FAQ

FAQ

(FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

WHAT INSTRUMENT DO YOU PLAY?

I play the viola. It is played in the same position as the violin or fiddle but has the same set of strings as the cello only an octave higher. In other words, small cello played like a violin.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE/ANY RECORDINGS OF YOUR PERFORMANCES?

That’s hard to say. I like a good bit of 20th century and modern classical music. My favorite composer however is Dmitri Shostakovich by far. As far as recordings go, nothing official as of yet however if you go to my Youtube channel (@patricksviola), you can find some videos of some of my recent performances and compositions.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE

I use a variety of equipment for my instrument. My case is a fairly new one by Tonarelli. My bows include a SHAR carbon fiber presto, a Meinel German make, and a French make that I don’t remember as the name has faded. My instrument itself was made in 2014 from the Amati Violin Shop in Houston, Texas along with a PlayOnAir shoulder rest. As far as strings go, I am currently using the Prelude D’addario set although other sets I recommend include Jargar, Helicore D’addario, and Pirastro Tonica.

Other questions

I AM INTERESTED IN PURCHASING SOME OF YOUR COMPOSITIONS YOU HAVE LISTED. HOW MAY I GO ABOUT DOING SO?

Glad to hear it! Feel free to email me at patricksviola@gmail.com and click on the link at the bottom of the MUSIC page and I will be more than happy to sell you my music and arrangements.

DO YOU PERFORM WEDDINGS AND PARTIES? WHAT ARE YOUR RATES?

I sure do! I have done many weddings and dinner parties in the past. My performing rates are $200 per hour/ceremony which helps to cover transport and equipment management.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

It depends. You can generally find me doing historical fencing, lightsaber fencing (yes it’s a thing and it’s a lot of fun), or just hanging out with friends.

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

I am based in Cleveland, Ohio however you can sometimes find me in Lafayette, LA or Erie, PA depending on my orchestral schedule.

WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A MUSICIAN?

Being a musician is like any other job to me. It has its ups and downs. It requires skill, talent, thick skin, and a lot of energy and that’s just the surface of it.

How did you get into composing/arranging?

I got into composing after a rehearsal of a piece I absolutely do not care for. I thought to myself, I can do better surely and started sketching out little pieces here and there. It wasn't until I graduated from high school that I started really writing worthwhile music. This is how my "Cello Trio" came to light. The story is much the same for arranging as I play a lot of bad pop music for them. I wanted to let the public know that there is a good amount of video game and movie music that is out there. I specifically chose strings thanks to my friends at City Six Strings (https://www.citysixstrings.com/) and the desire to advocate for more trio and quartet music.