube
Am also still a beginner and I want to grab,soak and have the most essential basic knowledge of playing a Viola
Yeah
Viola, Day 1: Following this video. Day 2: Following this video. Day 3: Following this video. This might take a while.
COULD YOU PLEASE RELOAD THE VIDEO WITH NORMAL SOUND ? THANK YOU.
My family is INSANELY musical. All memebers exept for dad peforms together on events and we play diffrent instruments. I’ve played Cello for 9+ years and recently my mother gave me a viola. I guess this was her way of saying “Homework is overrated anyways”
I’m in 6th grade and this has been a good video
Little tip: DON’T TOUCH THE STRINGS ON YOUR BOW
I had to learn this the hard way.
Yes your fingers leave fingerprints, which make your bow slippery and eventually rosin won't help
@@StringlifeOfficial ya i had a bad habit of constantly touching it when I first started and I went through 5 bows before some one finally told me lol.
Great video!
Love the ants, dirt, ground, continuously!!❤how clever!
I'm 60. I played French horn in the Houston Symphony during my mid-20's and have played piano for 53 years, many pro engagements through the years. These days, I play trumpet (playing better and better) and enjoying playing acoustic and electric guitar.
I am determined to purchase a good viola and bow and add that superb experience to my life! Saving $$ for it - I LOVE the viola!
I find it difficult to play one string. I keep hitting other strings. I'v played a little on violin and am new to viola.
The viola's string setup is different than that of a violin, friends of mine had the same issue when they would try playing my viola back when I played regularly w others I knew. You'll learn eventually, just takes practice 👍🏽 Trying a new hold on your bow may also help, sorry if I wasn't of assistance
@@JAYTBAYB Thanks for that. I think I'm slowly improving. It's good to know I'm not the only one finding viola a bit difficult.
gerard max Oh never feel alone especially when you encounter difficulty, it's the same thing for any applied skill. Falling down, failing in ANY sort of way is gonna be what makes up like 90 percent of your journey at first. All you can do, all ANY of us can do, if just be totally okay with completely screwing up so we can get through that initial ninety perfect and hit those last ten where all of the training comes together for a total win. It's hard work, but never feel alone in it. That's how you know you're doin it right lol.
Just started playing Viola a couple of months ago. I have played pico for over 40 years, so it is taking me fine time to get used to alto clef. However, I was encouraged to try a new instrument after my twins joined orchestra two and half years ago playing violin and cello. They practice several hours a day, and I got tired of them asking me to play viola parts in their music on the piano. I have always wanted to play another stringed instrument besides piano, and I played french horn and trumpet between 6th grade through 10th. Gave them up, and solely focused on piano.
I’ll continue watching these tutorials to get better!
I haven't played the viola after 7th grade and I'm 22 now and just recently bought one and the one I got was in bad shape since I got it online by someone who left it in there closet for 2 years.
So I had to tune it and get a new bow for it as well and I'm glad they had strings for it since they're worn out which I've been getting out of tune within 5 minutes and replaced them with the new one they had for the instrument.
So now I'm practicing on how to play it again.
Best wishes to you!!! Viola is incredibly lovely!
Looks like a good lesson, but I can't hear the sound. I'm not sure if you have time to re-upload your video with sound at a higher level. Thanks...
Thank you very much!
When you tighten the bow remember Righty Tighty Leftie Loosey
Learning Viola that’s what my teacher taught me luckily
Thanks :)
this goes for tuning, too
This is truly amazing
Holy Cow, resting the viola upside down on the neck while putting the shoulder rest on.... what could go wrong?
Learning viola for a high school quartet hopefully this helps
I play it tooo
THIS HELPED SO MUCH THANK YOU!
This was helpful
Omg thank you you made it easy for me!!!!! :D
I have played for 5 almost 6 years. I am only watching this to see how much i’ve improved in the time i’ve played lol
Soooo my niece got a viola…let’s give it a shot before it collects any dust
I’ve been playing for about three years now and wow I’ve come really far lol
Congrats to you and THANK YOU for bringing your expression to life for all of us!
Hi everyone, I'm just curious why is this video so popular? It is by far my most watched video!
I just watched it. I am 60 years old and determined to purchase a good viola and bow. I have 'mastered' (always striving to master, of course!) several instruments, piano (53 years, now) being my start.
I searched for 'beginner viola for adults', saw this video and thought, "Hey, gonna check that out!" Glad I did!
Exactly where I need to start when I get my viola in hand.
that feeling when you know how to play violin and viola but no viola😢
I know this is a very old video, but just on the off chance... Do you still give lessons via Zoom?
I do. Email me and I'll see what I can do
I think for the ANT song, the C note should be, "far from the sea"
I love that! I think one of my students made up the continuously. Because the original words came from the violin strings
The way u hold the now isn't the way I'm getting tought is the bow bunny so u make the o shape with the ring and middle finger with the thumb on the bottom then you rest your index finger on the wood and u move your ridt with it so it looks like uve got a fancy hold of a glass then u arch ure pinky finger to touch the wood
what sheet music / tutor book are you referring to in this video ?
it's a combination of activities I've collected & developed over the years. Some of them in particular are from Colour Strings and AMEB technical workbook
"So the first thing you need to do is get your viola"
We're already experiencing technical difficulties with this one 🤡✋
Viola in your left hand, bow in your right hand…
I Have a music teacher called miss Erven she's so nice
Alright dude
I have been very blessed to have had wonderful teachers/coaches throughout my music career. I am so very happy for you and your teacher!! Seriously!
i have the exact same bow
4:06 reminderrrr
Thank you sor.
really, upside down then put the smily face, you can just put the shoulder rest frowning holding the viola the right way, not the sacrilegious way.
Can't hear your audio. My sound is all the way up and can't hear you.
Thankyou
Yo I have a violin is this tutorial for violins as well?
I have one for violin, but the viola tutorials 1 & 2 are probably better and more thorough. czcams.com/video/df8HH7wSMAk/video.html
I’ve been playing Viola for 6 years lol
What shoulder rest do you use?
on my viola I use an Everest. On my violin I have a Kun Bravo which is 22 years old
I can't hear you
🤩 wooow 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤪🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
My daughter plays the viola 😞
How is that a bad thing you should be proud☺
Yeah. Why are you sad she plays a multidemensional instrument?
Sad face... are you jealous that you do not? Get yourself one and join her incredibly wonderful musical journey!!! Best wishes to both of you!
can barely hear you.
So, when do you tune it?
i play the viola in sistema and im in vivaldi so im pretty good at it im playing minuet and trio
Awesome!!! I am saving $$ to buy a good viola and bow. I MUST add playing viola to my musical experiences! It's such a GREAT instrument!!!
I just watched this and realized i how much i failed at this-
What are you gonna do about it?
Thanks, but I'm a semi intermediate
And soon, you will be a thoroughly advanced... then a fantastic master!!! Go for it!!
This is a great video! I’m also a professional violist and teacher and just started a series on how to play viola too!
How To Play Viola - Introduction
czcams.com/video/2R_HsFd8CSc/video.html
What
viola routine: step 1 - throw the viola into the trash. #twoset
but that's a waste when you could use it for firewood 🔥
@@StringlifeOfficial Reminded me of the old joke: Why is a viola better than a violin? --- It burns longer!
What's better than a dozen roses on your piano?
Tulips on your organ.
LOL!!!
Thanks for the very fundamental first lesson, btw!! Wonderful start to my viola dreams!
Boring
No u
@@damianbustos630 no u
no u