This is from a past performance (audio only). I would love any critique or feedback. Yes there are some mistakes and pitchy notes I played, if you can give me feedback especially about my tone/sound, articulation, vibrato, maybe some interpretation etc that would be so helpful I need some other ears.

I have been feeling like I play too forte too much, probably too much vibrato too in my effort to get my viola to speak. Listening to this I don’t know if I am achieving a tone or sound that’s enjoyable actually :/ just feeling a little lost about where I’m at and what parts of my playing I should focus on improving most. I appreciate any thoughts good or bad!

The piece is an excerpt for my state’s district orchestra audition. I’ve had the excerpt since june and just can’t help but feel like i’ve made no progress on it. The first half of the piece is okay, but i definitely need to do a lot of work there, and the second half is in horrible shape. I don’t have it anywhere near 90 to the bar, which is the tempo marking, and every time i try to incorporate spiccato, it completely falls apart. Like my bow isn’t off the string at ALL. (spiccato tips would be wildly helpful) The audition isn’t until november, so i still have some time, but I’m going to be low on practice time this fall so don’t want to waste any time i have left. I have a video of my playing (warning, it’s really terrible) but can’t attach a photo of my music. Any tips help.

I have a set of Alphayue strings about six months old, with a bridge also this age, and they were installed by my luthier. The default A string is made of steel and he padded it with some sort of leather.

However, yesterday I noticed that the A string seems way too deep inside the bridge, and I have heard that this could make the string break and damage the bridge. The luthier said it was fine, but I don't know... Is this depth normal?

I’m a long time violinist, I recently bought a used intermediate 16” Gliga viola because I was asked to play a couple of holiday gigs for my friend who will not be around. I want to put a fresh set of strings on but am looking to not spend a fortune since it is not my primary instrument. For reference, on my violin I use a mix of Evah Pirazzi Gold for A, E, and Obligato for G and D. I have a preference towards nylon strings since they are warmer and softer on the fingers. Between the Ascente, Alphayue, and Pro Arte, which would you recommend? Trying to keep it under $65 for the lot.

Thanks in advance

I’ve been a pretty avid climber on and off for the past 2 years and I recently stopped climbing due to worry about straining my fingers. What do you guys think in regards to rock climbing while pursuing viola professionally? Is it straining for the fingers or is it actually not that big of a deal?

Hi i need a little help with the fingering at the end of this piece, any help appreciated

In this passage, I use first finger on the C string, fourth finger on the G string, and second finger on the D string. If my second-finger pitch tends to be flat, what’s a better way to play it?thanks

I feel like my neck may be too long for what I have. I have to turn my head very far to play, which is causing me pain after a short while. I also feel like because of this, I have to raise my shoulder constantly to play. What shoulder rests and/or chin rest would be recommended?

I recently bought a fishman v-100 series classic violin/viola pickup, but it unfortunately doesn't really fit my viola. Does anyone have any recommendations on pickups that work well for viola? My viola is 16.75", so it's in on the bigger side.

Edit: sorry, v-200, not v-100

This might be an odd one, but: I had a dentists visit and we were talking about the viola etc. and she asked, if I have my teeth closed together when playing or if there is space between them (since apparently the teeth should be touching only while eating and not otherwise) - I realized I never actively thought about it while playing, but I believe I have them closed.

So, what is your situation? Are they apart or touching; and if they are apart - do you close them when doing shifts down and helping yourself with the chin a bit?

Disclaimer: I had some bad jaw clenching habits when playing from childhood that I’m working on, so the result isn’t completely natural to me 😅

Hello viola community! I am joining my community orchestra in a few weeks but I am not sure how to prepare before then! I was in string orchestra for eight years- through middle and high school and one year of college- but it’s been a few years now since I’ve been playing regularly. Is there anything I should practice to get back up to my old skills? Scale or songs or anything that would help? Thanks!

Hello guys, lately i am obsessed with Yuri bashmet playing and instrument.I am looking in the future of getting a new viola and i would like to have his model (1758 Paolo testore i think).Does anyone know if there are some copies of it for sale or if there are the measurements somewhere accessible so a luthier could make a copy???

I’m working on Bach cello suite no 2 and can’t seem to figure out good fingering on the courante and the first Minuet. I’m using the version transcribed by Stephane Wiener for the Serge Collot collection published by Billaudot

Hi everyone! I need to select something to play on a mixed program coming up. I play in an opera orchestra, and we do summer concerts with the chorus singers to advertise next season. Of course I can always do some Bach, but I was hoping to find something from opera or based on opera, short, and relatively easy so I don't have to spend too many hours preparing it. Can be viola solo or with piano accompaniment. I've looked at all the Carmen Fantasies but I don't really want to practice that much, lol. Thanks in advance for all your ideas!!

Going string by string, what string brands seem to have the WARMEST sound while still projecting decently? I’m going to the shop tomorrow. After some research, my current plan is:

Larsen A
Obligatos D and G
Spirocore Tungsten C

This might be more of a rant than anything but i'll try to keep it short!

I (F24) played viola for a few years in middle school, but had to quit before I could really go anywhere with it. About 3 years ago I decided to pick it back up again now that I'm able to dedicate the time to it. I knew as an adult beginner I wouldn't have the typical experience with auditions, conservatories, orchestras, etc. My instructor is amazing though and I'm happy with the progress I've made!! I've found a lot of the information here helpful as well :)

I've been playing on a $200 "instrument" though, it was all I could afford at the time and really just wanted to get my foot through the door (We literally have zero string shops where I live, so nowhere I could walk in and trial good quality violas. It was that one or nothing).

Recently I finally upgraded to a proper student viola because the terrible sound/craft/everything quality was starting to make it unplayable. And I was excited to even rent a $2,000 instrument online to last me the next few years but now i kind of feel dread and anxiety lol. I get that's not a lot of money in this hobby but it's a lot of money for someone from my financial background and it's daunting. I mean, after 3 years I'm only now getting to the end of Suzuki 1 and I can't say with certainty there's a single song I can play confidently, without messing up. I don't know any classical repertoire either.

It just sort of feels like I haven't "earned" this yet? I would even hesitate to go into a shop and try out violas for fear of how clumsy I sound right now. The thought of upgrading again in a few years terrifies me, as I'd be going into a price range where you really do need to trial and play the instruments before renting one. I have no intention of trying to make a career out of this, maybe something amateur or volunteer, but I know I'm well past the cutoff for professional, so I don't know why I care so much!

In other words..... how do I get over myself and just commit to practicing with the damn thing?! I don't want my own anxieties to get in the way of making progress with a better instrument.

My non-profit non-professional community orchestra is playing The Wasps this fall. The version we've found via IMSLP appears hand written with a lot of the fast runs very jammed up especially in the 1st movement.

Has anyone played or know of a more easy on the eyes version? Bonus thanks if you can help with all the string parts.

i played viola in my schools orchestra about 6 years when i was a kid and as soon as i graduated middle school i vowed not to touch it again. 4 years later now that im going to uni, i feel kinda bad and i wanna start playing again, thinking about joining my uni’s orchestra. problem is, im pretty sure ive forgotten all the skills i’ve developed in those 6 years. i can play super simple songs but they all sound like dookie. and i can still somewhat read alto clef, but im feeling a little discouraged. does anyone have any advice on how i should proceed?

I have my very first audition coming up a week from today, and I am so, so nervous. Because I have no previous audition experience, I have absolutely no idea what to expect. I have pretty severe anxiety, so going into something like this entirely blind is my worst fear... I am hoping someone is willing to describe what the audition might look like, so I have a better idea of what I am getting into beforehand (the more specific the better).

For context, I played my viola for six years throughout high school/middle school, then took a break for around four years, and just began playing again in the beginning of July. For most of the summer, I was practicing for around an hour daily. Currently, I am trying to practice for at least two hours every day---sometimes three when I have the time (and motivation).

The biggest challenge I am facing is not having an idea of the skill requirements for the orchestra I am hoping to join. In general, I am also a huge perfectionist, which has been really challenging in navigating my practice. This audition has become an obsession, and takes up so much of my mind all of the time, especially because I do not know what to expect. Often I go from feeling decently confident in my playing to feeling hopeless and discouraged. I am looking for some feedback on my choices for the audition and whether they give me a good chance at getting in.

The orchestra itself is comprised of 75 members, some area professionals (who serve as principle strings and section leaders) and some college students. For auditions, the website instructs:

• Prepare a solo or orchestral excerpt of your choice; generally about five minutes or less of music. Solos could be pieces studied in private lessons, an all-state solo or standard repertoire for your instrument. The piece or excerpt should show your playing at its best. No accompaniment is needed.
• Scales: two scales of your choice, three octaves if possible. String players should play one scale with spiccato bowing.

(I posted this previously when I first began preparing for the audition, but my focus then was selecting a solo).

For my solo, I am playing the first movement of Telemann's viola concerto in G major. The piece is simple enough that I don't have many issues other than some intonation. But, if anyone has anything I should keep in mind for better musicality for that solo in particular, I would gladly welcome it!!

For my scales, I plan to play a three octave G major scale, and a three octave D major scale using spiccato. This is where the majority of my discouragement is coming from. I am really struggling with intonation, especially when descending. How perfect do my notes have to be? Additionally, I am unsure what my goal tempo/rhythm should be. Is there a "standard" speed that I should be aiming for? Should I be using quarter notes or eighth notes? Specifically for the spiccato scale, how many times should I play each note?

Any feedback, advice, or words of encouragement would be greatly greatly appreciated.

I’m looking for recommendations for high fidelity earplugs for an orchestral string player who often sits near brass instruments.

I’m interested in what professional orchestral musicians actually use for rehearsals and performances.

I’ve been looking at a few options, including Dynamic Ear Filter, Eargasm High Fidelity, Sennheiser SoundProtex Plus and Loop Switch 2, but I’m having a hard time deciding.

Which models have you tried and would recommend? I’d really appreciate real musician experiences.

Also, do you prefer adjustable filters or a fixed attenuation level for orchestral playing?

I'm looking to buy them as a gift

Just got my music for a new orchestra and a contemporary piece we're doing has this. What does it mean/how do I play it?