A good violin is an investment. They are not cheap. And most families very understandably do not want to spend $1000+ to get their new student a beginner quality instrument. This is why, unless a student is big enough to be starting on a full-sized violin, I heavily recommend renting one from a violin shop or luthier. A lot of times, these will have rental programs that will allow you to use some or rental payments towards a full-size instrument when the student is ready for one.


What on earth is a luthier?

A luthier is someone who makes and/or repairs lute-like instruments. Typically here in the U.S. they make guitars, mandolins, violins, violas, celli, and basses. Some luthiers specialize in only making one or two instruments. For example, they might only make or repair violins and violin bows.

A trained luthier/violin shop will be able to make sure your violin is setup properly: the bridge will be cut specifically for your instrument and set at the correct angle, the pegs turn correctly, there are no openings in the seams, the soundpost is placed correctly inside the instrument, the bow has fresh bow hair on it, etc…

Note on VSOs:

It is imperative that any violin student, (beginner or advanced, young or old), have access to a real violin and bow on which to practice and play. And more likely than not, it will not be the least expensive option you find.

While it is true that you can find what looks to be a violin at Guitar Center or Amazon*, what you are actually getting is a V.S.O.: a violin shaped object. The violins that are green or pink simply will not perform, even if they are cool to look at! I once had a student whose parents purchased a violin off a major online store only to discover that the pegs were brittle and thus unable to be turned and tuned, a bridge that needed replacing, strings that were not adequate and other things that would have cost more than they had paid for the violin to repair.

So what do I look for in a good violin?

A student must have a violin that is in good repair, has adequate strings (Dominants or nicer), a bridge that was specifically fit to the instrument, a clear ringing tone (important for learning to play in tune), and a bow that is not warped and has a proper camber with fresh hair. The instrument must be the appropriate size for the student as well. A luthier/violin-shop will be able to ensure that these needs are met.

Here are luthier and violin shops that will provide you or your student with a quality instrument for rental and/or purchase: 

COMING SOON!

 

*This is the opinion of our teacher, Mrs. Gill.