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V.com weekend vote: What size is the smallest violin you've played?

September 2, 2011 at 9:01 PM

After hearing this feat -- the Sibelius on a 1/32 violin  -- I'm tempted to try some virtuoso pieces on my smallest fiddle:

 

It's not easy to get a great tone on these babies -- or for a grown-up to play in tune, but it's wonderful that little kids can learn on an appropriately-sized violin.

What is the smallest fiddle you've ever played? And you can't count tuning a student's 1/32. By "played" I mean performed in a concert, created a video or had long-term as your main fiddle. To be honest, for me it was probably a 1/2-size, when I was a youngster. One of my teachers, as a joke, performed a Mozart Concerto on a half-sized violin -- and did it perfectly in tune! How about you?

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 4/4 my entire career. 

 

 

 I started on a 15" viola in the 3rd grade...  it seems so small now ;)

Adult beginner,so 4/4   but I played a 3/4 once

I have a 1/32 fiddle but thought it was just to look at.  Is yours meant to be played?  Did you have to do something to it to make it playable?  I have to admit, I bought it before I started playing violin so hadn't really thought about it.

1/2.  Surprised how many started on 4/4 -- 28% at this writing.

Sorry--I misunderstood the picture.  The one Laurie was "playing" was not 1/32, although it is the size of the tiny one I have.

1/2 size when I was 9. I'm amazed full-grown adults can play on such tiny fiddles; I can't play in tune on a full-size, let alone 1/32!

I started at age 10 on a 4/4 size.

I'll demonstrate on student violins, but 1/2 size is the smallest I can play in tune.  The left hand isn't as bothersome as the right; my right elbow yearns for freedom.

 

Also, Laurie, it looks like you need a shoulder rest for that tiny fiddle.

i started at 5 on a    1/8   sized violin :)

I started at 7 on 3/4 size.  I'm surprised at how many voters started on sizes less than 3/4 - 58% at this writing.

The picture is really a joke -- that fiddle is probably smaller than a 1/64th. It's along lines of a practice fiddle that a beginning luthier might make; a gift to me from my late grandmother. Isn't it cute? :)

I'm trying to imagine a shoulder rest that would bridge that gap!

That's a funny looking bow, is it Chinese? (Wink)

I started on 1/10 size when I was 5 years old.

Link at top for 32nd violin is not working! Where can I find it?

Hi here is the link: http://www.violinist.com/blog/jenohubay/20119/12615/

And here the same violinist on the same violin at the age of 4 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHrp3usjyfM