play the viola

I played violin in elementry and some of middle school and switched to viola for parts of both and played through High School. I was part of the local youth String Orchestra. Then many moons later I bought me this poor (and cheap ass, as I couldnt afford this beautiful Electric String Viola + equip) and i got the bad boy tuned with brand new strings and bridge… getting it all set up… left it turned over night and the freaking bridge split right down the middle. Ever since… have not touched it… HERE I go… 2009 tax returns will be to buy a couple bridges..

Any suggestion on getting this little cheap critter playable that wont put me through 10 sets of strings and 100 bridges???

I played the viola from elementary school to college, but I need to pick it up more often. I’m hoping to get some fiddle music from a friend and transpose it.

I love playing the viola! I’ve been playing 6 years now and am starting my second season with a large youth orchestra in the fall.

Has anyone else noticed how many freakin miserable a-holes play the violin? Here’s my favorite violinist joke: What does the violinist use for birth control? His personality! I’ve played the violin for many years, actually studied in school and got a degree in music, studied with a Famous Violinist (who was truly brilliant and not a miserable a-hole at all…but his teaching ASSistant was!), then I got out of classical playing because I can’t stand the negativity among violinists in orchestras. Instead, I became a touring and recording musician and played with some really cool bands over the years. Recently I decided to join the community orchestra and POW! there it was again, that fetid vioilinist arrogance. What a bunch of scowling uber-nerds. That’s mostly the violinists though, not all the other folks in the orchestra. I actually see a lot of them smiling…gosh, maybe they’re even having fun! I remembered back to the couple of years I studied the viola, and decided to speak to Eugene, the serene old hippy who heads the viola section in the orchestra. He was really excited to hear that I want to pick up the old viola again, and even offered to help me try out instruments if I need advice. Encouraging and positive. This is the New Year, 5766, and my resolution is to go on out and rent a viola and get the hell away from the violin section ASAP.