Відео

Hi, What do you think of the electric violia? I'm wanting to learn to play for our low key worship band at church.

Yay, nice video! Violin player here who always wanted to play viola, but never had the money to buy (a good) one. And guess what? I'm starting violin making now ;) Re your weird 16 1/8 inch viola: That translates to quite exactly 41 cm, so likely a European model.

Great point about not needing necessarily to go for bigger violas, even as a guy. I was tempted to buy 16.5" or something because "I should", but of course it is going to be heavier than a 16" or 15.5", right.

Great tip about the fingertips vs the pad (middle).

I was taught viola as a beginner

Just found your channel and loving it! Very envious of you seeing Taylor too☺

Hi Heather, you've looked absolutely beautiful this entire vlog! Especially your glowy skin. May I ask what skin care / face things (ha) you've been using lately? Many thanks :)

Hi Heather! I just found your channel a couple days ago, & I love your vlogs! 🤍 thanks for another cozy video !

So yeah, I subscribed! Firstly, because I am a professional violist who switched from violin 30 years ago and never looked back. Secondly, because you are a fun and entertaining UA-camr and thirdly, because the comments are hysterical, enjoyable, and relatable! You seem like a good person who has surrounded herself with good people. Happy to be part of the family!

I can’t decide what to start with. I’m more comfortable with more of the pads of my fingers on the strings than the tip, I love the low and highs of the viola and that but also love the warmth of a violin. Should I learn the violin for a month and or listen to viola pieces, covers and jigs to see if I prefer the viola more?

After doing grade 8 violin myself in my late teens, it wasn't till after a couple of decades when my daughter needed help in the local orchestra playing viola that I took it up too. The other more advanced (semi-professional) orchestra needed more violists so I was playing there too. Yes, I discovered how different it was too & how fingering & playing was not the same, similar, but different. I did that for a number of years before stopping & doing some Scottish fiddle playing for a while (that was fun), but a couple (more) decades later I got back into playing viola in our local orchestra again, starting in 2020 before covid spoilt that (& then my health), so eventually started playing again in 2023. Now I do it because I know I need to, to keep my fingers from seizing up with arthritis & keep my brain active to hopefully keep healthy there too.

I've just stumbled onto you video & was delighted with your presentation & content you covered. I learnt violin (many decades ago) & in later years (decades) took up viola, because it was needed in one orchestra & then the next. Unfortunately, being used to playing in all positions on a violin was one thing, but it became a strain on a 16" viola. I was playing on a certain European brand (that I bought 'in the white' & varnished & setup) but it had a rather high rib & was essentially just an enlarged violin pattern. As I started playing more serious music on it I suffered from a ganglion in the left hand that eventually needed surgery to remove it, so considering that point, I would also encourage others to be careful about the size & shape of a viola they intend to buy so they don't suffer similarly. A couple of decades later (after a break from playing) my wholesaler had a brief clearance of a particular line of instruments & I thought I'd get one of the 16" violas. Yes, it was a student instrument from China (upper level of three grades). I already had one of that 'brand' (named by wholesaler) in one level down, a 15" viola that I modified to 5 string (with a top E string) & new they were nice for what they were, so after fully setting up the 16" viola (with Aubert Mirecourt bridge & P. Obligato strings etc) I was delighted with the resulting sound. It's rich & powerful & so I was tempted to get back into playing in an orchestra again (orchestras are always looking for violists), but being careful not to injure myself again.

I’ve considered playing the viola, but I can’t afford it.

There are 5 String Violins & 5 String Violas both tuned CGDAE & the difference lies with in the size

Geared Pegs would help alot

12:25 No! Don't dye them! You won't be able to get them back to how they look now. Sounds like a good excuse to buy a pair that are already black...

I can relate to the impostor syndrome. I am a Canadian who moved to England (father born here which makes me a citizen) & have an excellent job in the IT department at the University of Cambridge. They would not have hired me if I did not qualify for the post right? Right. Perhaps coming from the 'new' world I am still slightly astonished at the age of things here. Going to the colleges that are 800 years old (for example Peterhouse, founded 1284) still shakes my Canadian 'new' world mind ...

I need to take you to a Buccee’s

I assume the earplugs - which I've never heard of before in this context - are for pit musicians who want protection from the trombones, which sounds like an excellent idea. Sitting in a pit must cause catastrophic problems for naked ears. For an unprotected clarinettist at Bayreuth with those pests right behind them it must be hell on earth.

I have a hair texture very much like yours - on that cusp between wavy and curly - and I get on really well with something cheap and simple: grape seed oil! What works for me is letting my hair dry naturally, often in a low and very loose ponytail. Once it's very nearly dry, and whenever I fancy it if my hair is looking a wee bit fluffy, for example after brushing, I'll use some oil. For an extra bit of fun, you can add to the bottle a few drops of any essential oil that smells good to you! Put a drop or two into the palms, rub it and warm it in the hands, and gently run it through the hair. If your hair still looks fluffy and frizzy, go in with another drop, or even two if needed. The oil is very light and does not weigh the hair down or make it look greasy. Be warned: you won't get the perfect neatness of a blow-out without doing a blow-out. But you will get rid of a lot of the dry, frizzy effect and have bouncy waves and curls that have a sheen instead. :)

Very glad you're publicising the test/ear plugs thing, a fantastic scheme. Amateur here. Even so, I practise with an ear plug in my left ear, otherwise I can feel my whole eardrum vibrating when I play the C string, which is immensely distracting! Is this normal???

Whats been your favourite opera to play? I have only just gotten into it in the last 3 months or so and am loving it so far (I have seen 2 so far!).

It is kind of funny but coming from the states, being "close" to family is anything less than 8 hours drive. That is basically London to Edinburgh, So anywhere in the UK would feel close. My closest family is 12 hour drive, visiting my parents is a 25 hour drive non stop.

Hi. I'm a fairly recent beginning Viola-player, (I won't use the exalted term Violist yet, or for a long time), and have been trying to get a handle on the components of The Viola Sound. I've encountered a lot of verbiage but so far no videos that actually offer comparisons of differing Sounds. Specifically, well, Warm vs Bright (though I think that's pretty much self-evident), but especially Broad vs Focused. If you're looking for a topic for your next video, something like this would certainly be helpful for me and, I have to believe, for many other "Viola-players." PS I'm dumb as a box of rocks when it comes to computer stuff. Hope you get this message

Now I really want Scotch eggs

I'm jelous of your lovely sedentary lifestyle 🙂

For me, your talking and visual film is very much out of sync. I think I’ll have to just listen and not look. Oh, sweet doggie. ❤

YES, take the mystery out of being great.

Hey heather! 🎉

These are brilliant tips imo. Play walk away…language learning at its best (Ollie Richards technique which is foolproof works like this.). Enjoy parts of what you are doing. I needed to hear this as an adult viola learner with a fabulous Juilliard trained young woman who is analytical like you. My piano, I feel like I’m still learning when I’m stuck, re-examine fingering, assumptions about the music. LOVE your videos. Write down all your vibrato tips and will use them. Yes, the large back muscles. Keep doing these please.

Thanks Heather. You handle your finances expertly.💋

Why ear plugs?

I usually say about 4 cents.

Most self employed I know survive by having a spouse that has a corporate job, being self employed is rough and very unpredictable

The viola section snacks thing is so true!!

Wow. Very helpful! Thank You!

I started learning viola at age 64 because a cello wouldn't fit in the back of my sports car. As with everything I touch, I did this backward. I'm 67 now and picked up violin three months ago. It's far easier to play with arthritic hands. I'm having a violin commissioned for me, and after almost a year, it will be finished in late May. All the viola jokes are unfounded. The violin is a much easier instrument to play. Even the G clef is simpler and easier to memorize! I will always consider myself a violist and play it 2X as much as the violin. The joke is on you, violinists! They are both beautiful instruments.

I agree. It is somewhat annoying that there are some great low level violin books that are just nonexistent for viola. My first etude book was one. 2) A 16" viola is somewhat of a "standard" full size viola. It's not too big and unweildy, yet not small enough to ruin the "viola" sound. 3) Even though the viola tends to be a bit more difficult to solo with, the biggest hassle in my mind was the clef, although you eventually get used to it. Cheating by thinking of it differently is more trouble than it's worth. Also, I would have been much happier if they just used the G clef for the whole range and used ledger lines for the lowest notes.

do you have any experience playing fiddle/folk music of any kind on viola?

sooooo basicaly viola players are the classical version of a bass guitarist

Hello dear, U need a professional UA-cam thumbnail designer? Let me know please Thanks

Dog is very intelligent

Hello, I'm ex violinist, it's already 4 years that I play viola. But now i have a problem with my third finger and left hand, and I don't know how to solve that problem, I've already tried a lot but nothing changes.Can I send a video , where i will show and explain my problem.I really need your help! Do you have a Gmail? Thank you in advance!

Hi! Just came back to your channel searching your videos, because I wanted to watch something for another time I remembered being helpful... and then something came in my mind while looking at all these videos: that as a musician, you probably chose your job because you like to play for others. But there are nearly no videos in your channel where one can hear you play! Only some very short ones with your string quartet, but no solo pieces. As you are a freelancer and needs to be booked, I'd assume if one is looking for a musician, he/she'd try to find some recordings to see if the way of playing fits to what is looked for. Is it a gap that should be filled?

We've had two private music teachers, both lovely people. One relied (mostly) on people remembering to pay, the other had a system of reminders etc. The first told me she did not always get all the money owed - a real shame. I hope this is not a general problem.

Since I have lived in a desert my whole life, all the green is very surprising. 😂 I forget that there are places in the world that don’t have tumbleweeds flying everywhere! Thank you for the beautiful video.😊

Nobody can leave wales ha ha ha

I know it's late, but Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge released a swing album a couple of years ago. He has such a good voice for it! Very different from the rock/metal he's known for!

Not true about violists being more chill. The most neurotic person i met was a violist.

Thank you so much for your videos! I have always found them very, very helpful. I will certainly try out these techniques. Thanks again!