Learning a Second Instrument: Viola da Gamba
During the summer when I was feeling stuck, it occurred to me that picking up a second instrument might provide a creative outlet and complementary musical lens that could benefit my work with the harp. I decided to look into the bass viola da gamba. As luck would have it, there is a robust chapter of the Viola da Gamba Society of America in Oregon (Cascadia Viols), which made connecting with an instructor and getting an instrument extremely straightforward.
In four short months of playing the gamba, I’m beginning to see the following benefits:
1.Increased comfort with the bass clef- I’ve always felt more comfortable with the treble clef, so learning a bass instrument is helping equalize my comfort with both clefs.
2. A focus on playing with others- the viola da gamba was largely intended for group playing and the beginning instructional material I’m using includes duets. Playing with others falls outside of my comfort zone, but I now have a structured way to practice playing with someone else in lessons. More importantly, I’m being forced into a growth opportunity that I’ve avoided in other contexts (e.g., electively attending a harp group).
3. Learning to tune by ear- this is a skill I’d like to have but I just haven’t prioritized it up to this point. My gamba lessons begin with tuning by ear, so I hope to begin making gradual progress.
4. A workout for the left hand- the left hand does the fancy fret work in gamba, which will strengthen and increase the independence of the fingers. My right hand is my dominant hand and also does more of the complex work in harp.
5. Exposure to different music- I am excited to explore the viola da gamba repertoire and opportunities to arrange gamba music for harp.
6. An emphasis on sight reading- only having to look at one clef while playing the gamba makes sight reading practice easier and I find that I’m more willing to work on it as a result. The beginning instructional material that I’m using is geared towards improving confidence with sight reading from early on, and I am hopeful that this will benefit the harp as well.
As I continue to progress on the viola da gamba, I look forward to broadening my perspective and discovering additional benefits.