My first day playin Viola in an orchestra!
I'm still not quite sure whether I'm excited or scared or just plain unsure about the whole thing.
As has been mentioned previously, I'm a violin player. A violinist. But I've been having thoughts about having an affair with a viola. My 15, going on 16 year relationship with violin is at a crossroads I think, a time of change and uncertainty.
I don't think I'd give it up...but the career opportunities. There are few violists around in Melbourne and in general...so there'd be money and career op there. Violinists are everywhere.
And I can get a decent sound out of it. I'm playing on a circa 18th century 15 and 3/4 inch viola which is quite nice. I wouldn't buy it, or the other ones that I've tried...but some of my friend's violas make me melt at the knees.
The tutor who we had today for out little viola sectional (when he arrived, more on that later) plays with the Melbourne Symph, and I was talking to him, and he swapped from violin to viola for the same sort of reasons that I did, at my age. His viola is also wonderful...
I dunno, I'm sort of skirting around things here. I'm confused. One day isn't enough to make up my mind, but it's all so strange...and I'm just on the edge of being able to read alto clef fluently, which is somewhat frustrating and holding me back a little.
It's not like this is my only chance and I have to make a decision now...but I'd just like to have a better idea...I think that's what I'm trying to say. Or rather, that I should wait and not decide on the first day.
For one thing, I still have tomorrow's rehearsals and then the concert on Saturday...which will give me some more ideas and thoughts no doubt.
The orchestra I'm playing in isn't spectacular, the average age seems to be early teens...not that that's a problem at all...apart from that I feel a bit old *giggle*
It's not MYO is what I'm on about I think. The entire viola section is from MYO's feeder orchestra.
So yeah. Onto the actual day...
We started with tutes...cept the tutor didn't turn up until 15 minutes before the end...so I had to take the tute. I've had a few looks at the music. Nothing terribly serious, no long hours of practicing it. But I took the tute, they thought I was great and had done more work than the tutor during the week. Kudos to me I guess...not bad considering I usually hate taking tutes. Or, atleast, I -did- hate taking tutes. I admit I didn't mind it so much this morning. The tutors get paid too....the kiddies said that I should be getting paid aswell. Would be sweet if I did, but no biggie.
The conductor found it rather amusing that I had to take the tute, me being the one who can nearly read the clef but not quite...and who is a violinist. He too asked if I was getting paid megabucks for it...maybe I should have pressed the point home to him and some of the office admin...hehe.
But anyhow. That is how Installment One of the Viola Saga is going.
*nods*
As has been mentioned previously, I'm a violin player. A violinist. But I've been having thoughts about having an affair with a viola. My 15, going on 16 year relationship with violin is at a crossroads I think, a time of change and uncertainty.
I don't think I'd give it up...but the career opportunities. There are few violists around in Melbourne and in general...so there'd be money and career op there. Violinists are everywhere.
And I can get a decent sound out of it. I'm playing on a circa 18th century 15 and 3/4 inch viola which is quite nice. I wouldn't buy it, or the other ones that I've tried...but some of my friend's violas make me melt at the knees.
The tutor who we had today for out little viola sectional (when he arrived, more on that later) plays with the Melbourne Symph, and I was talking to him, and he swapped from violin to viola for the same sort of reasons that I did, at my age. His viola is also wonderful...
I dunno, I'm sort of skirting around things here. I'm confused. One day isn't enough to make up my mind, but it's all so strange...and I'm just on the edge of being able to read alto clef fluently, which is somewhat frustrating and holding me back a little.
It's not like this is my only chance and I have to make a decision now...but I'd just like to have a better idea...I think that's what I'm trying to say. Or rather, that I should wait and not decide on the first day.
For one thing, I still have tomorrow's rehearsals and then the concert on Saturday...which will give me some more ideas and thoughts no doubt.
The orchestra I'm playing in isn't spectacular, the average age seems to be early teens...not that that's a problem at all...apart from that I feel a bit old *giggle*
It's not MYO is what I'm on about I think. The entire viola section is from MYO's feeder orchestra.
So yeah. Onto the actual day...
We started with tutes...cept the tutor didn't turn up until 15 minutes before the end...so I had to take the tute. I've had a few looks at the music. Nothing terribly serious, no long hours of practicing it. But I took the tute, they thought I was great and had done more work than the tutor during the week. Kudos to me I guess...not bad considering I usually hate taking tutes. Or, atleast, I -did- hate taking tutes. I admit I didn't mind it so much this morning. The tutors get paid too....the kiddies said that I should be getting paid aswell. Would be sweet if I did, but no biggie.
The conductor found it rather amusing that I had to take the tute, me being the one who can nearly read the clef but not quite...and who is a violinist. He too asked if I was getting paid megabucks for it...maybe I should have pressed the point home to him and some of the office admin...hehe.
But anyhow. That is how Installment One of the Viola Saga is going.
*nods*