Viola

12 09, 2024

How to Practice 16th Note Passages in 4/4

2025-01-03T14:50:28-08:00September 12th, 2024|Viola, Violin, Violin and Viola Basics|0 Comments

How to Fast Passages on the Violin and Viola I have been a violin and viola teacher for nearly 25 years and in that time I have come up with a solution for students that struggle to play fast passages - rhythms. Working passages in rhythms is the ultimate in 'gutter technique' but it really works. I still [...]

10 09, 2024

How to Relax your Jaw while Playing the Violin and Viola

2025-01-03T14:50:20-08:00September 10th, 2024|Viola, Violin, Violin and Viola Basics|3 Comments

Jaw Relaxation Exercises for the Violin and Viola For years, I struggled with pain and discomfort in my temporomandibular joint, to the point that I could not open my mouth wide enough to eat a sandwich or hamburger, eat toffee or chew gum - simply because it caused too much discomfort. It finally got to the point where [...]

6 09, 2024

How to Tune the Viola

2025-01-03T14:50:14-08:00September 6th, 2024|Viola, Violin and Viola Basics|10 Comments

How to Tune your Viola using the Tuner Lite app by Piascore If your instrument is like mine, then all it takes is a change in temperature or humidity, a peg slip or peg bump and the sound or pitch of each string can be affected. Professionals tune their ‘A or La’ string first to a tuner and then [...]

8 08, 2024

Viola Sizing Chart – What Size Viola do I need?

2025-01-03T14:49:05-08:00August 8th, 2024|Viola, Violin and Viola Basics|0 Comments

Viola Sizing Chart - What Size Viola do I need? Viola sizing is much different than violin sizing. When choosing a violin size you want to find the 'right fit'; rather than go for a size that is too large, you should always go for the smaller size. Choosing a viola is different. The viola should fit slightly bigger. [...]

31 07, 2024

How to Clean and Disinfect your Violin or Viola

2025-01-03T14:48:48-08:00July 31st, 2024|Instrument Care, Viola, Violin, Violin and Viola Basics|0 Comments

How to Disinfect your Violin or Viola I wrote this blog post during the COVID-19 pandemic and at the time was starting to prepare for a return to face-to-face group lessons in Vancouver. One thing that came to mind was how I was going to safely tune the instruments that the students could not tune themselves - certainly a [...]

31 07, 2024

How to set up for your Online Violin and Viola Lessons

2025-01-03T14:49:17-08:00July 31st, 2024|Online Music Lessons, Viola, Violin, Violin and Viola Basics|0 Comments

How to set up for your Online Violin and Viola Lessons Here are a few things to consider before starting your online violin or viola lessons: Software Make sure that your computer or smartphone software is up-to-date prior to the lesson and that anti-virus protection has been installed and is also up-to-date. Internet Speed Check your internet speed at [...]

5 09, 2023

How to Hold the Viola Bow

2023-09-30T17:24:59-07:00September 5th, 2023|Bow Hold, Viola, Violin and Viola Basics|1 Comment

How to Hold the Viola Bow When starting to learn the violin or viola, the hardest part for students is often learning how to hold the bow. The Franco-Belgian Hold, the hold that I teach, is one of the most common holds in contemporary learning and performance and used by great violinists such as Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Isaac [...]

2 09, 2023

Parts of the Viola Bow

2023-09-30T17:24:39-07:00September 2nd, 2023|Viola, Violin and Viola Basics|0 Comments

Parts of the Viola Bow When learning the violin or viola, it’s important to be able to identify the parts of your instrument and bow - especially because your teacher is going to say these terms a lot. Here’s a quick summary of the different parts of the viola bow with their descriptions and materials. Viola [...]

29 08, 2023

Parts of the Viola

2023-09-30T17:23:52-07:00August 29th, 2023|Viola, Violin and Viola Basics|0 Comments

Parts of the Viola When learning the violin or viola, it’s important to be able to identify the parts of your viola and bow - especially because your teacher is going to say these terms a lot. Here’s a quick summary of the different parts, their descriptions, materials and general functions. Viola Parts - Descriptions, [...]