When to buy a new violin?

July 29, 2009 at 03:56 AM ·

 There are surely going to be mixed views on this.  Some say the violinist makes the violin.  However, I am a firm believer that for myself, the partnership between violin and violinist makes the musician.

So, I'd say, if you feel as though you could be doing better with an upgrade violin, it is definitely time and definitely worth it, especially given your current, respectable status in school and YO (congratulations!).

I always find a way to upgrade whenever I feel a violin is holding me back.  I do it more than most, but I do it in more incremental stages than most people, too.  My trick, when $$ is tight and that's the thing holding me back, I accept one of those junk mail credit card offers of 0% interest for a year or 18 months or whatever, and pay it off over time.  If you got a $1200 violin, you'd REALLY notice the difference, and it would so boost your satisfaction.  I'm quite sure of that.  That's only $100 a month with one of those cards.  That's pretty doable on most minimum wage budgets...

Hope this helps your parents to chip in a little... =P

Tasha

July 29, 2009 at 04:42 AM ·

Get another instrument.  Don't neglect a good bow, either.

You don't state your age, but if you are committed to improving as a player, you need the proper tools to permit you to advance.

I would question your parents' decision to put you into a full size violin at the age of 10 years. I'm surprised you haven't done yourself an injury.

You might want to consult with your teacher in helping you to locate a suitable instrument. You might be able to work out a payment schedule and pay for it yourself by working this summer, and weekends during the school year.

You will be pleasantly surprised at the difference a quality instrument will make in your playing.

July 29, 2009 at 10:39 AM ·

You don't think that way, it'll lead you no where.

Basically, we'll never know if it's time to buy a new violin. But one thing for sure, a better violin will going to give you more room for learning. You can always stay on your current violin and you learn how to play your violin, only.

Better violin is like a better teacher. You'll find you can do more things on better violins, and yet you can do the same aftering going back to your previous violin. Not that you should've stayed on the previous violin and not buying a better one, it's just that after you play the better violin for long time, you'll automatically trying to find the same sound that satisfy your ear, on your previous violin.

I'd say, even if you're not buying, just head to music store to try out some. You'll at least learn something from there.

July 29, 2009 at 12:43 PM ·

I am an advocate to say that even the crappiest student should have the best he/she can afford and it is never a waste and can in the worst case do nothing or help. (almost 100% sure it will help!)   I am an ordinairy violin collegial level student that don't have time to progress much now because of my non musical also collegial studies. I nevertheless have a super professional violin and bow.  Not a 50 K : ) but steel a very good violin that is good ennough that it has played with the Montreal symphony.  (just an anecdote like this and no the player was not me : (     I just want to express its potential and am in no way saying this to be pretentious.

I know that in my category of students, it is a very good violin and most parents would never pay for this (BTW it is my only luxury in life, I have no cell no car, no ipod live home etc... ).  Some could say I don't worth it etc... and yes it is way better than me but I really have benefit and profit so much from it.  It has the most signing, powerful and golden tone  I have ever heard in the violins I have played and really maybe amongst many violins also since my teacher ran to buy herself an identical.  It is generous and very playable. (of course, I do plenty of mistakes still!).  All these qualities worth gold for a student and I compare the experience with working with a maestro ( because a good instrument is like a sort of teacher) vs work with a non maestro.  Working with a much better violin than me which plays well and sounds like my dream sound is very inspiring even if I suffer more because I know its potential and feel sorry that it won't for a long time be between hands it would deserve (I always say that I will never in my life sound like the sounds I like but my violin has naturally this sound in it so it is steel quite exciting!)

Nevertheless some super violinists have played with pancakes for years before having good instruments and they became so good. So no, in the end, the violin doesn't make the violinist but it would be a lie (if I take my case) to say it didn't help me and that I didn't benefit from it.

Anne-Marie

August 1, 2009 at 02:19 AM ·

Thank you for everyone's posts. I think I'll try to work out a deal with my parents; maybe a part-time job too T-T. Thanks again for everyone's insights.

August 1, 2009 at 04:13 AM ·

A poor violin sounds good in good hands. A poor violin sounds poor in poor hands.

A fantastic violin sounds poor in poor hands. But a fantastic violin sounds fantastic in good hands.

When you feel the way you do, go out and try other instruments, even if you are not going to buy right away. You need to play the field to know all the positions.

P.S. is there still a great donut bakery at the corner of Route 3 and the road to Otterbein?

August 2, 2009 at 03:17 AM ·

I don't know if this is posible, but if you are interested in persuing a career in music and show an interest (and sell yourself right), you may be able to persuade some rich patron to help you out. That's a lot of ifs.

August 2, 2009 at 03:52 PM ·

Bill: I agree with you completely, but too bad the only store with violins close to me is Colonial Music, the Loft is too far for now 8(. Oh, and are you talking about Schneider's Bakery? That is the only one I know of, my former math teacher's parents own that store actually, so we occasionally did get free donuts 8D.

Eric: Haha, I wish some generous person will provide for me, but I doubt it. Although I'm not pursueing music as a main career, I do hope to be able to participate in a college orchestra and later on maybe a community orchestra.