Thursday, January 2, 2014

Some Suggestions In Choosing A Student Violin

By Harriett Crosby


An excited learner or an equally supportive parent can prompt a child or a family member to learn the rigors of playing violin. The key to enjoy and become successful in playing this instrument is picking the right student violin. Here are some suggestions that you need to consider when purchasing your first musical instrument whether as a stand-alone or a complete package:

Since the prices of violins can greatly vary, budgetary requirement is oftentimes the basic consideration of the family in getting the instrument. There are cost-effective gadgets manufactured from China with accompanying case and boy already while are there also pricey outfits manufactured from Europe. If the family cannot afford buying the instrument right away, they can also opt for rental programs existing in some shops with a part of the rent going to the eventual purchase once completed.

This musical piece can cost from a cheap $50 only to a massive $5,000 which of course comes with better quality than the cheaper ones. Make sure that the wood is correctly dried to verify the quality of the instrument. Check also if the finish is smooth and unblemished, the purfling is inlaid, and the insides of the peg box are varnished.

A good quality violin requires bridge, peg, sound post, and strings that need to be fitted correctly to produce the correct sound. Most of the time, low cost instruments have not been properly fitted, produce a poor sound, and are hard to play. The opposite holds true for violins that comes from specialist which have rosewood pegs or ebony and are taken utmost care by the suppliers.

It is also imperative to check the quality of the violin's strings and bows to ensure that the sound produced are of finest quality. Check whether the strings are made of nylon or gut core as this type of material will greatly enhance the sound of the instrument. Examine also if the bow has smooth hair ribbon and straight stick which could be made of fiberglass, pernambuco, or brazil wood.

There is plethora of sizes for this instrument so it is very necessary to check with the player's arms to determine the correct size needed. Violins with full size are expressed in 4/4 fraction and the number gets smaller as the actual instrument size becomes smaller as well. There are also sizes that are listed based on the child's age group which is a good reference point.

Still, it is best to make the player stretch his or her arm sideward with palms up and measure from the neck to the center of the wrist to get the correct violin size needed. Let the child hold the instrument below the chin and let the left hand curl completely around the scroll. If the child feels comfortable already then the size is right but it the arm is bent, get a bigger size.

Finally, protect the instrument with a strong case that will not shake or rattle the instrument once placed inside. Once you have picked the right student violin, take good care of the instrument and if something breaks up, have it repaired right away. Enjoy playing the instrument.




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