Should I Play Viola or Violin?

I'm 13, and I'm interested in learning to play a string instrument in high school next year. I know I want to play violin or viola, but I can't decide which. What do you think? Please don't try to convince me to play an instrument that isn't one of the two above.





I'm sort of leaning toward viola because so many people violin and I'd rather do something a bit more uncommon. Also, I'm very tall and have extremely long fingers, which would help with viola. I have heard that viola music isn't as good and is harder to come by.





What do you think?

Should I Play Viola or Violin?
If you are comfortable with the size of the viola, consider that there are more violinists than violists, meaning it will be easier to get scholarships and paying gigs as a violist. Sure there is more repertoire for violin, but the violin probably has more repertoire than any instrument other than piano. There is still so much music out there for viola that you will never live to play it all. If you get bored playing orchestra music, there is a lot of chamber music for small ensembles where the viola really gets to be heard doing cool stuff.
Reply:I think it's entirely something you have to decide, based on your feelings toward the instrument. See:





http://beststudentviolins.com/StringCare...





(4) What's the difference between the violin and the viola?


A lot of people ask this, particularly parents who are trying to help decide what instrument their child should study. One of the first things that musicians might think about in this connection are violin/viola jokes. The viola plays a somewhat different role in the orchestra than the violins do, and there is some gentle and sometimes not-so-gentle teasing between the sections. Musicians' jokes aside, the viola is a somewhat larger (longer, heavier) instrument and it is a fifth lower than the violin (five pitches, in other words). Many string players play both instruments, making their careers more flexible in terms of what they can offer. I would encourage anyone to play viola; the literature is a little different, but the viola has a deep, gorgeous tone and is quite as wonderful as the violin. There have been many eminent viola players (Pinchas Zukerman is a great example, and he's a genius who also plays violin and conducts. See Pinchas Zukerman ArtsAlive videoconference masterclass). You might want to take into consideration also, that if your child likes the instrument and wants to play it, and especially if the child is tall and has long arms and larger hands, the instrument may be an excellent idea; I think it's fair to say that fewer people are drawn to the viola and therefore it may offer more opportunities for a child to play in school groups, and perhaps even later prove to be a career advantage. In the long run, both violin and viola are perhaps the most difficult of all instruments, and they provide immense advantages in terms of physical and mental training. See also The Much Maligned Viola by Kim Kashkashian and Patricia Macarty's Violists' FAQ.
Reply:the violin
Reply:violin!


it is a very pretty instrument!


i used to play it myself.


but it all depends on your intrests.


if you like having a starring role, play the violin (gets more solos)


if you like being different, play the viola!


=]
Reply:If you want to pursue music after high school, definitely go with viola. It's technically much easier to play and there are not nearly as many violists to compete with as there are violinists.
Reply:Viola. Why? Good violists are hard to come by. They don't have as much repetoire as violinists do, but they are a vital voice in orchestra and quartets. I'm lucky to have two wonderful violists in my quintet. It takes true skill to make it sing since it is a very nasal instrument.





Secondly, opportunities for violists are much greater because there are fewer violists than violinists. Scholarships abound for violists and schools covet them. You should like you have the body type for it which helps a lot actually. And if you're getting an instrument, the larger the better because the proportions are more correct.





Good luck!
Reply:Well here's some facts about both string instruments that might help you:





-Violin-


1. Gets more solos


2. Pitch Range: At least 3 octaves


3. It is made of wood with steel strings


4. Size: Variable, but the body is usually around 14 inches (36 cm) long





-Viola-


1. It serves as the middle voice of the violin family


2. Has a slightly lower pitch than the violin


3. The viola comes in 4 different sizes...16", 15", 14", and 13" (16" = 26 inches, 15" = 24.5 inches, 14" = 23 inches, 13" = 21.5 inches)





**I would honestly go with the violin. If you choose the viola, you're going to have more work because there will only be a few violas and a lot of violins. =]**
Reply:The viola is a beautiful instrument. I learn the violin because my arms are not quite long enough for the viola ; I find the extra size difficult to deal with.


If you can manage the size of the viola than go for it. There is always a shortage of good viola players.


You won't often get a chance to do any solo work though. It is not often the "star" instrument like the violin.