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Extra-curricular activities

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Violin advice

40 replies

PinotAndPlaydough · 30/09/2018 16:11

My 7 year old is going to be starting violin lessons soon. Has anyone got any advice on what type of violin to buy, I’m guessing it’s not really something you can scrimp on but we are on a budget. One one off eBay be a terrible idea?

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Her0utdoors · 01/10/2018 12:39

Rent or buy from a specialist shop, they will be able to advise on the right size too. A properly setup violin will be much easier to play. Peter Hall Violins in Beverly gets good reviews on here if you're any where close, they also do mail order. Good quality entry level brands are Stentor and Primavera.

se22mother · 01/10/2018 12:59

I agree with Taggie dd was on an 1/8th at 7-8 years old. Far better to hire the first visit lin - quality and set up will be better

PinotAndPlaydough · 01/10/2018 13:41

I’ve spoken tommy local music shop, they don’t hire violins but have said that they would set one up for £50 and new strings would be an extra £10. Does that sound about right?

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PinotAndPlaydough · 01/10/2018 13:43

rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F253895218423

I’m looking at this one as it’s a good price for the make but will obviously need to get a bow and pay for it to be set up. I’ve asked them to also take some more pictures.

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TaggieOHara · 01/10/2018 14:50

I would get the violin shop to have a look before you part with £30. I have never seen a string with two adjusters on it before.

catkind · 01/10/2018 15:39

Take a look at somewhere like Caswells hire scheme - think they do it by post. Particularly if you're getting a 1/4 for a 7 yr old, you may want to upgrade sooner rather than later. But if not you can offset hire cost against purchase price.

My 6 yr old is on a 1/2, she's a bit tall but would be average for 7 I'd think.

We've used cheap bows from eBay or Amazon, they're fine. We usually find even when we buy a small instrument with a bow the bow hair is worn out and they're cheaper to replace than rehair.

Also, does your young teacher have her own teacher supporting her in this? Teaching violin to beginners is hard. Assuming she does have a teacher on board, perhaps that teacher might have pupils moving up in size, or at least have some violins herself so she can try out to find the best size for you. Perhaps you could see if you could arrange a one off session with teacher's teacher.

Alternatively could you ask your local shop to try some for size? I don't think it would be cheeky if you're going to give them business setting up.

But I think once you've paid 30 for violin, plus setup, plus strings, plus bow, plus any extra repairs needed - something like Caswells with hire and purchase option on cheapest range stentor would look attractive financially.

Also look into cost of group lessons and instrument hire via school and local music service. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Sorry, rambling thoughts there...!

PinotAndPlaydough · 01/10/2018 19:26

Thank you catkind, I’ve got in touch with Caswells and they do indeed send out violins to all over the country and the hire is only £8 a month! Bloody bargain, far less stress, if she absolutely hates it I can send it back without feeling like I’ve wasted money and if she wants to continue you have the option of buying it after 8 months.

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catkind · 02/10/2018 01:17

Ah brilliant, so pleased that works for you. Hope she has great fun with it!

PomPomBears2 · 06/10/2018 20:36

I started on1/4 size at age 7! Then went up to half, 3/4 then full. I didn't get a 'nice' one til I got my full size!! To be honest, until about grade 3 or grade 4, the Violin is horrible and squeaky! no matter how good or expensive!!! I'd eBay it and when your DC starts getting good, then investigate and look for a nice one!!! Until then, get some ear muffs!!! And a cheap one! Smile

HerestoyouMrsRobinson · 06/10/2018 21:05

Well none of my 35 new Violin students this year sound squeaky. Maybe it was you?

claraschu · 07/10/2018 09:21

HerestoyouMrsRobinson at what age to your students tend to need a 1/2 size?

catkind · 07/10/2018 09:59

Wouldn't recommend ebaying a hired violin, you'll have more problems than few squeaks Grin
Sorry MrsRobinson, think you may be a bit inured to it - beginner violins use open E strings which are squeaky with the best will in the world, and worse on a cheap instrument. Good teaching helps but even so most will occasionally slip too close to the bridge with the bow too.

A well set up quality factory instrument (like Stentor) is exactly what DD's teacher recommends. It's a compromise between not wasting money at a stage where there playing won't be brilliant and giving enough back to keep them going. Has enough ring to it that child can hear when they're doing it right.

HerestoyouMrsRobinson · 07/10/2018 13:52

Yeah I guess I tune it out to some degree!

Most of my Y3s this year have 1/2 size, about a third of them have 1/4. They seem a particularly tall bunch though with long arms.

FinallyATea · 15/10/2018 22:35

You're probably right mrsrobinson! :) Its over 30 or 35 years since I first held a violin! Smile

Batshitmeansbatshit · 20/10/2018 18:58

So our music teacher said not to worry about splashing out for a “good” violin until they need full size as the smaller one all sound a bit “ropey”.
He teaches at school though and does provide instruments. They tend to be stentnor and a bit battered but fine for early days.
DD has been playing on a stentnor we got for £30 out of Barnados (less battered), she gets a great sound out of it. The shop was fab and said it was fine to bring it back if her teacher didn’t think it wasn’t any good. Stroke of luck. It has got DD to grade 3 ( Over 2 years we have had the bridge fixed, And bought a new bow ) and we are now looking to invest in a full size to go through the grades with.

That is when you make a big investment. Having said that it has been apparent for sometime that DD loves to play, so she has a bit money stashed in a “violin fund” that includes money where family have wanted to buy her something special, and she has chosen to put it towards her full size violin when she is big enough

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