As someone who has just taken up the hobby of playing the violin, a visit to the violin shop for an instrument may appear like a daunting task. While you can’t waltz into such a shop and start to test professional violins, the same manner a pro or at least intermediate violinist would do, there are plenty of things you can do, even as a beginner, to make sure that you get the right instrument.
Find the right balance between price and quality
Even if you are a novice, that doesn’t mean that you should skimp on the musical instrument you’ll be using extensively for training. However, it comes with the territory that you don’t want to spend too much, either. After all, you can’t know for sure whether you genuinely discovered your life’s passion, or it’s something that you might keep only as a hobby to return to, once in a while.
Therefore, the best piece of advice would be to search online for an inexpensive instrument that also complies with quality standards. This article from sound-unsound.com will help you decide on a violin that won’t have you break the bank, and will provide you with outstanding quality, at the same time.
Are student violins a good option?
There is no straightforward answer to this question. As a novice, you don’t want to spend a lot of cash, and the kits addressed to student seem like a good deal since they come with everything you need to start playing. However, you can’t easily overlook the fact that these violins are made from cheap wood and they can be frustrating to use.
These violins are made by machine so there can be no attention to detail involved. Also, they have some plastic parts that don’t make them very durable. However, you should bear in mind the fact that student violin kits can vary significantly in price and quality, and you may find one that works for you and offers excellent performance for the cost. You can also get handmade violins that are intended for beginners, such as those from www.stradviolin.com, that are much higher quality than their factory-made counterparts.
Get the right violin size
When you watch violinists playing their instruments, you might not notice, but the models they play have the right size for them. Your arm length and hand size play a role in what size your violin should be, but you might find that instrument sizes can vary from one manufacturer to another.
Why is it essential to get the right violin size? As a beginner, you need to develop as a player. If you force yourself to play using an instrument that doesn’t fit, your practice will suffer. Also, playing the violin should be a pleasure, not an impossibly difficult task.
What accessories should you have in mind?
When talking about accessories, the first thing that comes to mind is the bow. Without it, you can’t play the violin. Also, its quality matters and the bow you’re using should be equally firm and flexible. As you apply pressure to the strings with the bow, you’ll produce sounds, and you want to be in proper control of how that happens.
In case you don’t know what to choose, an idea would be to ask your violin teacher for advice. There are also plenty of comparison charts online you can consult. Now, let’s see what other accessories you should get, as a novice.
The next on the list is rosin. This is the substance that keeps the bow hair in proper working order. To make sure that the bow hair slides smoothly over the string, it must be treated with rosin once in a while.
You might also get a chin rest, but this is not a necessity. It would help you, however, to keep a comfortable position while playing so you can consider it.
Additionally, it’s important when you’re starting out to make sure that you get easy sheet music. While it might be tempting to just look for sheet music for your favorite songs, while you’re just beginning to learn, it’s important to your new experience that the music that you’re playing isn’t too difficult, or you might get frustrated with yourself or the instrument, despite doing everything else correctly.
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