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Beginner's Violin
Tam
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
My sister is starting violin lessons in middle school. I'm looking to buy the cheapest violin possible with an acceptable sound for an absolute beginner. However, she's undoubtedly going to break something on it at some point, so I really want something with easily replaceable parts.
Online stores that offer fast shipping would be icing on the cake.
Please and thanks, H/A.
Online stores that offer fast shipping would be icing on the cake.
Please and thanks, H/A.
Tam on
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This is so very true.
As for breaking things- I never knew anything to break in my five years playing cello, and I knew alot of violin players at the time. All you can do is over tighten strings so far they snap. This is way harder to do on a classical instrument than a guitar, and if she has an electronic tuner it won't happen.
They aren't cheap instruments. Maybe talk to your parents or something about you getting the violin and them getting a hard case. That's the surest way to prevent breakage - carrying it to and from school is a bumpy experience.
No, I mean I don't want the violin to be absolute shit on top of shit skills. I want her to have a violin that won't hold her back as she improves, but won't break the bank.
So no suggestions on somewhere to get them online? I looked around Amazon, but I have no idea what those are like.
Seriously.
Go into a local shop, preferably with your sister, tell them she's beginning violin and ask them about instruments.
As was already mentioned above, any playable instrument isn't going to be cheap, so you may also ask them about rental policies - I rented the first two years I played 'cello, since a decent 'cello is equivalent to a decent car in terms of pricing.
With regards to breaking things, strings are the most likely thing, and they're relatively cheap to replace. Assuming she practices regularly, she'll wear out strings about once a year anyway. I occasionally knew someone to snap a bridge which is a little more expensive to replace, but again fairly cheap compared to the instrument as a whole.
Finally, a private teacher is invaluable for a beginning string player. A local music shop should be able to recommend a list of teachers in the area as well.
As has been said, don't buy the instrument online. Even among violins of the same model, there can be a huge variation in quality. Find a private teacher, and if possible have him/her be present when you pick out the violin at a music store. I used to play in middle and high school, and try out for regional and all- state orchestras, and my violin was about 2k.
For a beginner, I would probably also advise renting one until your sister is absolutely sure that violin is something she wants to continue. The attrition rate for beginning string players is fairly high.
GT: Tanky the Tank
Black: 1377 6749 7425
a million times this
If she makes it past the hump, I paid around $500 for my violin from a local luthier here; it certainly isn't a Stradivarius but it'll last me for years (especially if I keep skipping out on lessons because I've got no time :?).
I believe when I got my first saxophone my mom did a rent to own type thing from one of the local music/instrument stores. Something like $50 or $100/month for a year or two on an entry level sax if I remember right... that was a LONG time ago now.
With a teacher, you get sounding decent pretty quickly. She's not going to be amazing but she'll be able to get a sound and play notes and such rather fast, so having a really crappy instrument will start to hold her back in about 6 months.
My wife bought her violin on eBay, from a chinese company. Not all chinese companies are equivalent, of course. She bought hers from Yita Music, and their auctions usually go for around $200-$250 for a nice violin.
Now, ANY new violin you get you will want to take to a luthier to have it set up, because it's simply just what you do. that'll cost anywhere from $20-$100 depending on how much work they have to do to get it good (but they will get it good, and the instrument will be better for it by far).
My wife's instrument has been praised by everyone she's shown it too, not because it's omg amazing but because it was $200 and is far, far better than a "starter" violin (which typically start at $450-$500). We shopped locally before she bought on eBay and everything in her price range was utter shit. The violins didn't even get "passable" until she was up over $600, so she figured "If it takes me $200 to fix this violin, it's still a deal compared to anything locally, even renting."
if she ever gets to the level that maybe she could benefit from having a superior violin, then get her one, but in the meantime, there's nothing wrong with getting her a cheapy one
especially if she's anything like me and is like "i'm going to learn the violin today!" then ends up playing video games instead.
violin hero! my favorite game!
I'm actually doing this now. She gave up piano after a year or so, but my parents had forced that on her, so we'll see. If she's still playing after a year and really wants to keep going, I'll buy her one.
I'm sad to see that online isn't a good place to buy, but glad that I at least know that now. I'll save this thread. Thanks a heap, guys.
edit: goddamn, double posted
fumbling fumbs