Cheap Violins Options

[jojo]

The other benefit of getting better strings is that they wont hurt his fingers as much as the cheap factory strings.

or if he lives near me he can come and practice on my double bass then when he goes back to his violin he won't know what sore fingers are anymore (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[MollyB]

The other benefit of getting better strings is that they wont hurt his fingers as much as the cheap factory strings.

or if he lives near me he can come and practice on my double bass then when he goes back to his violin he won't know what sore fingers are anymore (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[miffy]

That's what I do sometimes with stretch problems, I go and play around on my viola for a bit, then when I come back to the violin it feels all little and light and easy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Columbusrat]

Oops.... sorry, I haven't had any new post notifications since my last reply, so I haven't been ignoring you on purpose! No offence taken at all about the suggestions that Joe should have lessons... There's all sorts of things I tell him he should do (get a job, take a course, tidy his room, load the dishwasher, change his clothes more often, get a haircut - Catherine, hair stops growing when it gets to waist level, his hair was last cut about eight years ago!) and he doesn't take any notice. Difficult to know what is due to his 'issues' and what is due to him being a lazy useless teenogre (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

We bought this one in the end: http://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-S...-Gear4music/5F0 (which was cheaper when we bought it!). Have had a few teething troubles. When Joe tuned it, the E string broke. He tried playing on the remaining three, couldn't get a note... remembered the rosin, put some on, decided it wasn't enough, put some more on.... this time it was too much, and it got everywhere. Then once he finally managed to produce something resembling a note, he noticed a rattling... the sound post had become dislodged (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

So we returned it (the courier said 'It was that bad, was it?' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ), and the replacement came today. But hubby (who's reasonably musical - sax, clarinet & guitar) tried to tune it using an online tuner and then the piano, but every time the E string seems to be just about there, he finds the others have gone flat by about half an octave, presumably because the E string is bending the violin, and is reluctant to keep tuning it higher as the E string seems very tight and we don't want a V shaped violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) He's wondering whether there are so many overtones his ears are misleading him and he's trying to tune it an octave too high.

For the time being Joe is going to tune it to what he thinks is an octave low. But it looks like we're definitely going to need to see a 'real' person to help with the tuning, if nothing else!

[jojo]

For the time being Joe is going to tune it to what he thinks is an octave low. But it looks like we're definitely going to need to see a 'real' person to help with the tuning, if nothing else!

if you live in or around or not too far the London area I'd be happy to come and tune it and teach you the basics, if your son is too apprehensive in meeting a 'stranger' I can teach you or your husband then you can teach Joe?

I really would not mind at all, I am all for helping anyone who wants to learn the violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Columbusrat]

if you live in or around or not too far the London area I'd be happy to come and tune it and teach you the basics, if your son is too apprehensive in meeting a 'stranger' I can teach you or your husband then you can teach Joe?

I really would not mind at all, I am all for helping anyone who wants to learn the violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

That's a really kind offer, jojo, thank you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) We're nowhere near, I'm afraid, we're in Poole. He has a friend whose whole family is musical and whose mum is a music teacher so she may know someone who can help - I think someone in the family has an electric violin, don't know if that would be similar enough.

I wish I was musical! I dabbled on the piano for years but never got beyong playing Fur Elise really, really badly. Then a boyfriend taught me some chords on the guitar, I played for ages, taught my replacement boyfriend (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) and he was better than me in a fortnight. I love singing too, but have the vocal abilities of a donkey with laryngitis (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[jojo]

That's a really kind offer, jojo, thank you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) We're nowhere near, I'm afraid, we're in Poole. He has a friend whose whole family is musical and whose mum is a music teacher so she may know someone who can help - I think someone in the family has an electric violin, don't know if that would be similar enough.

I wish I was musical! I dabbled on the piano for years but never got beyong playing Fur Elise really, really badly. Then a boyfriend taught me some chords on the guitar, I played for ages, taught my replacement boyfriend (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) and he was better than me in a fortnight. I love singing too, but have the vocal abilities of a donkey with laryngitis (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

aaaaaawwwwww that is such a shame that you're so far away (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

if you want to give Joe a 'little present' I recommend a site aimed at adult learners called violin lab, it's here: CLICK HERE
for a small subscription fee he can access all tutorials (although many are free so he can start watching some now) and there is the real basic stuff too like holding the violin and tuning etc.... and of course go and watch 'Professor V' on youtube he's also good too.

[Columbusrat]

Thank you - I've sent him the links (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[shaunthemusician]

Gears4Music have a range of violins for beginners , i have the student 4/4 one and it sounds good so its worth having a look at (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[aesir22]

I'm so pleased you didn't go for a cheap 40quid violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I would recommend again to purchase some new strings - not dominants if you are reluctant to shell out the 30quid but you can still get some good ones that aren't so costly. They will ultimately provide a better chance of your son continuing, because there would be nothing more annoying as a beginner than having an instrument you can't get a nice note out of.

Would your son go to a luthier with you? If not, you could go yourself, and buy some strings for the violin and ask the luthier to put them on and show you some basic tuning. Bear in mind the strings will take time to settle and you'll need to retune them very often at first until they sit properly. I would say to make sure he is playing the strings at the right octave, at the right notes, from the very beginning. It'll help develop his ear to the notes on the violin. With him not wanting to see a teacher right away I think its very important you try to get as much right as possible early on. So a correct bow hold (very important) all correct posture, how to bow straight etc etc. Jojo posted a great link for violin lab, and there is Professor V on youtube who is really good and will start things off well for your son.

Would your son join the forum? Talking to people on here, and having the chance to ask any questions, might help make his journey smoother (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)