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.