Money...the Most Annoying Thing on Earth!!!

May 2, 2006 at 9:38 PM

Well, I've been thinking a lot about violins lately. In short, I need to step up to a more professional violin. I've progressed very rapidly and I am majoring in Violin Performance and I've begun to realize that I can't do everything I want to with my violin, especially in the department of projection and power. Also, on a certain point, generally after the high B, it loses it's sweet rounded sound, but most violins do that but mine just becomes a piercing sound with not body to it. I don't think it will last me much longer. I also am in college and have no money and don't really want to work all that much while I'm here, except like 10 hours on campus so that I can have some spending money.

I spent 3 hours last night looking into grants that I may be able to get for my violin but found nothing that I could use. Although, most of the websites I found make you pay to research possible grants. I was hoping that someone here may know of a grant program in the United States. My college isn't cheap and it keeps going up every year, next year it's $30,000.00. My parents can't help me with buying a new violin, we're not rich by any means. They have house payments, car payments. They recently had to buy new cars because their old cars basically died on them, or were very close. A good violin, perhaps made by Tetsuo Matsuda is my dream, along with a good bow. However, that could cost at least $20,000.00 and my parents don't want to get a loan because we have some huge ones for my school ($12,000.00 to be exact). Luther has an excellent music program and I love it here, and most other places I could go to without having to take out extra loans are not as good as Luther in that department. Anyway, if you have any advice or wisdom it would be much appreciated.

From Tommy Atkinson
Posted on May 2, 2006 at 10:29 PM

Hey man,

I'm in a VERY similar situation, actually. I go to Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA and I don't come from a wealthy family, either. I am also looking for both a new violin and viola, and am probably going to spend about $15,000 or so when I trade my current instruments in.

Now, I understand that your parents don't want to take out loans, but are YOU able to take out more student loans? You might want to talk to your financial aid counselor at school and see if you are able to take out some more in student loan money. Sometimes it depends on how much you are already borrowing, but mostly they'll let you borrow as much as you want. You might have to take loans that you either have to start paying back right away or that start accruing interest right away (as opposed to after school ends), but you'll be able to get the violins of your dreams (and maybe get some gigs to start paying them off!)

Also, I find that grants are pretty tough to come by. The competition is incredibly steep sometimes, but of course everything helps, and there's always a chance. I just recommend trying to get every scholarship you can get your hands on and taking out the max in student loans that you can. Even if it takes a year or so to get the money you need, you'll then be really ready and know what kind of instrument that you want!

Anyway, I hope this helped. If you want to IM me and talk about this kind of stuff (if you're on AIM at all), my screen name is tommydogg123.

Good luck!!

Oh, and PS - you also might want to toy around with the ideas of 1) faking your own death and collecting insurance; 2) suing someone for all they've got; or 3) just go the mission impossible route and steal it!

From Mendy Smith
Posted on May 3, 2006 at 2:12 AM

This may not help your current desire, but if this is what you will be doing for a living (teach, perform, etc...) the money you spend on the instrument would be tax deductable as a business expense (I don't know if this applies while you are a student or if you have to be actively plying your profession). You can also talk with a bank and see what kinds of loans may be available. It seems that there are loans for every occasion. Your teachers may have ideas as well.

From Irene Chow
Posted on May 5, 2006 at 8:28 PM

Would your parents consider taking out a home equity loan (depending on how much they still owe on the house)? Or, do you own a pretty decent car? You can take out equity on the vehicle too (again, depending on how much you owe on it). Those types of loans are generally lower interest and longer-term.

You might also go for an "intermediate" violin-- something that sounds decent enough to get you through college and/or auditions, but won't bankrupt you completely, until you can get a gig that will pay enough to enable you to buy the violin you really want.

Best wishes!

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Money...the Most Annoying Thing on Earth!!!

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