What's the difference between a viola and an onion?

What assumptions do people make about you?

People often assume things about violists. It’s the assumptions that violists are just bad violinists, that it’s the worst instrument that exists, and that alto clef is ridiculously unnecessary that causes the viola to be the subject of many jokes within orchestras. The common orchestra musician, also known as viola “haters”, are the people that enjoy spouting viola jokes and overall harassing the middle member of the string family. But, no worries, it’s all in good fun. Everyone needs an outlet and someone to pick on. I know that most people don’t really mean it. And I don’t really mean it when I pretend to get angry. But for the people who do actually believe that you can keep your violin from getting stolen by putting it in a viola case, let me explain why I chose this as my instrument.

The first instrument I played was actually the violin. I know, I know, violists are just bad violinists blah blah blah, but hear me out. Yes, I originally intended to play the violin. Yes, I decided to try the viola because my middle school was lacking in that section. But no, it wasn’t because I was a bad violinist. I sat third chair, only behind the two kids who took private lessons. I tried out the viola because of necessity but I chose to play the viola permanently because I loved it. The first time I picked up a viola, I noticed the very obvious differences it has from the violin. The only thing most people know about it is that it’s bigger than a violin. When I held it up to my chin, I liked the way my arm was stretched out and that I had room to separate my fingers on the fingerboard. The violin had always felt scrunched to me. But the sound was what I loved the most. The first time I dragged the bow across the string, the dark rich sound was something I had never been able to create on the violin. I loved the color and the fullness. It sounded powerful like great royalty and smooth like the backdrop of the night sky. It felt like with this instrument I could make people notice the mystery and presence that I could not normally emit as a scrawny twelve-year-old girl. It fit.

One of the first things I noticed when I joined the viola section is the incredible loyalty everyone displays. There is extreme loyalty to their instruments. Maybe it’s the centuries of being ridiculed and persecuted. We could probably start preaching that we’re the chosen people. I’ve noticed that violists seem to be the ones that are most dedicated to the group and come to the most rehearsals. Overall, they’re much underappreciated.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. If the viola is still not you favorite, that’s fine. We are all entitled to our own opinions. That’s what makes us individuals. If everyone had the same taste, life would be boring. There would be no reason for creative people, like musicians, and violinists and violists alike would have nowhere to play their music. I would hate to ruin the fun, so I’ll let everyone keep making jokes, and I will still pretend to get angry. But I think that the only assumption you should make about a violist is their loyalty instrument and their music. No matter how many jokes, there’s nothing that will make me change my mind. 

Perfect Moment

Do you wish you could return to a moment from the past?

Many people want to return to a moment in the past to change it. They’re embarrassed of something they did or they wish they had made better choices. I don’t think I’d want to go back to a bad moment. I try not to let regret eat me up and I believe strongly in learning from your mistakes. No, I’d want to go back to a good moment – a happy moment. I’d want to relive a moment that was perfect. That feeling is something I would like to carry with me for the rest of my life.

Lately my life has had a lot of emphasis on starting the college process. In the past few months I’ve had to do a lot of self-reflection. Many aspects of my life have changed as I grow up and in general as I prepare on moving on to a different part of my life I’ve had to prioritize. Out of all of the things that I do, I’ve had to choose the things that are the most important to me.

One year ago today, was the opening night of The Sound of Music at Uni. I was a nervous wreck before the start of the show. This was my first major role ever and I had no idea if I could handle it. I felt like if I messed up I would ruin the show for everyone. I sought comfort in one of my fellow actors. He held me by the shoulders, looked me in the eyes and said to me “You are going to do great. You are so talented and you’ve practiced. You know this. So just have fun.” And that was all it took. The show went amazingly. In the curtain call, Maria is the last to bow. That was one of the proudest moments of my life. I was so proud to see all of the people I had worked with for months waiting for me and being happy for my accomplishment. I was so proud to be able to create something so beautiful. I was proud that I had made all of those people in the audience feel something, enough to make them clap for all of us. I was proud that my family could see that I was doing what I loved. I felt empowered because it seemed that the person that doubted me the most was myself and I had proved that it was possible to do something great.

This feeling is something that I wish I could re-live every time I have self-doubt. You learn quickly that not everything you do is going to be good and that you can’t win every time. That day taught me that I have so many people in my life that want to help me as much as I want to help them. I really don’t know what I’m doing with my life and I might decide to keep making music or maybe I’ll choose a different path. But I do know that the thing that is the most important to me is to be proud of what I do.