Anyone here play violin?

I see electric ones are fairly cheap on Amazon and my 8 year old daughter claims she'd like to learn...

i play violin. Most the cheap ones are GARBAGE. Like, utter sacks of garbage. You're better off getting a cheaper end yamaha electric violin. THe last thing a new instrument player needs is a junk instrument that gets in the way of them learning.

Tunawife plays, and teaches, and specifically teaches younger children. She will tell you to avoid that cheap electric violin. PM me, or E-mail her directly at mjsbassett at yahoo.

She will set you straight. Tell her I sent you or else she'll think you're a stalker.

What tuna said.

I played from 3rd grade through highschool and still dabble.

Never got into electrics, so I cannot comment there. Most educational programs wouldnt use an electric unless you are looking at private lessons and even then it will depend on the teacher.

Also, an 8 year old is highly unlikely to be ready for a full-sized instrument and you would have to measure and see if a smaller size (such as 3/4 or 7/8th) is a better fitment.

It is a challenging instrument to learn, but very rewarding. If she undertakes it, do not allow her to be discouraged, most everyone sounds terrible for the first year or so.

I would suggest looking into a private teacher and consulting with them as there are usually regional programs to rent/lease a student instrument, which is a good option for younger peoples as they work their way up to a full-sized instrument. For reference, I didnt have a non-rental until about 7th or 8th grade IIRC.

*edit: suggest you call the tunawife, simultanious posting FTW

As usual, Tuna is wise. I learned a couple of years ago, and an instrument that is capable of good sound is important if you eventually want to make good sounds.

Don't know how they do it today, but when I was a kid starting out in band (I play the trombone) it was common to rent an instrument initially. That way you get a reasonable student violin, and if she decides after six months it's not for her you're not stuck with it.

also, not to artificially inflate post count or anything, but an electric might not be the best way to learn for a newbie. I've only taught older kids (middle school through college age) so Tuna's wife might be a better person to comment on that.

I will also say that music stores are unusually good with this.

If I remember correctly, the local awesome music store will essentially lease to own with 0% interest, and takes trades when the kid outgrows them for pretty much free. Tunawife is very good, and she is satisfied with her piece which was bought for $2000 about fifteen years ago, so the ceiling isn't super high anyway.

Rufledt wrote: also, not to artificially inflate post count or anything, but an electric might not be the best way to learn for a newbie. I've only taught older kids (middle school through college age) so Tuna's wife might be a better person to comment on that.

I am pretty sure trying to learn violin with an electric instrument from Amazon would warrant the same treatment you'd get if you showed up to a HPDE on day #1 of your drivers license with a NHRA Pro Stock car, it's totally the wrong tool for the job. Except the Pro Stock car is good at something, though.

In reply to tuna55:

agreed, it's the wrong tool. It might be more like showing up to a HPDE on a pogo stick, i'd say. One that's all rusty and has a broken spring.

Going to add in as I played for a good long while before I moved to cello. You can rent a decent Yamaha normally for around 30$ a month or so to get started.

Same can be seat for cheap instrument like shaped objects of all nature. Violins, trumpets, flutes, clarinets, etc.

Buy decent used, not junk new.

The thing with violins is they don't depreciate if kept in the same condition. Used isn't cheaper unless it's busted.

To add to that, Tunawife's violin is from 1910 I think. Older is usually more desirable.

Tuna is right, though it's kind of an uncanny valley sort of thing. 19the century had a butt load of fake 18th century instruments made and usually add nothing to the value, even if they are decent instruments, while horrible sounding instruments from Italy in the 18th century are worth $Texas

In reply to Tuna and Refledt,

Old tends to be better to a point but its diminishing returns for sure. There are a ton of fakes out there, especially 20th century stuff pretending to be a LOT older. My last serious cello that was on loan to me was made around 1850 or so but made up to look like a late 1700 one, who knows why. It had bounced from high school to high school sold and was bought from a thrift shop by the guy who "restored it". Thing played like a dream but was a mess cosmetically when he picked it up. Some of the fakes and just general purpose old violins can be surprisingly good instruments.

Kind of off topic.

Wood instruments can effectively fall apart if not played regularly. At the MET for instance they actually have players come in and exercise some of the older stuff that is still playable. Also not that you are going to find one but the violions pre ~1720-30 or so are not actually tuned to 440htz they can be 425-430htz and sound interesting. They had not figured out how to keep them together yet as string tension increased also the necks were triangular and really weird to play.

Violin people, well lots of musicians, can be weird about this sort of stuff. I had a teacher who played for the LA philharmonic and that man could make a 10K modern violin sing just as well as his vintage 400k loaner with a 40K bow. But for concerts he broke out the expensive one as people thought they could hear a difference. A/B nobody could hear the difference not in a million years.

Okay, what about five string violins, versus four string?

stick with the basic four string, a five would be like getting someone a learner motorcycle with a suicide clutch. Most beginner material will not apply to a five string.

Rufledt wrote: The thing with violins is they don't depreciate if kept in the same condition. Used isn't cheaper unless it's busted.

Remember, we're talking a student instrument. Well, at least I am.

Is there any difference been a violin and a fiddle?

Nick (LUCAS) Comstock wrote: Is there any difference been a violin and a fiddle?

The people who play them

fiddle

vs

violin

IIRC, there are some fiddles/fiddlers that do not utilize the chin rest in the interest of playing with the instrument in the crook of your elbow rather than on the shoulder. Aside from that I can't recall any differences aside from how the person plays the instrument.

Around here it's fiddle and there's a local club that meets monthly. Former co-worker started lessons but I never followed up w/ his progress. This is something I really wanna try but given this generation family has zero musical talent I've put it off. Grandpa played bass in the 30's-40's, imagine seeing him lug that on a streetcar to play Sunday afternoons w/ his brothers. I could really get my mind around this tho, might end being a retirement project tho.

edit: I know I inherited the mechanical and drinking gene from grandpa so why not music.

My daughter started playing this year at 12. It's definitely challenging! Her school offers orchestra starting in 6th grade. We rent a violin from a local shop; there are about four music shops that cover the local school.

Based on what I've experienced this year, I'd agree to do things in a structured way either via school or private lessons.

We also have a violin supposedly used by a family member playing in the CLE symphony in the 20-40s that I had been hoping to get playable for her when she needs a full size instrument. Interesting info, wearymicrobe; I doubt it's been played in the last 40-50 years at least; my mom used it for a few years in the 50-60s (?).