Violin for my daughter

[s&g'sdad]

Hi all, This may not be the right forum, but my Daughter has expressed an interest in playing the violin this year in school. Obviously this is a new venture and something we know nothing about, so I was hoping someone on B&B might have some insight as to what quality brands etc. I should look for. Any help would be appreciated.
Aaron

P.S. She was told that a 1/2 size was needed.

 

[prewt]

ear muffs over ear plugs. I have no clue but I can talk to the band director at my daughters HS if you do not get any replies.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

ear muffs over ear plugs. I have no clue but I can talk to the band director at my daughters HS if you do not get any replies.

+1

Also tell the neighbors, they might think a cat is being tortured otherwise.

I say this is as someone with absolutely no musical ability at all.

 

[buzo71]

my daughter is in the same situation... but she wants to play the viola.....

 

[Shane]

Music educator/graduate student to the rescue!

A 1/2 size is the standard size for a beginner. Some can handle 3/4 but 1/2 is great for a beginner.

As far as quality brands, rent the best instrument that the local music store can rent. You really don't want to buy your daughter a violin at this point as an okay violin can easily run between 1K-2K. Whip out the phone book to start looking for music stores in the area and basically tell them that you're new at this, but don't get sucked into frills; they are salesmen first and foremost and will sell you things you might not need.

If you have anymore questions, feel free to pm me.

 

[s&g'sdad]

Thanks Shane. After more talks w/ my wife, we definitely agreed on renting vs. buying. There are some stores nearby that rent for~$15 to $20 per month. I'm off tomorrow, so I'll be paying them a visit while the kids are in school. I appreciate the advice. I also have access to a lifetime supply of earplugs
Aaron

 

[Dennis]

I would find out where you could do lessons first and go from there. There is a music school affiliated with the college here. They have Suzuki instruction and there are always violins for sale (cheap) as the kids move through the sizes. Finding an instructor first will help steer you toward the right path to start down in renting/buying used/new, etc... Keep in mind the bow will probably be as expensive as the fiddle.

Dennis

 

[TstebinsB]

I have played the violin for 15+ years so if you any specific questions, send me a PM. I may be of assistance.

 

[s&g'sdad]

Well, we went to a local Heid Music and pulled the trigger on a house brand rental. Fifteen bucks plus maintenance and replacement fee= $28/mo.

Maybe I'll post a practice video so you can all suffer with us!

On an unrelated note, Packers 2-0.
Aaron

 

[tim8557]

On an unrelated note, Packers 2-0.
Aaron

Steelers 2-0

If you really want to see what a violin is all about, go to a Symphony Concert. The inventor must have been a brilliant person.

 

[stobes21]

In middle/early high school I did the school band route for percussion (drum practice pads and some sort of xylophone deal) and my folks rented rather than bought. I dropped that after only a year or two, and all we had to do was return the stuff. Saved my folks a lot of money that way. You're on the right track with renting to start.

I ended up playing drums anyway, but not through the school band and the equipment was completely different (except for the sticks).

 

[mhdagley]

I want to learn to play the violin just have not gotten around to it.

 

[Masterofsparks]

How about a Cello? Have one gathering dust here!

 

[Bluestaco]

I have no advice for you, but I'd like to tell you you are a COOL dad for encouraging your daughter to explore music and for trying to facilitate it. I wish every kid had that opportunity.

 

[timsackbutt]

Both my daughters play the violin. Yes renting is the way to go at least until your daughter can handle a full size instrument, and wants to go on with it. A good quality full sized instrument is essential if she's showing promise, commitment and desire. But while she's growing certainly no need to buy an instrument. Later a good violin can be a worthwhile investment, but you'll need good advice from an expert (preferably a good violinist or violin teacher).

 

[Spacegeezer]

Both my daughters play the violin. Yes renting is the way to go at least until your daughter can handle a full size instrument, and wants to go on with it. A good quality full sized instrument is essential if she's showing promise, commitment and desire. But while she's growing certainly no need to buy an instrument. Later a good violin can be a worthwhile investment, but you'll need good advice from an expert (preferably a good violinist or violin teacher).

+1

If she really takes to the instrument, you may want to get her to check in with a violin teacher once a month or so just to make sure that she isn't missing anything as a result of the school band teacher not being a string specialist (unless they are )

The other thing is that now is the time to start saving up for her first real instrument. If she makes it through for a few years, it'll be important to talk to that violin teacher about finding a good instrument, and it'll probably run you several thousand. The investment is worth it, though. My GF makes more money than I do by teaching piano, thanks to the money her parents invested in it when she was younger. With a few more certificates she could earn nearly six figures if she taught full time

 

[whodat]

I teach violin -- or did until I got too busy recently...

I heartily recommend renting for the first year or so. If you decide to buy a violin under full size, I recommend Suzuki brand student violins. I had a Nagoya as my half size I think. As long as you care for them, you can resell them later at about the same price. A violin that has seen some good use and good care is often better than a brand new one.

Depending on how tall your daughter will be when she's fully grown (or more importantly how long her arms and neck are), she may settle with a 3/4 for her final violin. Back in the day, that was normal -- there used to be a size of violin like a 7/8 that they called a "lady's full." I actually inherited a lady's full size and used it as a 3/4 until I bought a full size...

When / if she becomes concert ready and you start thinking about purchasing a "fine" violin for her for perpetuity, consider going here to choose one. It has the best selection / prices I've seen. I visited the store a few years ago and laid hands on the violin that fit me perfectly. Unfortunately I didn't buy it, figuring I could order it a few months later when I had more cash. It's gone now -- someone else is hopefully enjoying it.

Good luck -- being the parent of a beginning violinist can be challenging. Let her go with it and enjoy herself.

 

[Mr. Gillette]

Music educator/graduate student to the rescue!

A 1/2 size is the standard size for a beginner. Some can handle 3/4 but 1/2 is great for a beginner.

As far as quality brands, rent the best instrument that the local music store can rent. You really don't want to buy your daughter a violin at this point as an okay violin can easily run between 1K-2K. Whip out the phone book to start looking for music stores in the area and basically tell them that you're new at this, but don't get sucked into frills; they are salesmen first and foremost and will sell you things you might not need.

If you have anymore questions, feel free to pm me.

Recovering Music educator to chime in:

EXACTLY what Shane said. The attrition rate in beginning musical instrumental students is very high. Rental plans are structured to keep this in mind, because they're used to it. Just rent the thing, just like everyone else does.

Plus...things happen to instruments along the way-- they get dropped, the case gets stuck in the school bus door. They fall out of lockers, etc. etc. Rental instruments are usually cheerfully fixed (within reason) for these typical things. Sometimes your rent paid will apply toward a later purchase. This can be nice.

Shane speaks the truth. Rent. Kids grow. Kids 4,5,6th grades especially. If you buy a 1/2 size instrument you now are stuck with it, and she might shoot up 2,3 inches over the year...then what? You have to sell it on e-bay or to another individual, who perceives it as "used" and the value goes down rapidly.

It's possible she won't enjoy it, once she starts. After 3, 4 months, when she's bored of playing "Eeeee-AAAAAAA-EEEEEEEE-AAAAAAA-B-B-B-B-AAAAAAA" (Which is a song called "Seesaw" that you'll hear a lot of for the next school year), or when something goes amiss at the Christmas concert and somehow she plucks the string when everyone else is arco and she becomes mortally embarrassed and can't face her friends...so many things happen.

Rent it. If it works out that she's musically gifted, hard working, and is progressing wildly then you'll get the typical letter:

"Dear Sir/Madam:

Your son/daughter has been exhibiting unusual ability on the (circle one:violin/viola/cello/saxophone/sarrusophone/DbPiccolo) In order for he/she to advance further, we suggest private lessons with one of our quality instructors, and are offering a one-time opportunity to purchase a quality instrument for $____.95 plus 5.95 per week optional damage/repair waiver. Please stop by the store for a custom fitting, and accept a cake of rosin/bottle of valve oil as our gift for the privilege of serving you."


Have fun with it...and be an encouragement. Remember... it could be worse...she could have come home and said "I want to play the accordian."

 

[buzo71]

I picked my daughter's 1/2 size Viola up yesterday. $15 a month.... my question is, its WELL used.... dings,etc is that going to be a problem???... also, the Viola's cheek rest doesn't adjust, is that normal?

 

[Milton]

I picked my daughter's 1/2 size Viola up yesterday. $15 a month.... my question is, its WELL used.... dings,etc is that going to be a problem???... also, the Viola's cheek rest doesn't adjust, is that normal?

Dings don't affect the sound quality unless its a crack that goes all the way through or it has a hole punched through. As for the cheek rest (not shoulder rest), thats normal.