will it still sound nice? I have a few songs for viola and they look like within flute range just wondering
Yes, but usually viola plays in alto clef, not treble. You can read it, but you will feel like you are transposing. In alto clef, the third line is "C." In treble, the same line is "B." So when you read alto clef but play it on flute, you will need to be thinking up a line/space all the time. You can’t just read the music as is and play it like you would on treble clef, because it will not be in the correct key.
Strange, but intresting. =)I am wanting to buy a used 5 string viola that i found, but i cant seem to find any teaching books or info that i could use to teach myself. Professional lessons are not an option for me at this point. Does anyone out there play one or have any tips or info for me. Please be kind. Thanks and God BLess!!
A must read:
http://lifehacker.com/391435/learn-to-play-an-instrument-online
I can’t really say how effective it is to self-train yourself without the aid of a teacher. I had a violin teacher for 2 years and had 3 hour sessions each week. I can say it takes quite a lot of practice to get the hang of it, but once you do it really pays off. You’ll enjoy playing your instrument once you become good at it.
Good luck!
Dec 022009
I play the viola (beginner.. so hopefully it won’t be too hard!) and I LOVE paramore. I was listening to the vitamin string quartet playing all these awesome paramore songs. I was wondering where I could find some sheet music for a viola for paramore songs?
I’d REALLY love if you could find it online to download for free, but finding it in stores is ok too 
u can prob. go 2 8notes.com & find it there, but i doubt it. they might also have it on youtube, like the guy who did paparazzi (lady gaga). u could also maybe go on amazon, ebay, or something like that & find it there (it might be pricey, though!). it might b hard 2 find something for the viola, though, since sheet music 4 it is medium/hard 2 find. i wouldnt go on wikipedia or any wiki, though, bcuz those arent very trustful sites.
My arrangements have the whole audio score embedded in each of the instrumental parts. Here I play the viola part live, while reading from the computer screen. The scoring is violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, and double bass.
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I play a eastman strings viola (2004). It is 15.5 but packs a nice tone, but no projection. Luckily, I am going to get a new one for christmas.
I dunno. I started playing 2 years ago and I am already working on the bach partitas(violin) and cello suites(duh) and the Hoffmeister concerto(actually pretty easy)and etudes. I keep bothering my dad to call back the place because I don’t want just a larger instrument. Actually the largest I want is a 16.5 or a 16.25 (but i could play a 17 or a 17.25). Anyway, I certainly don’t want a bigger beginner model, that’s no tone, projection, and you have to work harder for a nice sound.
i have that one too! what one are you getting for Christmas?
An easy and cool sounding way to play these awesome songs on Viola.
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I’m going to start viola lessons soon and was just wondering if the viola can play songs (like Pachelbel’s Canon, Swan Lake, etc.) which the violin can. Thanks.
Those pieces you listed are not written for the violin….. swan lake requires a full symphonic orchestra which includes 2 harps (I think.. can’t remember). Yes a viola can play the same songs as a violin, however, you either need to play in higher positions or need to transpose the music down a 5th.
The really difficult violin pieces may be too difficult to accomplish on the viola, for instance, high position work on the D A and E strings or something requiring the E string (harmonics, open E written, etc.) Also, you may find some of the stretches on the violin a little too much on the viola (10ths)
Stephanie, I’d like to see a violin play a full symphony by itself. You can transcribe pieces, but the bigger the change of instruments and their capabilities, the less full it will sound. one exception to this is Rachmaninoff’s piano transcription of Liebesleid which I prefer to the original for violin and piano by Kreisler, but otherwise, I try to avoid transcriptions and arrangements. For instance, I’m pretty sure there isn’t a single good piano transcription of Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy. Now there are Carmen Fantasies written for piano, but none of them sound like Sarasate’s
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Duration : 0:9:58
Nov 232009
so i’ve been playing violin for 6 years now, but i was thinking about switching to viola, because i think i’ll have a better chance of getting into a music college, like Juilliard, if i switch. I also like the sound of the viola better than the violin. would i be able to learn the viola pretty fast if i already know how to play violin (by fast i mean a couple years)?
Thanks!
Of course it’s not too late! The two instruments are so similar, your experience on violin will even help you learn the instrument more quickly. The toughest part will probably be reading viola music, since it’s in a different clef, but I say go for it!