Any Violinist, Violist, Cellist here?

[twinkletoesfaery]

I'm seriously studying neither but I play the violin and cello sometimes when I'm not good friends with my piano.

[abell88]

I play the violin, but not very well -- and not very often I got to play viola at music camp a few years ago and that was really fun. Oh, and one time I got to be concertmaster (first and I'm sure only time in my life). It was at music camp and there was a small orchestra. There were only about three violins, so two clarinetists joined the violin section. We were playing this really simple Haydn movement, and my stand partner was this 11-year old boy who was quite brilliant at the violin. So, during rehearsals, he was the concertmaster...but there was one spot where he always came in two bars early after a rest...because it sounded like the right place for the theme to enter. (The theme did enter then, but the flutes or someone had it). I, on the other hand, although a much poorer player, know how to count, so the conductor made me concertmaster for our performance. It was fun...although I felt like a fraud in that chair...

[danyal]

I wouldn't exactly say I play  the violin... more like I drag the cat out from under the bed every now and then. There's a very good reason I'm a pianist and not a violinist. My friend told me I insult music when I play the violin, doesn't sound too promising does it?? HAHAHAHAHA

[musicsdarkangel]

I play the violin.


I was actually much better at violin than piano, but decided to go with piano for enjoyment.

[violinist]

I play the violin, but not very well -- and not very often I got to play viola at music camp a few years ago and that was really fun. Oh, and one time I got to be concertmaster (first and I'm sure only time in my life). It was at music camp and there was a small orchestra. There were only about three violins, so two clarinetists joined the violin section. We were playing this really simple Haydn movement, and my stand partner was this 11-year old boy who was quite brilliant at the violin. So, during rehearsals, he was the concertmaster...but there was one spot where he always came in two bars early after a rest...because it sounded like the right place for the theme to enter. (The theme did enter then, but the flutes or someone had it). I, on the other hand, although a much poorer player, know how to count, so the conductor made me concertmaster for our performance. It was fun...although I felt like a fraud in that chair...

I enjoyed that story.  Sometimes I felt like that 11 year old boy you described... maybe it was me?  I sometimes got pushed into the concermaster seat and everyone around me was much much older.  Sometimes it's a relief not to sit there.  And it feels out of place if you're 11 and everyone else was older.

[violinist]

I play the violin.


I was actually much better at violin than piano, but decided to go with piano for enjoyment.

Following in your footsteps.

[twinkletoesfaery]

I'm the other way around. I'm better on the piano and cello but I play violin for enjoyment.  Perhaps I'll try teaching myself one day.

[squinchy]

I play viola, but probably not well enough to call myself a violist. It really stinks sometimes because all the good viola players have a foundation in violin, so playing the viola to them is simply learning to handle the bow differently and a different clef; they progress so much faster and it makes me jealous. A couple of violinists who study with my teacher (a violist/former violinist) switched to viola some months after I picked up the instrument, and now they're playing Hindemith while I'm tripping over Handel.

I think piano is my intellectual instrument and viola is my social instrument.

[twinkletoesfaery]

@Squinchy - 'Social Instrument'?  The piano is just easier to play for me than violin and cello.  I never tried playing Viola and yes I have a friend who played the violin and changed to viola and compared to those who started the viola straight away, they're better.  I don't see why though.

[Jacey1973]

Any cellists? My ambition in life is to marry a cellist, lol.