Student violin recommendations

[Veruca Salt]

I want to take up the violin and after looking through many different options I figured I'd get a feel for what others have to say. I'm not adverse to saving up and spending more for a violin that will last me forever (as I just want to learn to play for pleasure, not professionally).

So please DU violinists, give me you recommendations, opinions and (potential) horror stories.

[Duer 157099]

1. I can't recommend violence for anybody, especially students

Oh violins? Never mind.

[hayu_lol]

2. First step might be to google...

"choosing a student violin"...several pages of links. Will make you aware of most of the pitfalls and will help you select an instrument that is right for you.

1. What is your intended use of the instrument(personal pleasure, section player in small ensembles, etc).

2. From the links, learn the names of the critical parts of the instrument(fingerboard, bridge, parts of the bows, case choice, history of the violin(public libraries usually have a good selection for beginners). At the bottom price range, the bow is almost as important as the instrument itself and the choice of strings.

3. Depending on how serious you are, the initial cost factor. What is good and what is junk is part of the process.

4. Your home city is large enough to have a selection of luthiers(violin makers/repairs/sometimes sales). A good luthier is your friend since stringed instruments require care and maintenance over time.

5. There are plenty of good stringed instruments out there that are not expensive but are better than a young students starter model.

There are many instruments out there that are pure junk--you don't want one of those.

If you have questions, pm me.

(retired hornist, symphony/opera. Son, now 30, is a pro-hornist, pro-violist and violinist, keyboards, bass guitar and presently is conductor of our local symphony)

Biggest question is what uses you see for the instrument.

[Veruca Salt]

15. Thank you for the list!

I will definitely pay close attention to 2 and study up while I save up for it.

I assume that even though I don't play at the moment, actually testing them will also be a good idea when I go to make my final decision.

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. I've heard Stradivarius makes a darn good fiddle. n/t

[hayu_lol]

4. If the name Strad shows up inside the violin...

leave immediately. The real ones are kept in vaults.

The Chinese are making some pretty good violins now and they are reasonable for any budget...but you need help in the selection.

[jmowreader]

6. Not all of them are...

Some of the really top-shelf concert violinists play Stradivari.

[hayu_lol]

8. jmowreader...I didn't mean to imply that the Strads and other...

top instruments are kept in vaults all the time. Top performers use them on a regular basis but the instruments are generally locked up when not being played.

With top quality instruments mostly owned by an investor group who have contracts with the performers for a fixed period of years(while the instrument continues to gain value)there are clauses in that contract defining safety rules. Instruments are different from choice diamonds in that they must be played or suffer damage from just sitting.

Some of these instruments are virtually priceless--they cannot be replaced.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Yeah, but they're all old, and used

I like that "new violin" smell.

[MiddleFingerMom]

5. Some inspiration for your budding violinist:

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Roy Clark -- Orange Blossom Special
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xunOH7haPK4
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Willie and Lobo -- Donde Vayo
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwm09ncXAHM&feature=related
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Sam Taylor & Heather Hardy (w/Mr. Boogie-Woogie)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tftrL4UMnoA&feature=related
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Chris Botti & Lucia Micarelli "Emmanuel"
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8NN4fpdm40&feature=related
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[bluesbassman]

9. One more...

PAPA JOHN CREACH - FILTHY FUNKY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU45PGVaGXU

[hayu_lol]

10. The Strads have an interesting story...

they were all sold initially to anyone that wanted one--beginners or professionals. Some years after that, one man, something like a peddler, went from town to town seeking these violins. Some he found in homes, some in barns, some in antique shops and a few other notable places. He spent years traveling looking for these 'special' instruments. When he found one, he bought it fairly cheaply and stored it in a sack he carried over his shoulder. The surviving instruments eventually reached Paris and were put back into circulation.

There is one Strad that had never been played...had never had a bridge or strings fitted to it. Special name(I forget that)for a special instrument. It had been stored for literally centuries in a glass case. A few years ago, a top performer did play the violin for the first time.

Age is not much of a criteria when looking for a stringed instrument. There are many poor instruments that are old...age has not improved them.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

11. the Cannon Guarneri was played by Paganini

It is in a glass case in Genoa, Italy


Talk to a good violin maker for some advice.

[MilesColtrane]

12. Before you buy anything,...

find a teacher.

You might contact one of the violinists with the local symphony and ask for a recommendation.

http://www.portlandsymphony.org/content/about/musicians/

Or, call your local American Federation of Musicans office and see if they can help you.

It's possible to learn on your own, but you'll be setting yourself up for bad habits that will make learning how to get a sound much more difficult.

Even if you drop the lessons later on, the first ones are crucial.

If you can, find a string shop that will rent a student model outfit to you.

There are some decent student violins coming out of China, but there's a lot of glossy crap too. Beware.

[Veruca Salt]

16. Very good point

I wouldn't have been able to play the flute half as well as I did without the girl who gave me my initial education.

I was going to go the learn it myself route but recalling my flute teacher and her invaluable lessons I will make sure to do so.

[struggle4progress]

13. When shopping, slam the doors and kick the tires. Makes it look like you know what you're doing.

[LynneSin]

14. Some instrument places might rent Violins out.

I know the music stores near me have student rentals. If you aren't 100% sure this whole violin thing then rent for a few months while you figure out this is what you want to do.

[Veruca Salt]

17. I may just do that

but I do know that the violin will be the instrument for me. I can't play flute anymore as I don't have the lung capacity for it after smoking for too many years. The violin has always called to me though it's been the price as the stopping point which is now no longer an issue.

[applegrove]

18. I had a roomate who taugh piano and violin. In fact there was a run on violin lessons by 35 year old

men (which is a story in and of itself but we won't get into that here). I cannot tell you how many times I heard the song "Mary had a little lamb" played. Seriously my sister just bought an expensive violin for my niece who is pretty good. I don't know what they paid but my sister said that if you buy a really good violin second had you can sell it for a great price when you are finished with it. Proving once again that if you have money it is easy to save money.