Calling all viola (*sigh*... or violin) players!?

Question

Hi! I play viola.
I put my strong emotions into my music, but it often doesn't show.
My teacher and my parents say that I hold back a little...

We're also looking into getting my sound post adjusting to voice my sound more, because that should help a lot. If it doesn't, I may try a new instrument.

What do YOU do to put more emotion into your music, or to show the emotions in your music more when you're playing?

Thanks,
Chloe :)

Answer 1

Okay, I understand your question better than anybody else who has answered it so.. I think I can be of some help, I'm a violist too and I've experienced this same feeling, almost as if the music is just a recession of notes.

First of all, you have to have confidence in yourself (that sound cheesy but, if you think to yourself that you can play it, it really does reflect in your actions while you ARE playing it).

Another thing is that with a viola you are not meant to be as light-hearted as if you had a violin... you have to dig in to the strings more, not just glide over them, that will help you get a bigger sound. On top of this, buy a good rosin, I recommend Vivaldi (for all stringed instruments) by Andrea Bang, or the one specified for violas (you can buy either symphonic or solo, depending on your own preferences).

The last way I can think to help you with is to tell you focus less on how much emotion you think you exert to the audience and focus more on the sounds you are making with your instrument to yourself. If you play in tune, use full bowstrokes, and pace yourself, (go at the speed that best fits you) the emotion will automatically show to your audience from your confidence and your sound because what you think is what you do. What you need to think is "I'm going to play this to the best of my ability, and its going to be great!'

Don't give up on the viola just yet, its the most wonderful instrument in an orchestra! I hope this helped you and contact me if I can help anymore, if I did at all.

Answer 2

Play the pieces according to the phrase and not the tempo or in the beat.
What I mean is, instead of keeping within the beat, eliminate the metronome and play each phrase as if you were saying I love you to a lover, crooning to a baby, explaining to a small favorite child a special secret, and let your own timing flow from there.
Sometimes when I play my uhm, clarinet, (I'm still learning the violin, give me some time!) I play music written in 6/8 but I will hold out notes for longer, slow it down to emphasize a phrase - in other words play it my own way instead of in tempo as written.
Think of the movie "The Bodyguard" where the character played by Whitney Houston goes to a bar and hears "I Will Always Love You" played by a cheesy country music bar band.(The bar band rendition was lame!) When She sang it a capella, she put her own phrasing into it, held out words and notes longer here, shorter there and phrased it so the melody was timed to her emphasizing her point of the message. It's all in your timing, like the timing of a good story or joke. Ditch the metronome and play the piece like you were telling a really good story, and you will hear the difference.

Answer 3

I've been in orchestras ever since I was young so I know a bit about this. It's just friendly battering, just making fun of the other instruments. Violas make jokes to us violins but for some reason the cellists never get picked on.

Answer 4

I play the flute, but expression is much the same. It's all about phrasing. I assume you know what that is. :-)

Also, feel free to play notes longer or shorter as you feel neccessary. It's a lot like singing. When you're happy, you might hold the notes out longer, etc.

Try to feel the composers feelings/the era when the song was written. And then, just go for it. Play as long or as short as you want. Let yourself get lost in the music.

Answer 5

If you've solved the technical problems of intonation, articulation and bowing, then breath and listen: try to shape the phrases so that they speak.

Answer 6

i think about something sad, or a tragedy that happened in my life