Jul 16

Buying your first violin - what you should look out for

You have decided that you want to learn to play the violin. Then you may be wondering if and when you should buy your first violin. Most parents decide against buying one for children who are still growing. This is because the children will need new violins again and again. But if you're an adult thinking about buying a violin, then you're bound to have a lot of questions on your mind. However, you are alone in this and we would like to use this article to give you an overview so that you can buy the right violin.

Which model will you choose?

Unlike other instruments, there are not so many different models of violin. There are indeed different manufacturers and then, of course, the violin makers. Otherwise, violins are primarily differentiated according to their size, which, unlike the ukulele, is not a matter of taste, but really depends on body size. Tall teenagers and adults generally play a 4/4 violin, also known as a "whole violin". There are measurement tables for the smaller sizes. The child stretches out the arm and you measure from the shoulder joint to the centre of the palm. If you or your child are exactly between two instrument sizes, you should opt for the smaller model, otherwise it will be relatively strenuous to play for long periods of time and you will torture yourself unnecessarily. The difference in size between the different sizes is around 6 per cent.

Buying your first violin

The very first step is to decide on the right size of violin. Use the following sizes here:

Arm length	Violin size
below 34cm	32
34 - 38cm	1/16
39 - 42cm	1/10
42 - 44cm	1/8
44 - 50cm	1/4
50 - 56cm	1/2
56 - 58cm	3/4
58 - 60cm	7/8
above 60cm	4/4 (full size violin)

Then it's time to choose the bow. There are bow sizes to match the violin sizes and these are also logically based on the length of the player's arm. Please don't make the mistake of wanting to save the cost of a bow and choosing the larger bow straight away. Because then you will never be able to play really well or you will get used to an incorrect bow position in order to be able to play the bow up to the tip. Choosing the wrong bow will also result in an uneven sound. So it's best to always opt for a violin and bow set.

When it comes to the material of the bow, you can choose between wood and carbon. You should first decide on a price level. Carbon is usually the better choice here, as minor flaws in these bows are less noticeable when playing.

Medium price range for bows: You should try out a lot here, as there is also a wide range of bows in the medium price range, each of which has a very different level. Prices here range up to around CHF 800.
Expensive bows: In the upper price segment from CHF 2000, many musicians opt for wooden bows. Here you can get many models without any faults. However, as this is about your first violin, this price range is of little interest.

Buy or rent a violin?

Especially for adolescents, the decision is made in favour of renting an instrument. This also seems sensible because you never know how quickly your child will really grow. You may have just decided on a particular violin and then your child needs the next violin and what do you do with the instrument that is too small? There are also good instruments available for rent that your child will really enjoy playing the violin with. Even if you are not yet sure whether you will enjoy playing the violin, you should still decide in favour of renting an instrument. Then you can try it out at your leisure, maybe even change instruments and only consider buying later. As soon as you are sure, you can buy the instrument and can even offset part of the hire fee against your purchase price.

If you are really sure, you can buy a violin straight away. Then you should definitely take your time before deciding on an instrument. Because there are massive differences in the sound of violins, which cannot always be determined by the price or the manufacturer. If you want to buy a violin, you still have the choice of whether it should be a new or second-hand violin. You may be able to get a bargain on a second-hand violin. However, you may have the problem that there are hidden defects that the person selling the violin won't talk about. If you are unsure about this, you should take an experienced person with you. With a new violin, you don't have to worry about hidden defects, but you do need to think about where you want to buy. We will go into this in more detail later.

Deciding according to age

There is no real way to choose a violin based on the age of your child. You shouldn't compromise on quality just because your child is younger. It's better to opt for a rental solution that is significantly cheaper than buying and get your child used to playing a good instrument straight away. Otherwise they will lose interest in learning to play the violin too quickly. Especially at the beginning, the notes may not sound as stable as those of the model and before frustration sets in because the instrument doesn't sound as good, you should hire a good instrument straight away and everyone will be happy.

Decision according to skill level

There are, of course, the absolute professional instruments that cost thousands of francs. Otherwise, however, beginners should also have a good instrument at their disposal. We can't emphasise the possibility of renting an instrument often enough. This relieves you of the burden of the high initial costs and you immediately get used to a beautiful and harmonious sound.

Are there any additional costs?

In addition to the violin and bow, there are a number of additional materials that you will need to play.

These include:

Shoulder rest: You need this so that the violin doesn't rest so heavily on your shoulder. It compensates for differences in height and provides cushioning. You won't see many professionals playing without a shoulder rest and it's not recommended for beginners anyway.
Violin case: Make sure the material is sturdy. You can usually get a violin, bow and case as a set.
Backpack set: As an additional protective cover and carrying aid, you can also get a backpack set to match the size of your violin and violin case. This allows you to simply carry the violin on your back, which is a great relief, especially when travelling on foot and/or by bike, and makes transporting the violin much safer.
Rosin: You will need this special preparation for your bow. Don't necessarily go for the cheapest preparation here because it develops too much dust, which in turn can damage the violin.
Cleaning cloth: You should clean your violin and bow with a soft cloth after every time you play. You don't need a special cleaning fluid every time. Simply loosely remove the dust from the rosin and the grease from your hands from the violin.
Cleaning kit: Every now and then it is worth investing in the care of your violin. Use a special cleaning agent for stringed instruments that cares for the wood and makes it more robust.
Strings: They are the be-all and end-all of a good violin and you should always have a full set of matching strings available to be on the safe side. Because if you are travelling and a string suddenly breaks, it's annoying. When it comes to the material of the strings (gut or nylon), opinions differ. Try out what you like and, above all, ask your teacher what they recommend. Pure steel strings are mainly used for the E-string, but not for the other strings, as they do not develop a particularly pleasant sound in the lower registers and are also uncomfortable for the fingers in the long term.
Maintenance: You don't have to factor in any additional costs for tuning because you will usually tune your violin before every playing and practising session. Every now and then, every few years or as required, it may make sense to take the violin to a specialist for a complete overhaul. Minor damage to the wood will be repaired, the violin will be cleaned and, if necessary, the pegs will be replaced or at least lubricated. The fit of the tuning pins will be adjusted and the bridge realigned if necessary.

Where should you buy?

In addition to the question of whether you should buy online or locally, there are also violin makers. Here you can get particularly high-quality instruments, but they come at a price. In return, you can rely on genuine violin making skills and plenty of expert advice. It is important to try out instruments and you should definitely have the opportunity to do so. This is of course difficult online, but many dealers offer an extended return period for this reason so that you can find out whether the instrument suits you.