I think the viola is a very nice instrument. But the problem is there isn`t many good compositions for violas, or perhaps i`m plain ignorant about them. The repertoire for viola is so small that one would have to transpose compositions over from other instruments to play the viola. Also, no great and virtuosic violist who stand out to write great compositions for the viola. For the violin, we have great composer violinists like Paganini, Sarasate. Perhaps if we have a great composer for the viola like Paganini for the violin, the viola may become more popular in the next few centuries.
Just a comment....

is ne1 still on this?

i agree with you there aren`t enough violaists compared to violinists. i`m learning the viola and i can see why so many people would be discouraged by both the violin and the viola. you can`t just tune the strings and play it like a guitar. the violin and viola are beautiful instruments to hear, but i don`t like the screachy violins as much as the deep sounds of the viola. i guess the screachy violin noise would all depend on the song you are playing. it`s nice that you can get both the high pitches and low tones from the viola. that makes it worth so much more to learn to play.

heh ..yea so little violists.. im only 13 and i play the viola and im in love with it heh.. :D been 1st chair for a while, used to play violin but, didnt like it... only 5 violists in my school`s philharmonic orchestra .. while there`s 30 violins... plus the other violias arent that great (sshhhh) hehe
VIOLAS ROCK!

Question???? Our daughter has taken approx. 10 weeks of cello. Due to some circumstances, we are thinking on letting her stop the cello and begin the viola or violin. But I don`t know which to do.... I`ve been told that is you have taken the cello, then the violin is easier to pick up. What do you think? I do not know that much about either. Is the viola or violin played in the treble clef? Help please...Any thoughts?

I been playing the viola for almost 4 years and I love it

I think she should take viola because it is a lot easyie to switch from Cello to Viola

The Violin is played in treble clef. Hey guys I found a new place where great violas can be bought. PAWN SHOPS !!!!!! Really I was looking 4 1 and my private teacher told me to go there and look for 1. we ended up buying it and it has and awesome tone. I`m the loudest in the orchestra!!

lol never thought of a pawn shop hehe i lovee the viola..im determined to go to the London Symphony Orchestra when i grow up.. far away .. but its worth it hehe

VIOLAS ROCK!

any tips for a 16 year old guitar player who just bought a viola?

Hi guys, I`m 22 years old and from Denmark. I too play the viola and have done so for 11 years now (and 7 years of violin before that). If you`re genuinely interested in the history behind viola jokes, I suggest you read this page:

www.mit.edu/~jcb/jokes/viola-presentation.html

Personally I think the jokes can be really funny, as long as there`s no real malice behind it. However it can get out of hand - I remember when my two best friends (a violinist and a cellist) first started learning viola jokes. The three of us were at a music camp for a week and they were using all their new jokes on me. After a few days I had to ask them to tone it down a bit, and being good friends, they did.

A thing that can be useful to keep in mind if someone is overdoing it with the jokes: Yes, the bits about viola parts usually being easier are true, and so is the bit about less good violinists changing to viola.

But! The viola *is* a bit bigger, and the bow *should* be heavier. Though it may not look that way, there`s quite a bit of difference in the technique and it *is* harder to play fast notes on the viola. You do need an extra split second to get a good sound on each note.

And as was already mentioned, skill is not just about how fast or high you can play. The truest skill of a violist is to listen, to have a good sense of the music, to know when to follow and when to lead. This is not a very visible skill so it`s often not valued as it should be. I have friends who`re really good violinists, but terrible, horrible violists!

This is also why many music academies have their violin students play viola as well - not because they need to have something to fall back on in case they can`t make it as violinists, but because playing viola will make you a better, more well-rounded violinist!

Keep playing that music

HI
I KNOW I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND?????????????

i would prefer to think i wanted to learn to play the viola because you can play any violin sheet music and still play the more deeper toned viola music all in one intrument. people really don`t pay attention to instruments not pictured in movies or films or that have been over promoted in some way or another. if they made them with tweety bird on the top everyone would own one and know what they were. that just the way it is!

I play viola. I play it very well. In my orcestra i dont care that i dont have the melode i still play out loud and stronget then the violin section.

Wow! What an attitude! That`s the way to go!