What sort of price range for step up violin ?

[Didiplanthis]

Dd 9 is between grade 2 and 3. Hasnt done exams but may take grade 3 this year. Progress has been steady rather than stellar ! She enjoys it and plays in a couple of ensembles with older children, but its not her main hobby. She's currently on a basic Sandner, having just upgraded from 1/4 to 1/2, was a quick cheap upgrade as part exchanged her 1/4. My understanding is this should take her through to grade 3. Thinking ahead where do we go from here instrument wise so I can keep an eye out ? I think she'll be on a 1/2 for a while so we made need to buy a better 1/2 size and bow upgrade at some point. Bit confused ! I'm a wind player - start on entry level upgrade to a decent model about grade 5, job done !

[folkmamma]

Hi Didi! Nice to see you here!! DD1 has been on her half for 3 years, and teacher still not showing any signs of letting her go onto the 3/4! We have a lovely little German 1/2, 1890's. It's a little gem. Will be selling on in the next 6 months (I hope!). It's taken her from G3/4 to G8+.

I would discuss with teacher to see when they think she needs something better, but IME a good quality instrument early on pays dividends (same with DD2's cello).

[Didiplanthis]

Hello folk ! That's really helpful. I think she'll be on a half for a while so I think I'll start keeping an eye out for a decent 1/2 size. She can always use her cheap one for places she's likely to lose/break it (dyspraxic as ever !). How is your DD2 getting on ? DS (ASD) has dropped violin but started keyboard. He still won't practice but left to his own devises gravitates towards it and sits there playing random stuff he's made up or chords to see what works and sounds nice for ages. I didnt think he could even read music until I found him writing out his composition on some paper he had found ! He is also keen to sing in a multi school choir thing in a big concert hall if he can stand behind the curtain !

[Pythonesque]

When I was after a good 3/4 for my son, I ended up with something under £400 (this was several years a go now). Most of the instruments he was drawn to were £600 plus. If you can get some advice I would hope you might find a useful instrument for your daughter's stage, whether a better half or waiting till she is ready for 3/4, around the £200 mark. I agree that an instrument they can get a good sound out of will help - but part of that is actually prioritising aiming for a good sound when practising.

Your DS sounds great, I hope his interest can continue to be nurtured. Have a look at Musescore if he likes computers (free notation software that my son has used extensively since he was young).