Is it too late to pick up the violin or viola again?

I started the violin when i was 6 years old, but i stopped playing when i was 11 or 12 years old. I'm 16 now, well 17 in a months time, and I would really like to pick up the violin again. However, I'm really sure whether to re-start the violin again, or to start the viola. The reason for my interest in the viola is because I really love the violas depth and thickness of sound. I have my doubts whether the violin can produce a warm sound as well, as I never played a full size violin, I only ever reached a 3/4 violin, but then of course I stopped. So since I've never played a full size violin, I don't really know what the sound is like. I guess I won't really know until I've played both a full size violin and a viola, but is it too late for me to play? Will my fingers be slow? Can I do anything to gradually get my fingers to pick up the pace? Have I been apart from the strings for too long?

Is it too late to pick up the violin or viola again?extension

You won't be as good as you were. You'll just have to accept that. However - it's amazing how fast you can pick it up again. You have a good background in the instrument - 6 years learning at the fastest speed (children learn faster than adults) so even though you've not played it for 4 years you will still be able to play it to a reasonable standard. Your fingers will probably be pretty slow, but they'll be able to find the right notes, even if a bit slowly.

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Is it too late to pick up the violin or viola again?

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