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Education

Violin lessons in Year 3 - do we really need to get a half-size violin?

38 replies

Tinker · 01/10/2004 17:14

My little 7.5 year old went into today very excited about her first violin lesson. She took my old violin - full size naturally. She has come all despondent because music teacher has said she will have to get a half size one which means shelling out ££50 for an instrument she may not take to.

I used that violin in the Juniors, as did my brother. Are the school being mean?

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roisin · 01/10/2004 17:19

I used a 3/4 size violin in top juniors. I would have thought a small 7 yr-old would really struggle with a full size violin.

Talk to your local music shop, the will probably do a hire scheme, or may sell second hand instruments.

Tinker · 01/10/2004 17:21

She's a big 7 year old . The £50 price is through a scheme - or hire them from school for £60 per year. This is on top of £60 per year for the lessons

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musica · 01/10/2004 17:50

I would have thought she ought to be playing on a half or 3/4 size really - I think it could put her off playing on a full size one, and that would be a shame. You would always be able to sell it on once she's grown out of it - there will be other people starting the violin at the school.

tamum · 01/10/2004 18:17

I agree, I'm afraid. My ds started on a quarter size at nearly 7, and has just in the last few weeks moved up to a three quarter size (he's now nearly 10). When he started they measured him quite carefully to ensure he was playing with the right size. It seems like it would be a bit of a stretch for your dd to play a full-size, although I can see your point if you managed

We bought the first one second hand from a specialist shop for £95, and have part-exchanged each time for only about £20-30 extra. If she does take to it that might be worth considering. Hope she likes it in the end!

Ameriscot2004 · 01/10/2004 18:18

My son did violin when he was 8/9 and he had a quarter-size.

Tinker · 01/10/2004 18:20

NONE of you giving me the right answer here

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Yorkiegirl · 01/10/2004 18:21

Message withdrawn

tamum · 01/10/2004 18:21

She'll be fine (that better? ) How about a cello under her chin?

Yorkiegirl · 01/10/2004 18:22

Message withdrawn

Tinker · 01/10/2004 18:22

Out of interest, do all schools now charge for music lessons now?

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Yorkiegirl · 01/10/2004 18:25

Message withdrawn

tamum · 01/10/2004 18:27

Ours don't charge, but we're in Scotland. Ds has lessons privately in fact.

roisin · 01/10/2004 18:38

At our school they can learn the guitar in a small group in a lunchtime lesson for free, (but they need their own instrument). But there are not spaces for everyone who wants to do it.

Brass lessons cost £3.50 per half hour session (weekly in term time obviously), plus cost of hiring instrument or whatever.

JanH · 01/10/2004 19:24

Tinker, we have a 3/4 size one you are welcome to BUT apparently it's cracked...DD1 used it, and we then lent it, and were told it was cracked after it came back

It might do for her to start on anyway?

JanH · 01/10/2004 19:36

It's quite old btw and comes in a slightly strange wooden case.

Yorkiegirl · 01/10/2004 20:16

Message withdrawn

JanH · 01/10/2004 20:55

Would you believe I don't actually know, yg? DD1 went on to a full-size so we never used it again - think it might be down the back.

I will dig it out and have a look!

Tinker · 02/10/2004 17:49

JanH - thanks for the offer, if it's still playable I'm interested. But looks like I need to get a 1/2 size in the meantime

tamum - did you really mean a 1/4 size? Wouldn't that be just like a little ukelele?

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Yorkiegirl · 02/10/2004 17:54

Message withdrawn

JanH · 02/10/2004 17:55

Tinker, I was going to say there are 1/8 ones too and look what I found here!!! 1/32 and 1/64!!!! (Can't imagine what you would do with one of those though...)

Tinker · 02/10/2004 17:55

Cute YG

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Tinker · 02/10/2004 17:57

For dolls surely

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JanH · 02/10/2004 17:59

Picture

JanH · 02/10/2004 18:00

They're not actually that different, are they? 1/2 size isn't really.

tamum · 02/10/2004 18:03

'Twas true, honest! I did think back and wonder if I had got it right, but he's definitely on his third violin with this 3/4 size, and they seem to have been going up in regular sizes. I guess Suzuki method starts at about age 2 or 3 so they would need teeny-weeny size like Jan's links

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