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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
