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Exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument

Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2019.

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Other Authors: Rhoodie, Hester Sophia
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2020
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Rhoodie, Hester Sophia
author_browse Rhoodie, Hester Sophia
author_facet Rhoodie, Hester Sophia
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2020 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2019.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
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license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2020
publishDateRange 2020
publishDateSort 2020
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/76767 Exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument Rhoodie, Hester Sophia u14007828@tuks.co.za Porter, Aimée Sonia UCTD viola violin adaptation technique second instrument alto clef Music theses SDG-04 SDG-04: Quality education Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2019. Three areas of adaptation, namely physical, technical and cognitive, have to be considered if a successful transition from the violin to the viola is to be achieved. This qualitative study followed an interpretative phenomenological design. Data was collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with six participants from Pretoria, South Africa, all of whom had taken up the viola after becoming proficient in playing the violin. The aim of the study was to explore the physical, technical and cognitive adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as a second instrument. Findings derived from the analysed data were divided into five superordinate themes. The first superordinate theme, "Physical differences between the violin and the viola as instruments", revealed that, because the sizing of the viola is not standardised, the chosen size should be synchronised with the physique of the violist. The size and weight of the viola in the transition process were also regarded as representing a significant adaptation. The second superordinate theme pertains to left-hand technique as affected by the physical differences between the instruments. Although there is a similarity between violin and viola techniques, subtle technical differences distinguish them. Topics occurring in this section were elements of fingering, the longer viola fingerboard, shifting, and vibrato. The following superordinate theme, “Right-hand technique as affected by the physical differences between the instruments”, revealed the challenging adaptation involved in acquiring the correct bowing technique for the viola. This section further investigated issues relating to bow hold, the concept of transmitting natural weight rather than artificial pressure into the bow, and the resistance by the viola strings. It was suggested that, once a viola-specific bowing technique had been learned, violin bowing technique would be improved. Injuries and pain caused by the transition to the viola represented the fourth superordinate theme, particularly emphasising the issue of set-up, which, in the case of choosing an appropriate viola, should be customised according to the unique physique of the player. The fifth and final superordinate theme, "Methods for mastering the alto clef", showed that transitioning violists apply methods both requiring note-reading and not doing so. The findings indicated that methods which do not require the active reading of notes on the stave are not as effective as those in which the performer learns to identify note names and pitches. The study concluded that an understanding of the physical, technical and cognitive adaptations required for a successful transition process, should be cultivated by the transitioning violist. ae2025 Music MMus Unrestricted SDG-04: Quality education 2020-11-04T15:09:49Z 2020-11-04T15:09:49Z 20/04/15 2019 Dissertation Porter, AS 2019, Exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument, MMus Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/76767> A2020 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/76767 en © 2020 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
viola
violin
adaptation
technique
second instrument
alto clef
Music theses SDG-04
SDG-04: Quality education
Exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument
title Exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument
title_full Exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument
title_fullStr Exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument
title_short Exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument
title_sort exploring the adaptations made by violinists studying the viola as second instrument
topic UCTD
viola
violin
adaptation
technique
second instrument
alto clef
Music theses SDG-04
SDG-04: Quality education
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/76767