Since you seem to have some experience in violins/violas, let me ask you a question. How difficult are they to learn? It is possible to self-teach with youtube videos and practice?

The learning difficulty depends on how serious you are about it honestly. I don't really think about it, but now that I look back, it took a lot of time and dedication. Of course I was a slacker for a long time so.... The basics aren't that hard to pick up, but take a lot of time to perfect. General finger placement, reading the clef, etc. You're have to learn how to pluck before you play with the bow. Heh, just don't get frustrated like I did. I went through tons of strings. As far as teaching goes most classes regarding playing the instruments I was involved in had little actual instruction on technique, so I learned from beginner books, peers, and surprise: youtube videos. Class time was mostly just dedicated to practicing a particular song. So yeah if you practice (and find decent instruction videos) you can do it. I think the one thing that you're going to miss out on is playing in a group though. There's a big difference between playing on your own, and playing in a group. You get a lot of practice in (a lot of the time unknowingly), when playing in large(er) groups as you are constantly having to adjust to fit your sound in with everyone else's.

This is very interesting. Very interesting indeed. I grew up playing the piano, so I feel confident that I'll be able to read music, its just learning how those notes transpose onto the actual finger placement on the viola. I don't have a ton of spare time, but I'm looking for a hobby. I'm wondering if I'll have the time/dedication that it takes to learn to play.

Eh, I think I'm making it out to sound harder than it actually is and just kind of saying obvious stuff. I dunno. But yeah, finger placement, and probably posture, are going to take the most time. The way I learned was to just take white-out and put dots on the fingerboard where they had to be held in first position. It's all about muscle memory. Every time I pick up my viola my fingers just fall back where those dots use to be. It's a little counter intuitive, especially when you start learning (and using) where notes are in other positions, but then it just comes down to practice.

Now you make this sound doable. When I quit playing the piano, I was pretty decent at it. I just knew where to put my fingers when I read music. I didn't have to stare at the keys and think about where they needed to go. So yeah, I get what you're trying to say about muscle memory. It just comes with time and practice.

Pretty much. If you liked playing the piano, you'll enjoy playing the viola I think.

Thanks for chatting with me. I appreciate your advice and information. =D

Heh, and when you get it down you get to lord it over everyone else that you know how to play multiple classical instruments.

I just want to be able to jam to some folk music and Dave Matthews Band songs. I want to be able to sit around and play along with my husband while he's on his guitar.

Your in luck then. There's tons of folk, fiddle, and the like for viola. I don't listen to Dave Matthews though so I can't help you there.