How to Pick a Good Student Violin

Next to the piano, the violin is probably the most popular beginner's classical instrument. When it comes to buying that first student violin, it's important to take care not only to get an instrument of quality, but to get an instrument that's a good fit for both the student and your budget.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Consider renting before buying. Not only will the student have a better idea of how to shop for a permanent instrument after having studied for a while, but if the student is a child, she will likely go through several sizes of violin as she is growing. For this reason, an instrument store with a rent-to-own program where buyers can trade in or transfer equity from one instrument to the next is the best value.

2. Get the student measured for the appropriate size of violin. Violins come in sizes as small as 1/16th the size of professional instruments and it's very important that a child student have a violin of the appropriate size. Even adult students may find that an undersized instrument is a better fit. The employees at your music store should have a means of measuring a child's left arm length and determining violin size, but it's still up to the student to decide whether or not the violin of the prescribed size feels comfortable.

3. Look for leading violin brand names in your music store, such as Eastman, Knilling, or Yamaha. Whether or not you decide to buy one of these brands, seeing them sold new in your music store is a good sign that you've found a reputable establishment and can trust the options the employees give you.

4. Examine any potential instrument. Is everything in tact? Is the neck straight? Are all the pieces securely fastened (with the exception of the bridge, which is held in place only by the strings, and the pegs, which will come out easily if they need to be oiled)? Do the pegs operate correctly when oiled? Is the instrument equipped with fine tuning pegs (optional, but good for beginners)? Also, ask about the craftsmanship. A beginner's violin needn't necessarily be made with a carved top, brushed finish, or single-piece back, but these are signs of a superior quality instrument.

5. Check the price. Student violins range in price from the mid-hundreds to the low-thousands. If the price is significantly higher than this, you are probably looking at a professional violin. If the price is significantly lower, the instrument's quality may be questionable, but bear in mind that price in not always an indicator of quality.

Resources

• Strings Magazine's Guide to Buying