What sort of violin should we get?
Well, you don't need a million pound Stradivarius for your beginner! But you don't want that £40 'bargain' violin either - it's probably untuneable and unplayable even for an expert, to say nothing of the sound!
At prices between £100 and £200 there are plenty of good-quality new beginner level violins, which will last your child for a year or more, depending on how fast they grow. That's £2 or £3 pounds a week - not bad compared to what you are paying for the lessons! I have listed a few options on the pages in this section but I can't attempt to cover every violin on the market. The ones I recommend are based on my personal experience with my own children and my pupils. I own quite a few small violins of different makes and sizes and am happy to let pupils see and compare them.
Second hand violins are often kindly offered to beginners by friends and relatives. Beware! Often they will need new strings and rosin and perhaps a new bow or bridge so you may be spending £50+ (and possibly a lot more) to get the instrument into playing condition. Then you might have a nice instrument, well worth the price of the renovation work...... or not! I am always happy to look at 'attic' and boot fair finds for pupils and suggest what work might be needed to make the instrument playable.
At prices between £100 and £200 there are plenty of good-quality new beginner level violins, which will last your child for a year or more, depending on how fast they grow. That's £2 or £3 pounds a week - not bad compared to what you are paying for the lessons! I have listed a few options on the pages in this section but I can't attempt to cover every violin on the market. The ones I recommend are based on my personal experience with my own children and my pupils. I own quite a few small violins of different makes and sizes and am happy to let pupils see and compare them.
Second hand violins are often kindly offered to beginners by friends and relatives. Beware! Often they will need new strings and rosin and perhaps a new bow or bridge so you may be spending £50+ (and possibly a lot more) to get the instrument into playing condition. Then you might have a nice instrument, well worth the price of the renovation work...... or not! I am always happy to look at 'attic' and boot fair finds for pupils and suggest what work might be needed to make the instrument playable.