- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
School-Aged Children
Maggiezeng
member
Question about violin ? Thanks !
Maggiezeng
member
Hi ladies ,
I want to buy a violin for my Friend's daughter recently , she's almost six years old . Does any one know where can buy the high quality one ?? And how much cost ??
Thanks a lot
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Question about violin ? Thanks !
I played violin from age 9 to 18 and my own DD played in elementary school. Couple things to know:
--Violins come in four sizes. Full-sized, 3/4 size, 1/2 size, and tiny 1/4 sized instruments. The child has to be measured to determine the right size. Of course, as the child grows, she will need a new violin when she gets bigger, if she sticks with it.
--There are a few places to buy a musical instrument. Most music stores do a booming business with student instrument rentals and sales. You can also check for used instruments in pawn shops, craig's list, and on ebay.
--Violins come in a wide variety of price ranges. A basic student model violin can usually be purchased from a music store for $200-300. Higher quality instruments can run upward of a thousand dollars.
--Most people recommend that new students rent an instrument instead of buying it. This is especially true for kids playing violin because they have to get a bigger violin as they grow. Music stores usually offer a "rent to own" deal where you can bring back your smaller violin and trade it in on a larger one for no charge. Monthly payments are usually low, and many stores will allow you to pay ahead of time for a year's rental. Retail stores usually have an insurance program that will replace the instrument if it is damaged or broken, which can be really important.
Don't get me wrong. I think learning an instrument is fantastic. And violin is one of the instruments a small kid can learn to play. But unless your friend and her daughter are really committed to taking weekly violin lessons, spend your money on something else for the child. Violins are fragile and expensive. Taking lessons requires money for lessons, music books, music stand, etc. Or, consider renting a violin for a few months to see if it's just a 5 year old whim. I would not buy a "high quality" violin for any 5 year old child, though.
Wow, thanks so much for your opinions and sharing your experience ..
I may consider another gift for her.
And if my kids would like to learn violin when they grow up , I also may consider renting the violin at the first year playing
Thanks !
We purchased a used violin for DD. It turned out to be cheaper than renting, which is why we made the purchase, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it, b/c it was a 1/2 size and I knew she would outgrow the violin.
Thankfully it wasn't expensive, because she is dropping orchestra!
My sister had violins and when she was older my mom purchased one for her. But that wasn't until she was big enough for a full size.
https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=11971521
Amazon has some for low costs! They range from $50-100.
They are also low quality. As a music teacher, I definitely agree with PP's suggestion to rent. If you rent from a reputable dealer, most have a trade up program, so as the child grows, so can the instrument. A poor quality instrument is one of the leading reasons beginning students quit playing within the first year.
Learning a musical instrument is difficult. A poor quality instrument only makes it harder, and doesn't produce a quality sound. The student won't know that it's the instrument, and not them, making that sound and get discouraged by their lack of success. A quality instrument may cost more, but it will be worth it in the long term.
I agree with Mrs. Umm. Although not a violin, I've been trying to talk someone out of buying a cheap clarinet. They've been smart enough to realize that a Walmart clarinet is junk, but don't understand that $80 won't buy them a quality used one either. My clarinet cost $1500 to purchase 26 years ago, it's well played, and in a used instrument that's a good thing. DS has had it for band and done well with it. This clarinet was sent to get repaired and was loaned the school loaner, well even he could tell the difference, it was awful. On the flip side, I've played a $10k pro clarinet, cherry wood with silver keys, made mine look like Walmart crap.
Bottom line, I wouldn't purchase an instrument for any kid that wasn't already enrolled in lessons, or the parent could take care of those costs. I also would rent a good quality instrument if the cost of the same new one was too much out of my budget. It's hard enough to learn to play well without having to overcome a poorly made instrument.