By Mitch Rice
Whether you’re brand new to music classes or want to entirely commit to your music career by acquiring a private violin, the journey to finding the right instrument may rapidly become confusing. Music teachers can be pretty helpful in advising you on violin makers, vendors, and the rates you can anticipate spending for a variety of beginner violins once it comes to selecting the right violin for you. Unfortunately, if you’ve not met your violin tutor yet but want to purchase a violin for your first session, getting started might be tricky. This post will provide you with helpful hints to get you on the right track.
- Size
Assuming you currently play the violin, you’ll undoubtedly be familiar with the measurements; if you’re a student, ask your teacher for assistance. It’s important to note whatever measurement is appropriate for you to feel confident playing on it. The proper measurement will differ depending on your height and arm length. The length of the back (LOB) is the most popular measurement; full-size violins have a length of back ranging from 10 to 12 mm. A typical Strad model is 356 mm in length. As a result, size varies by model; ensure you select a model that is the right size for you.
- Necessary accessories
A high-quality violin is accompanied by high-quality accessories to aid the musician. For playing comfort, each prospective violinist will need to be equipped with the proper chinrest and shoulder rest. You should also consider a nice metronome and a violin tuner. The bow is essential for getting a clean tone and dynamics out of your violin. A quality violin bow should have a solid but flexible feel to it. A screw at the bottom of the bow tightens or loosens the horsehair, which should be tweaked as needed and loosened down after playing. Another important violin component is rosin. The hairs on your bow are coated with rosin, which causes the strings to vibrate. The strings will determine the kind of rosin you use on your violin. The right chinrest is also required to aid player satisfaction and neck muscular relaxation, enabling players to practice for extended periods. Chinrests are available in a variety of forms and sizes.
- Alternative opinions from professionals
Once you are passionate about playing the violin, you must consider numerous factors throughout the selection process. If you need assistance, go violin shopping with an individual with a musical ear and one who will be truthful about what they hear. Also, seek professional help; professionals assist artists in finding their violin every time, and they can confidently provide you with the best advice available based on your needs. Remember that if the piece doesn’t seem perfect regarding playability, several simple changes may be made that are unique to each individual. Ensure you get a professional on your side that you can rely on to assist you in fine-tuning your ideal match.
- Cost
Any violin below £100 is a total waste. Consider purchasing any home item and selecting the lowest choice. You wouldn’t think it would last long. The preferable beginner violins are usually Chinese and cost around £250. For £500, you can acquire an excellent starter outfit. After a few years of playing, you could consider upgrading to a violin, which costs around £500 and £700. Start with a better bow if you can’t manage to get a more excellent violin right now. A violin costing more than £1000 will be of higher quality in craftsmanship and wood. It will generally have a better tone and equal string spacing than a budget model. Prices for one-of-a-kind handcrafted violins typically start at approximately £5000. Such instruments would be ideal for expert musicians who want to learn how to perform music. Professional violins can cost anything from £7000 to millions of pounds.
Conclusion
Finally, if you enjoy an instrument, don’t second guess it. Note that if you love the violin’s sound, but anything about it bothers you, the luthier who built it can usually rectify it.
