Buying A Violin For Beginners
Learning to play the violin can be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. As with learning any new skill, playing the violin well requires dedication and practice but can lead to tons of benefits. To learn to play effectively, though, you need the right instrument.
buying a violin for beginners
The body of a violin is usually made of two types of wood. Although sometimes beginner violins are made of plastic or other synthetic materials, often the best instruments are made of wood. While a wooden violin can still be a beginner instrument, it will be more durable and last for a long time. Plastic violins, on the other hand, are not as durable. The wood should be varnished and leave the grain with a smooth, clean texture. The varnish should also be relatively thin, so as not to mute the sound or resonance created from the vibration of the wood.
The bow of a violin serves to create the music. Drawing the bow across the strings causes them to vibrate and thus create resonance and sound in the violin body. Bows sometimes come with a violin, especially beginner violins, but they can also be purchased separately, so they do not necessarily come together. The bow should be in relatively good shape, and without cracks.
This high-quality instrument is handmade and has an elegant shape. The varnish on this violin is thin and allows for clear, resonate sound and a warm tone. Beginner violinists love this instrument because it gives them a good grasp of what a high-quality violin is like, so when the time comes, they are ready to grow into a more professional instrument. Students also love this violin because it has a comfortable chin rest.
Aside from developing artistic expression through music, learning how to play the violin also has many physical benefits for both adults and children alike. It works on fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination as well as strengthens wrist muscles through bowing techniques which helps with overall dexterity. Additionally, playing string instruments like the violin has been linked with improved academic performance in children as well as increased concentration levels among adults who practice regularly!
However, knowing how to choose a violin can help you, and it will help the student make progress. For the first few years, learning to play the violin is tough. Students need all of the encouragement they can get from their instrument. If it sounds good and has good playability, students will be more likely to stay the course and develop a truly wonderful skill that will benefit them all of their lives. These practical tips can help you learn how to choose a violin, and ensure that the selection you make is well-matched to your student.
This factor is probably the most important when learning how to choose a violin. Violin construction was perfected about 300 years ago, and the violins made today are crafted in the same way. Since hand-crafted instruments are very costly, precision manufacturing has emerged as an effective way to make intermediate and beginner violins. Violins are crafted from specific tonewoods, such as Spruce and Maple, and a good indicator of quality is the depth of carving on the scroll. A deep carving typically indicates superior craftsmanship. Also look at the joining areas around the body, they should fit tightly. The violin itself should feature symmetrical alignment, i.e. the neck and endpin should line up.
Speak with violinists (teachers) in your area and the experts at your local violin shop, one that conducts instrument repairs. These craftsmen, called luthiers, are happy to share their expertise about particular instruments and brands. Rather than speaking from a sales standpoint, luthiers and teachers have an abiding love of the instrument and like true enthusiasts, will want to impart their wisdom to beginners.
The set up process greatly effects the playability and tonal quality of your beginner violin. Although poor quality materials can hardly be negated by a great set up, when it is executed correctly, the right set up can make all the difference in your sound. A few areas to consider include:
I recently decided to pick up a new hobby. I wanted something that would challenge me and exercise my brain. I also needed this hobby to not take up a lot of space in my relatively small New York apartment. After some consideration, I decided to learn to play the violin.
Learning the violin ticked all the boxes I was aiming for. Plus I had previous experience with learning an instrument (I played first-seat clarinet in high school), so I already had some basic music skills. Half inspired by the book The Art of Is, by improvisational violinist Stephen Nachmanovitch, and half inspired by my favorite violin-playing fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, I set about my task.
When it comes to actually getting a violin, you have two main options: buying or renting. The price of a good-quality entry-level violin from a reputable dealer can range from $180 to $300 (at the time of writing), and this includes the case and bow. Most rental agreements start at around $35 a month, including taxes and shipping. Prices can go up from there, depending on any upgrades you choose.
Instrument shops make it easy to get accidental damage protection. Many dealers offer insurance on the instrument that covers normal wear and tear, as well as unexpected damage. Without insurance, replacing a collapsed bridge could cost around $70; fixing a crack in the violin body might cost $250 or more, if the instrument needs to be taken apart (prices depend on where you live and the extent of the repair).
You can often rent to own. Many rental agreements will allow you to put a portion of your payments (the first three or six months of rental fees, for example) toward the price of the violin, if you decide to buy it.
If you do decide to keep playing after six months, then it might be time to consider purchasing. Although renting can save you money in the short term, you could end up spending more than the price of a decent violin if you elect to rent for a while.
The violin is one of the most intricate and versatile instruments out there - with a sound full of character and emotion, that's playable in almost every genre of music, and delicately played with a bow. It is a difficult instrument to master and perform, however, that doesn't prevent it from being a fun and rewarding instrument to play. If you're motivated to learn more about playing the violin, it's important that you start with an entry-level instrument first so you're not breaking the bank right off the bat. In this article, we've put together a list of the leading cheap violins for beginners in 2022. We're sharing our best tips, tricks, and guidelines that'll help you narrow down your selection for a new violin.
The SKYVN201 by Sky is a beautiful violin, perfect for beginners, available in three colors oil varnished in excellent purfling, and most importantly, sounds like a dream. It is available in six sizes: Measure the length from neck to palm and pick a size accordingly. The complete set includes, but is not limited to, a high-quality rosin, shoulder rest, steel strings, brazilwood bow, triangular violin case, and a rubber practice mute.
With a pure tone and clear, pleasing sound, this violin by Aliyes is easy for beginners features the perfect varnish, and comes with a lifetime warranty. It features a hand-carved solid spruce top, ebony fingerboard, pegs and chin rest, and an alloy tailpiece with four integrated tuners.
This Lagrima Beginner Violin is made up of a spruce wood panel, featuring a maple backboard and side plate, inlaid in antique varnish. The maple wood neck, date wood chin rest and tail nail, pearwood fingerboard, aluminum alloy strain plate, and integrated tuners are everything you need in a sturdy violin.
When you buy any musical instrument, it should always come properly set up. This means that a luthier should properly set up your violin before you buy it; the bridge of your violin should be assembled, the strings must be able to sustain the correct tension, pegs should be correctly installed, etc.
An exception here might be hypoallergenic clamps for holding a chinrest. Usually, this is something you would not buy with your first violin but after some time of using the standard metal clamps and only if needed.
Your teacher or any other violin professional or at the very least someone with experience in buying instruments should be able to give you valuable advice or even better, be there to shop with you and guide you.
You might not be sure about your choice (or your child about their choice) to start playing the violin and you want to test the waters. Instead of purchasing outright, this might be a good alternative to see if you do like playing the violin.
Renting a violin is a perfect option when your child needs a violin size of 1/2 or smaller. Children grow quickly and their body is constantly changing, so buying an instrument each time a different size is needed might be very expensive.
This way you get the advantage of looking at the violin and playing it before you buy it, which is always preferable to buying blind. Moreover, you can compare different instruments within your budget and get advice from the staff or the luthier themselves. Also, you may go to such a place with your teacher and get his/her opinion before the purchase.
The quality of a violin within a certain price range differs significantly between countries and continents. In Europe, especially Eastern, you can find quality handmade instruments for less than 1000 Euro. In general, you can find many violin shops across Europe in which you can buy an antique instrument for a reasonable price.
Yet another option is to find a second-hand violin via an online exchange platform. When you find an interesting offer, the best approach is to meet with the seller and check out the instrument in person before purchasing.
A second-hand violin from a music student is also a good option. You will get a quality instrument for a much lower price than a new one. Bonus: probably the seller will add a bow, a violin case, maybe also rosin. 041b061a72