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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

3/4 violin

14 replies

Thistly · 25/09/2017 22:52

Hi, has anybody got opinions about makes of violin? I would love to pick your brains.
My daughter is approx grade 4 and starting to work towards grade 5 this year. Her teacher is recommending a 3/4 size for her, and I just wondered if any more experienced parents had ideas about if stentor is still good at this level, or if other makes are recommended?

Any ideas or experience much appreciated
Thanks

OP posts:
cingolimama · 26/09/2017 09:04

OP, do you have a specialist string shop (not a general music store) near you? They will be able to assist you and make suggestions according to your budget. Take you DD with you and she can try out a few perhaps.

If that's not possible, can I also suggest you look at Cardiff Violins www.cardiffviolins.co.uk/? I'm a long way from Cardiff, but this shop was highly recommended to me and was assured they could talk through my needs and budget and send a violin or two in the post on approval. We got my DD's beautiful 3/4 violin from Cardiff. They even suggested the Assisted Purchase Scheme and sorted the paperwork, which saved us VAT.

hertsandessex · 26/09/2017 11:03

Stentor was fine for my daughter for grade 5/6 but the good one - I think Conservatoire. Ideally something better but didn't want to spend a lot more until full size which we did as soon as she was big enough.

Thistly · 26/09/2017 12:19

Hi cingo,
No, we don't have a specialist music shop nearby. De do have a music shop, who do hire purchase, but mostly stentor.
I was thinking of buying second hand to be honest.

That's helpful about the stentors, herts, I am not keen on the basic models.
Bit of a minefield going second hand, but I will ask teacher as well for advice.

I will check out the Cardiff website to see about prices.....

Thanks

OP posts:
hertsandessex · 26/09/2017 12:39

I think we had this one - bought new for maybe 250 and then sold for 150 on Ebay once we bought a good full-size one (with an extra zero:))

www.chamberlainmusic.com/productdetail.asp?productid=STN1550C&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9afOBRDWARIsAJW4nvxoUO7-e2XBTbkEPc_cst323Q6bkepHMZUThS9E5Jk2L_tEY-_Z4twaAjQrEALw_wcB

Schwanengesang · 26/09/2017 22:54

There are lots of really good factory made violins these days that are far far better than the Stentors I was playing 30 years ago. Stentor may have got better too, of course.

Affordable makes worth considering include Roth from Bubenruth in Germany; Ling Hua Zhen - Ling Hua workshop in Shanghai; Scott Cao factory in California; various Bulgarian & Romanian makers. 30 years ago all these would have been considered either very inferior or very unreliable, so everyone went for reliable (if really crap) Stentor & similar. Now there is a lot to choose from that is a lot better but in a similar price range.

Paulweller11 · 26/09/2017 23:11

Westbury antiqued violin - my dd had one when she did gr2-4, nice violins and was setup very nicely by a luthier. Cost about £800 with setup, new strings etc (it was new)
I personally would stay away from stentors- but it's probably personal preference.

Thistly · 27/09/2017 22:55

Hi, really interesting recommendations, thanks.
I looked on gear4music, and found a rothbury antiqued, without setup, is a bit more than stentor conservatoire, and Roth do 2 v. Similar looking violins but antiqued is £80 more...
Any advantage to antiqued? The spec is similar apart from different strings (and do look nicer!)

OP posts:
Paulweller11 · 27/09/2017 23:27

Just to say - she would have kept the westbury, but it was a 1/2 size and she needed a 3/4.

cingolimama · 28/09/2017 09:11

OP, what is your budget?

Also, please please whatever violin you eventually go for, get it properly set up. By a violin shop. This makes a massive difference.

Thistly · 28/09/2017 20:45

Cingo,
That's interesting advice, I will see if I can find a recommendation for a setup locally.
Having looked at the prices of new ones I think I will have to go 2nd hand, total budget £200... Doyou think £150 for violin and £50 for set up is reasonable?

She has only used her 1/2 size for a year, and I really don't know how long she needs this size for, as she has very small hand genes.

I want her to have something good, as she is working hard and enjoying it at the moment, and of course a good instrument will encourage that.

OP posts:
cingolimama · 28/09/2017 21:36

I'll be honest with you, OP. I think you should, if at all possible, push the budget up slightly to at least £250-£300. At Grade 4/5, you have to learn a lot of new techniques, and £150 (unless you're very very lucky and get something second hand from another student) is only going to get you something cheap, that sounds like it.

Two bits of advice: I know I've said this before but please do contact specialist string shops. I mentioned Cardiff (who are terrific), but there are others (e.g. Woodbridge) around the country. Call them for advice. I find them usually incredibly helpful - after all, they have a vested interest in supporting the next generation of musicians (and customers). The instruments that a specialist shop sells will be properly set up, and there will be no need to pay extra on top.

Also, while it's of course best to actually go to a shop with your DD, that isn't always necessary. I bought my DD's fantastic 3/4 violin after having several conversations on the phone and via email. The violin was couriered on an "approval" basis, arrived in pristine condition and the whole process couldn't have been easier. And when it comes time (soon, I think) to move up to a full-size violin, I can trade her current violin in.

Two ways to possibly reduce costs: do ask about second hand instruments. All decent string shops offer generous trade-in policies as students progress to bigger and better instruments, and these instruments (which have had a once over in their workshop to make sure everything is tip top) can offer good value - about 25% off or possibly more. So do ask if there's anything used.

The other thing is the Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme, which you might be eligible for (if your DD goes to a state school and either 1) learns her instrument or 2) plays in an orchestra within the local music service. AIPS basically saves you the VAT of 20%.

Anyway, I hope the above isn't too much. I've been there, that's all.

GU24Mum · 28/09/2017 21:46

I read the title of this thread and though "must give a mention to Cardiff Violins" and am pleased to see others have beaten me to it!

Thistly · 28/09/2017 21:52

Hi Cingo,
That is really helpful.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
I have a couple of people to ask about 2nd hand violins, so will approach them as first port of call.
And if they have nothing suitable, I will try and scrape together a bit more money.
What you say about trading up is useful, as I am torn between getting her something really good, as she may never grow into full size, or viewing it as a temporary measure until she is full size. If she can trade in with a dealer, it makes getting a better quality instrument now an investment as it will contribute to value of 4/4.

Thanks again.

OP posts:
Schwanengesang · 29/09/2017 00:39

Plenty of good leads on here already. But perhaps worth checking the Thomann website for Roth, Gewa etc. I can't vouch for quality of any of them really but Roths do sound nice. Thomann own brand stuff is often very high quality though I don't know about their violins. But as cingo said proper setup is essential so you need to find someone who will do that reliably and (relatively) locally.

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