4 Steps To Buying A Good Beginner Violin

With there being so many violins available for sale in the marketplace, it can be a rather intimidating process deciding which one to buy, especially as a beginner. Many beginner students or parents shopping for violins have ended up spending a lot of money on the wrong instrument and have become frustrated in the long run.

To avoid experiencing the same frustration, here are 4 steps to buying a good beginner violin:

1.    Step 1 – Decide Whether To Buy New Or Used

As a beginner violin buyer, the very first step in the purchase process is to weigh the options between getting a new and used instrument.

When analyzing a used violin, check the violin’s body for cracks on the top and back. If there exists a crack on the top and it is properly repaired, you need not worry much. A crack on the back, however, can greatly reduce the value of the violin.

A new violin typically has no issues provided that it is properly designed as per the defined design standards. It may take a bit of time to ‘break-in’ a new violin since the wood has not settled in the violin’s shape.

The new violin may therefore sound somewhat stiff and not have the desired depth of tone in the first few days of using it compared to a used violin that has already been ‘broken in’.

2.    Step 2 – Determine Your Size

As a beginner violin player, knowing your size is important as it determines how well you progress in your learning. The violin size is determined mainly by your arm’s length and the size of your hand.

Avoid buying a violin that’s too big. Getting the wrong sized violin will affect your playing technique. Additionally, it may result in you developing back, arm, and neck injuries. It’s important, therefore, that you first know the right size for you.

A general rule is that adults who have an arm length that’s at least 23” will need to buy a full-sized violin. Adults as well as teens with small hands having an arm length that’s below 22” should consider getting a 7/8 size. Arm lengths that are between 21 and 22” can get a 3/4 size. For small children, you can go for sizes ranging at 1/16th.

3.    Step 3 – Determine The Type Of Material And Craftsmanship Of The Violin

Material and craftsmanship determine greatly the quality and price of a violin. Hand-crafted violins are quite expensive. If you decide to purchase such a violin, be prepared to spend some extra cash.

Violins are made using tonewoods such as maple and spruce. The depth of the scroll’s curving is the definitive factor of the violin’s quality as this showcases a high level of craftsmanship.

The bottom line is this: the higher the craftsmanship used, the more costly the violin will be, and vice versa.

4.    Step 4 – Purchase From A Trusted Dealer

There are so many people in the market selling violins and it’s so easy as a beginner to fall in the hands of a not so good dealer and end up buying a faulty violin. It’s advisable that you source your violin from a trusted shop that has a good sales track record and a high customer rating.

For you in Singapore looking to buy a violin, we recommend you get one from LVL Music Academy.