beginners violin?
Discussion
So, my 7 year old wants to learn violin at school. I've just had a note home saying that lessons start next week, please obtain a 1/8th size violin.
I have no idea what to look for (I'm not musical at all) so I'm after some help here (and hear
)
A quick look on the web shows lots of options, some branded, some unbranded. I know there are a couple of music shops in the area and I guess I'll have to get out and look around on Saturday.
What should I be looking for?
Any brands to home in on or avoid?
Hire? Buy?
ebay has someone 3 miles away selling a Stentor?
thanks for any advice.
I have no idea what to look for (I'm not musical at all) so I'm after some help here (and hear
)A quick look on the web shows lots of options, some branded, some unbranded. I know there are a couple of music shops in the area and I guess I'll have to get out and look around on Saturday.
What should I be looking for?
Any brands to home in on or avoid?
Hire? Buy?
ebay has someone 3 miles away selling a Stentor?
thanks for any advice.
TooLateForAName said:
Next door have had builders in for the last couple of weeks and will continue for another two weeks. Power tools/breakers etc, etc starting at 7:30. The room adjacent to their bedroom is already earmarked as the practice room....
I like your style. Sorry I can't be more use on makes. If you have a good music store near you they are usually quite helpful with what is needed. Most will have a stash of second hand ones, where you will be taking yours back to next year.Go to www.jhs.co.uk, the John Hornby Skewes website. They import/manufacture/supply just about every musican instrument you can think of, and have a very nice range of student violins. Click on 'Products' then 'Violin Family.'
With most intruments for beginners, the thing is not to spend a fortune on it. After a couple of months they may hate it.
I would buy something cheap and nasty and see how they get on. At 7 years old I doubt they would be able to tell the difference between a good and bad violin. If they do like it you can always buy something nicer a bit later.
I would buy something cheap and nasty and see how they get on. At 7 years old I doubt they would be able to tell the difference between a good and bad violin. If they do like it you can always buy something nicer a bit later.
Many years ago I decided that I wanted to add cajun & bluegrass fiddle to my bag and spent some time learning to play the thing properly, got a cheap and cheerful Lark violin which has a surprisingly good tone and feel especially at the price.
Got to the point where I could make it sound like a cat being cut up with a chainsaw
so stayed with guitar and bass and brought a steel player in instead.
Got to the point where I could make it sound like a cat being cut up with a chainsaw
so stayed with guitar and bass and brought a steel player in instead.Hi,
My wife is a violinist & violin teacher.
Second hand is fine - Stentor or Primavera are reasonable makes. £30 or so upwards for second hand or £60+ new. Avoid Antoni or shiny crap from Argos! Really awful cheap stuff will make it impossible for your child to learn anything from it!
If you do buy from a music shop check they will trade in later if they either give up or need to go up to a 1/4 size. They should be able to make good recommendations. Where are you based?
Any decent music shop will set it up for you (if not, the teacher should do it in the lesson). Make sure it comes with rosin (waxy stuff that goes on the bow), otherwise it is a pound or so.
Once set up, don't touch the pegs - let the teacher tune it as it's easy to break strings. You'll need a shoulder pad too but that can be as simple as a sponge and an elastic band!
Also teach your child that it's not a toy and needs to be treated with care
Most importantly, it's important to encourage them to play every day as that's how they'll see the improvements. Most people who give up do so because they become frustrated through slow/lack of progress - if they play every day they'll improve much more quickly. 10-15mins every day is much better than just playing at the weekend for an hour for example. Don't leave it up to them to practise either - a 7 year old will need to be encouraged. Even if you think it's a racket don't let them know! We all had to start somewhere! Depressingly, I teach a few kids whose parents won't let them take their instrument home or practise because they don't like the noise
What hope do they have of getting better?
Good luck!
My wife is a violinist & violin teacher.
Second hand is fine - Stentor or Primavera are reasonable makes. £30 or so upwards for second hand or £60+ new. Avoid Antoni or shiny crap from Argos! Really awful cheap stuff will make it impossible for your child to learn anything from it!
If you do buy from a music shop check they will trade in later if they either give up or need to go up to a 1/4 size. They should be able to make good recommendations. Where are you based?
Any decent music shop will set it up for you (if not, the teacher should do it in the lesson). Make sure it comes with rosin (waxy stuff that goes on the bow), otherwise it is a pound or so.
Once set up, don't touch the pegs - let the teacher tune it as it's easy to break strings. You'll need a shoulder pad too but that can be as simple as a sponge and an elastic band!
Also teach your child that it's not a toy and needs to be treated with care
Most importantly, it's important to encourage them to play every day as that's how they'll see the improvements. Most people who give up do so because they become frustrated through slow/lack of progress - if they play every day they'll improve much more quickly. 10-15mins every day is much better than just playing at the weekend for an hour for example. Don't leave it up to them to practise either - a 7 year old will need to be encouraged. Even if you think it's a racket don't let them know! We all had to start somewhere! Depressingly, I teach a few kids whose parents won't let them take their instrument home or practise because they don't like the noise
What hope do they have of getting better?Good luck!
Thanks NCOT,
Thats exactly the sort of info I'm after. I'm watching a couple of Stentors on fleabay at the moment. We will be doing the practice everyday and offering encouragement. I'm terrible at anything musical although my wife can 'play' the recorder and guitar (so can at least read music).
We're in North Yorkshire, the nearest instrument shop that I can think of is in York which is about 45 min drive away (I know there are places selling drum kits/electric guitars etc but I'm wary of them for violins).
Thanks again.
Thats exactly the sort of info I'm after. I'm watching a couple of Stentors on fleabay at the moment. We will be doing the practice everyday and offering encouragement. I'm terrible at anything musical although my wife can 'play' the recorder and guitar (so can at least read music).
We're in North Yorkshire, the nearest instrument shop that I can think of is in York which is about 45 min drive away (I know there are places selling drum kits/electric guitars etc but I'm wary of them for violins).
Thanks again.
Not much help as it was years ago but when I was young I commented that a violinist on the tv was "very good" (probably more interested in seeing an electric violin...), a friend of the family overheard and bought me a violin.
Because of this I was encouraged to play it, I couldn't a didn't want to. I did most of my practice Pizzacato(sp? it's been a while
) because I couldn't use the bow for love nor money and would have much rather been learning guitar, however guitar wasn't deemed as "proper" and I wasn't allowed one. I gave up and sold the Violin many years later).
So one thing I would recommed you make sure of is that your little'un really does want to play the violin rather than anything else...?
Because of this I was encouraged to play it, I couldn't a didn't want to. I did most of my practice Pizzacato(sp? it's been a while
) because I couldn't use the bow for love nor money and would have much rather been learning guitar, however guitar wasn't deemed as "proper" and I wasn't allowed one. I gave up and sold the Violin many years later).So one thing I would recommed you make sure of is that your little'un really does want to play the violin rather than anything else...?
GT Kodiak said:
Not much help as it was years ago but when I was young I commented that a violinist on the tv was "very good" (probably more interested in seeing an electric violin...), a friend of the family overheard and bought me a violin.
Because of this I was encouraged to play it, I couldn't a didn't want to. I did most of my practice Pizzacato(sp? it's been a while) because I couldn't use the bow for love nor money and would have much rather been learning guitar, however guitar wasn't deemed as "proper" and I wasn't allowed one. I gave up and sold the Violin many years later).
So one thing I would recommed you make sure of is that your little'un really does want to play the violin rather than anything else...?
Don't forget that they are all transferrable skills - learn to play an instrument and many of the skills and techniques are easily applied to another instrument. Music has to be fun - but at the same time you can't give up at the first sign of adversity. It's a fine balance really - the best way IMHO is to make sure you're doing good quality practice, rather than just playing stuff through. That way, you put in some hard work, but you see good results at the end of it. It gives you a buzz and is a bloody good lesson for life: you get out what you put in.Because of this I was encouraged to play it, I couldn't a didn't want to. I did most of my practice Pizzacato(sp? it's been a while
) because I couldn't use the bow for love nor money and would have much rather been learning guitar, however guitar wasn't deemed as "proper" and I wasn't allowed one. I gave up and sold the Violin many years later).So one thing I would recommed you make sure of is that your little'un really does want to play the violin rather than anything else...?
Everybody should learn a musical instrument, there's a lot more to be gained than the obvious!
Quite agree, too many people want it all on a plate these days but you can't get round the fact that anything worth having needs a lot of hard work putting in. Learning an instrument is one of these but it's true, learn one and you can transfer the acquired skills to another relatively easily.
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