I have picked up the viola again after something like 17 years, and I am so happy that I have. I am seeing a lot of benefits of being an adult: I've forgotten enough to be able to relearn the right way, which is great, because I'm pretty sure never learned properly in the first place and my foundations have more holes than swiss cheese, but I also have enough experience to understand why I am working on the fundamentals, and can enjoy doing scales slowly repeatedly to really work on my hand and finger placements and my bow hold and movement.
Outstanding lecture!! It is so obvious you love your profession and love talking to people about it. I did “trade in” my violin and viola for a “better” viola. The results are like night and day! I practice 45min/day, anything more and my brain & fingers stage a rebellion. But every morning when I wake up I find myself “playing” the music my teacher and I are working on when in my head. My only regret is that it took me 6yrs after retirement to finally “get round” to learning to play. I will stick with it, and I look forward to your next video. Cheers!!
I picked up the Viola last year, beginning at the start of Pandemic and played in my first concert last Saturday. In a real Orchestra with a paying audience. I am one step from 60 and had never touched a Viola before or even seen one to be honest. I am an amateur musician playing French Horn but a String instrument in Alto clef is like starting from scratch. I have loved the 18 month learning and had good teacher. Now I am trying to learn Vibrato ...... wow ... this bit is hard ...
I’ve always wanted to learn a string instrument. Took piano lessons in middle school and played flute in band through high school and college, but never felt super passionate about it. I finally decided to go for it and learn viola so I can stop feeling regret over this! Just started and I’m so excited!
The real reason is cost ( in the US anyway) decent student instruments are starting at $500- $1200 , intermediate start $3000+. Most every grade school and high school (US) do not have orchestra. No real access to viols for the working class. On the other hand professional quality instruments for Bass and Guitar can be had for as little as $600
It's very similar here, fortunately, there are several trusts in the UK for talented kids of school age but it does rely on teachers/parents knowing about these places...
So it depends on your reason for learning really. Guitars are more portable and are great if you're wanting to learn some of the songs you know. Pianos are great if you're wanting to learn a wider breadth of music as you can play all genres of music once you've got some basics under your belt. I would also argue that you'll get more in-depth musical knowledge, reading sheet music, etc, by learning piano.
Definitely try the viola! Promise I'm not just saying that... but it would be the most similar to the violin so you could transfer some of the things you've already learnt but piano and cello also lend themselves very well to people with bigger hands.
On a viola isn’t the body just bigger the finger board is the same size no? I probably should have mentioned that I’m a truck driver so the instrument size is a factor lol so cello is out
@@Rohirn Hello! Please forgive my slow reply... So the fingerboard is also bigger than a violin's so the spacing between the fingers is larger which is why it can be suited to people with larger hands :-)
Is it possible for someone with no musical knowledge or any instrument experience to learn music enough to be able to compose? My goal is to be able to compose good music pieces for movies, but I have no experience in any musical instruments. My musical involvement comes from singing. My singing is what gives me inspiration to learn it, but I am afraid I am too old to be able to grasp the skill for composing. Do you think learn keyboard or piano will help me learn to compose eventually?
Hiya! So it’s never too late but I will be completely honest and say that it will be hard. You’ll have a lot of catching up to do but learning the piano would go a long way towards being able to compose as it’s the instrument a lot/most composers will sit down at to lay down the basics of what will become their piece. Start learning how other instruments work as well though, you’ll need to have a working knowledge of all the instrument groups if you’re to compose effectively. Good luck!
I started learning the harp at 26, having basically no musical experience (aside from singing in a choir). It took me about 2 years to get enough musical experience to compose anything good, but since then I've composed quite a few pieces which I think are pretty decent. So yes, you absolutely can compose as an adult beginner.
I have picked up the viola again after something like 17 years, and I am so happy that I have. I am seeing a lot of benefits of being an adult: I've forgotten enough to be able to relearn the right way, which is great, because I'm pretty sure never learned properly in the first place and my foundations have more holes than swiss cheese, but I also have enough experience to understand why I am working on the fundamentals, and can enjoy doing scales slowly repeatedly to really work on my hand and finger placements and my bow hold and movement.
That makes me so so happy, good on you! Haha oh I know what you mean... x
Outstanding lecture!! It is so obvious you love your profession and love talking to people about it. I did “trade in” my violin and viola for a “better” viola. The results are like night and day! I practice 45min/day, anything more and my brain & fingers stage a rebellion. But every morning when I wake up I find myself “playing” the music my teacher and I are working on when in my head. My only regret is that it took me 6yrs after retirement to finally “get round” to learning to play. I will stick with it, and I look forward to your next video. Cheers!!
Thank you so much and I’m so pleased you’re enjoying learning it 😃
I picked up the Viola last year, beginning at the start of Pandemic and played in my first concert last Saturday. In a real Orchestra with a paying audience. I am one step from 60 and had never touched a Viola before or even seen one to be honest. I am an amateur musician playing French Horn but a String instrument in Alto clef is like starting from scratch. I have loved the 18 month learning and had good teacher. Now I am trying to learn Vibrato ...... wow ... this bit is hard ...
What piece(s) did you play?
Ah congratulations! How exciting :-D I have my first orchestral concert back on Saturday and I can't wait!
I’ve always wanted to learn a string instrument. Took piano lessons in middle school and played flute in band through high school and college, but never felt super passionate about it. I finally decided to go for it and learn viola so I can stop feeling regret over this! Just started and I’m so excited!
Ah congratulations!!! That’s so cool 😃 x
Reading all these comments from people who learnt instruments as adults is encouraging.
I’m so glad!
The real reason is cost ( in the US anyway) decent student instruments are starting at $500- $1200 , intermediate start $3000+. Most every grade school and high school (US) do not have orchestra. No real access to viols for the working class. On the other hand professional quality instruments for Bass and Guitar can be had for as little as $600
It's very similar here, fortunately, there are several trusts in the UK for talented kids of school age but it does rely on teachers/parents knowing about these places...
You are so right! Wisdom! Thank you!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching :-D x
What is the best instrument to learn as an adult, piano or guitar?
So it depends on your reason for learning really. Guitars are more portable and are great if you're wanting to learn some of the songs you know.
Pianos are great if you're wanting to learn a wider breadth of music as you can play all genres of music once you've got some basics under your belt. I would also argue that you'll get more in-depth musical knowledge, reading sheet music, etc, by learning piano.
Great Video.
Enjoyed thoroughly
Thumbs up.
Please continue to produce more.
I am looking forward to your next video.
Like #9
Thank you so much and I will do! x
42 years old picked up a violin I’m 6’2” tall and wonder if my hands are too big what other instruments would be good
Definitely try the viola! Promise I'm not just saying that... but it would be the most similar to the violin so you could transfer some of the things you've already learnt but piano and cello also lend themselves very well to people with bigger hands.
On a viola isn’t the body just bigger the finger board is the same size no? I probably should have mentioned that I’m a truck driver so the instrument size is a factor lol so cello is out
@@Rohirn Hello! Please forgive my slow reply... So the fingerboard is also bigger than a violin's so the spacing between the fingers is larger which is why it can be suited to people with larger hands :-)
Is it possible for someone with no musical knowledge or any instrument experience to learn music enough to be able to compose? My goal is to be able to compose good music pieces for movies, but I have no experience in any musical instruments. My musical involvement comes from singing. My singing is what gives me inspiration to learn it, but I am afraid I am too old to be able to grasp the skill for composing. Do you think learn keyboard or piano will help me learn to compose eventually?
Hiya! So it’s never too late but I will be completely honest and say that it will be hard. You’ll have a lot of catching up to do but learning the piano would go a long way towards being able to compose as it’s the instrument a lot/most composers will sit down at to lay down the basics of what will become their piece. Start learning how other instruments work as well though, you’ll need to have a working knowledge of all the instrument groups if you’re to compose effectively.
Good luck!
I started learning the harp at 26, having basically no musical experience (aside from singing in a choir). It took me about 2 years to get enough musical experience to compose anything good, but since then I've composed quite a few pieces which I think are pretty decent. So yes, you absolutely can compose as an adult beginner.