Five of my Favorite Viola Accessories

Through the years, I’ve tried so many viola accessories trying to find what works best for my instrument and my playing style. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites to share with you today. If you’re still looking for a good combination of viola accessories, look no further!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Most of the links in today’s posts are affiliate links. By clicking on these links, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting my free content!

In the video, I’m wearing my favorite shirt from Alto Clef Gifts! It’s such a great small shop for violists (or anyone who reads C clef). Use my code ELIZABETHKNAUB to receive 10% off your order!

1. Rosin

I’ve never been a big rosin person–I used the same rosin from middle school to halfway through college! 😱

My boyfriend, on the other hand, is a bassist and seems to have a different rosin for every situation. He persuaded me to try something new in 2018.

So after some digging on Shar, I decided on Motrya Gold Rosin for Violin, Viola, and Cello. I’m not an expert rosin reviewer, but others have described it as a light rosin that provides the sound of a dark rosin. If that means anything to you… you’re welcome. 😊

I would describe it as giving my viola a “round” sound, and it works nicely on both my viola and violin bows interchangeably. If I touch the rosin cake, I get dust on my fingers, and they feel a bit sticky.

Purchase on Southwest Strings or Amazon.

2. Shoulder Rest

I’ve tried SO many shoulder rests through the years. Here’s an overview of my journey:

The ones that didn’t work

I started with a Kun shoulder rest, since they’re basically just the standard. I like how light the Kun shoulder rest is, but it always slides off my viola. It would always fall off during a quiet moment in an orchestra rehearsal creating a loud boom!, and everyone would look at me like my whole viola broke. Super embarrassing.

I’ve also tried the BonMusica shoulder rest. I love the customization options, but just couldn’t quite get it to fit the proportions and angles my body needs. There was also a lot of bare metal, which I was worried would scratch my viola.

I’ve also experimented with the Poly Pad, a large sponge that comes in different sizes for violins and violas. This was a very comfortable option when I lost some weight and needed something larger. The downside was that it deadened the sound of my viola, and I had to stick non-slip carpet grip between the sponge and the viola so it would stay in place.

…and my favorite!

In high school, I bought the Everest shoulder rest at my teacher’s recommendation. It’s a bit heavier than a Kun shoulder rest, but much sturdier, and the rubber feet are much more protective and have never scratched my instrument.

I’ve come back to the Everest over and over again, and this time around, I’ve been using it for the past three years. I’ve made some modifications to it: I rubber band-ed some foam on the side that touches my shoulder, because I was leaning my face against my instrument too much. Then, because the foam I used was green, I sewed black fabric over it to help it blend in with the rest of the shoulder rest.

Everest shoulder rests are also great options for kids, because they come in a lot of fun colors!

Purchase the Everest shoulder rest on Southwest Strings, Shar, or Amazon.

3. Instrument Stand

I love having stands for all of my instruments so I can keep them out and play whenever I want to! I talked about how helpful this can be in my How to Stay Motivated post.

I’ve been using the Ingles Violin/Viola Stand since I started playing the violin, and I’ve never had any complaints! I know Peak Music Stands also makes something similar.

Purchase the Ingles Stand on Southwest Strings, Shar, or Amazon.

4. Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Cleaning off your instrument, no matter what instrument you play, is so important! My microfiber cleaning cloth is one of the most important viola accessories I use, because it keeps my viola in great playing condition.

Over time, built-up rosin wears down the varnish of your instrument, and can create costly damage. I’ve made it a habit to wipe down my instrument and bow at the end of every day to keep everything about as clean as I can.

Pre-covid, I would wipe down my instrument and bow every time I packed it up after a lesson or rehearsal. This really kept up on the rosin build up!

I got the microfiber cloth I use at a car show with my dad for a dollar. Any microfiber cloth will do the trick!

5. Earplugs

Protecting your hearing is SO IMPORTANT as a musician, and I wish it’s something I’d started thinking about sooner. Once you lose any bit of hearing, you’ll never gain it back again, and so much of what we do is auditory!

Wearing earplugs is a great habit to build, even if you start by just wearing them during your individual practice. I’ve tried EarDial earplugs and Minuendo earplugs.

I recommended the EarDial earplugs in my 2020 Holiday Gift Guide simply because they were the only ones I’d tried at the time.

Now, I’m using the Minuendo earplugs, but I have a complicated relationship with them. I love how they work, and I love all of the tips and cleaning gear they come with.

However, the right earplug came apart inside the case after just a month of use! I emailed support, and they sent me a new pair. Then after about two months, the left earplug split open while it was just sitting in my practice room! Thankfully I still had the left earplug from the first set, so I’m using one new one and one old one.

I don’t know if I can really recommend these earplugs after my experience with them, but I do love how they work–there’s a dial on each earplug to control the sound deadening depending on your environment. They also fit in my ears really well, since there were so many different tips to choose from.

---

Those are a few viola accessories I use almost every time I play. What accessories do you love to use with your instrument? Leave a comment down below!