Another New Violin Lol Options

[Terra]

Well I took the violin I got to the repair shop today. They told me it was a skylark chinese violin and that it would cost £150 to repair it to playable standard and was not worth my time, money or effort. I wanted to get a universal violin but they said that it would take 3 months for them to get one in so no universal for me. I got a stenor 1. It's alright and it will take me though to grade 3 in which I will get a much better one at that stage. I can't believe I got a non squeeky note out of the violin though! (open E for the win!) I'm going to practice lots more today and my lessons hopefully start next tuesday because I found a violin teacher with a vacency who has said she'll take me on. So things are looking up!
Terra.x

[rosfrog]

Congratulations ! Enjoy your new violin.

[Terra]

Congratulations ! Enjoy your new violin.

Thank you I've already got started on learning notes on my own. I'm finding it chalanging but fun. I think I'm really going to enjoy this and can't wait to learn enough to do something faily fun.

[Jacobi]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/violin.gif)
Sounds great! Enjoy your new violin!

[Violin Hero]

You have selected a good starter instrument which should get you through a year or so of learningthe violin.

If you stay with the violin you may want to buy a proper instrument after a year or so.

[Terra]

You have selected a good starter instrument which should get you through a year or so of learningthe violin.

If you stay with the violin you may want to buy a proper instrument after a year or so.

That was the plan. This is my second 'proper' instriment (I've played others that I didn't find so much fun in playing) so I am guessing getting grade 1 I might be able to do in 6 months I'm not sure I would have thought it was a reasonable goal with daily practice. But either way I will end up getting a better one when I progress.

[rosfrog]

Now then how do we define proper instrument? Really after a year, you only want something good enough to take you on for a few more years until you know enough about violins to choose better, so what you really need after a year or so is a better beginner's instrument. Even an instrument good enough to see you through to G8 could still be a beginner's instrument - my luthier considers most of the chinese instruments, even those costing several thousand euro, to be study instrument with only handmade, single luthier benchwork violins being 'proper' fiddles - but I'm sure we're not suggesting that the original poster should pay the price of a small car after a year of study!

You won't 'need' a professional instrument until well after grade eight (which is just as well given the cost!) - and the stenor will keep you happy until grade three - probably even five if you had it set up and bought a better bow. Then you can buy something good enough to see you to grade 8 and buy a proper (professional) instrument once you've got beyond that standard and if you feel the need.

Enjoy!

[Terra]

Yeah I can't see me spending a few thousand on a violin until I'm better (after grade 8) and have saved up.

[rosfrog]

Yeah I can't see me spending a few thousand on a violin until I'm better (after grade 8) and have saved up.

nor should you have to! The concept of a proper instrument is vague and a bit silly. Better to focus on the 'best instrument for where you are now' and you've done that. Soon you'll buy a slightly better one and then another slightly better one until you run out of financial resources or decide that the one you have is good enough.

The violin you've bought is therefore a proper instrument.

[Flossie]

Now then how do we define proper instrument? Really after a year, you only want something good enough to take you on for a few more years until you know enough about violins to choose better, so what you really need after a year or so is a better beginner's instrument. Even an instrument good enough to see you through to G8 could still be a beginner's instrument - my luthier considers most of the chinese instruments, even those costing several thousand euro, to be study instrument with only handmade, single luthier benchwork violins being 'proper' fiddles - but I'm sure we're not suggesting that the original poster should pay the price of a small car after a year of study!

You won't 'need' a professional instrument until well after grade eight (which is just as well given the cost!) - and the stenor will keep you happy until grade three - probably even five if you had it set up and bought a better bow. Then you can buy something good enough to see you to grade 8 and buy a proper (professional) instrument once you've got beyond that standard and if you feel the need.

Enjoy!

How far should my Yita be able to take me, Rosfrog? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm very fond of her and I think that she has a nice tone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[Terra]

Soon you'll buy a slightly better one and then another slightly better one until you run out of financial resources or decide that the one you have is good enough.

Yeah I'd think anyone would love a stratavari but I can't see most of us having the millions to pay for it.
Is it easier to pick out the threats with shorter nails?? I think I might cut mine because they are very long and I keep touching the finger board with them.

[STRINGMUM]

Not all Stradivarius instruments are great. We recently heard a stradivarius cello and we really had to strain to hear it in the concert hall. Son no 1 was very disappointed

[rosfrog]

Soon you'll buy a slightly better one and then another slightly better one until you run out of financial resources or decide that the one you have is good enough.

Yeah I'd think anyone would love a stratavari but I can't see most of us having the millions to pay for it.
Is it easier to pick out the threats with shorter nails?? I think I might cut mine because they are very long and I keep touching the finger board with them.

Yes you should cut your nails short on both hands if you're going to play the violin.

Now then how do we define proper instrument? Really after a year, you only want something good enough to take you on for a few more years until you know enough about violins to choose better, so what you really need after a year or so is a better beginner's instrument. Even an instrument good enough to see you through to G8 could still be a beginner's instrument - my luthier considers most of the chinese instruments, even those costing several thousand euro, to be study instrument with only handmade, single luthier benchwork violins being 'proper' fiddles - but I'm sure we're not suggesting that the original poster should pay the price of a small car after a year of study!

You won't 'need' a professional instrument until well after grade eight (which is just as well given the cost!) - and the stenor will keep you happy until grade three - probably even five if you had it set up and bought a better bow. Then you can buy something good enough to see you to grade 8 and buy a proper (professional) instrument once you've got beyond that standard and if you feel the need.

Enjoy!

How far should my Yita be able to take me, Rosfrog? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm very fond of her and I think that she has a nice tone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

If it's an M20, which I seem to recall it is - then you'll have no problems getting to G8 with it if you get a good professional set up and a nicer bow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

[ffliwt]

I started on a stentor 2 so one model up from yours and after i changed the strings on it, it was a great starter instrument. I did upgrade to a ""proper"" violin (seeing as thats the term we're using on this thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)) before my grade 4 but that was cause i wanted to not cause i really needed to. It was quite an upgrade going from a £90 violin to a £450 one but it lasted me until my grade 8 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (I got a new violin a few weeks ago (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) )

Have fun with it and it's a good one to start on =]

[rosfrog]

Ffliwt, I KNOW! Isn't 'proper' violin both vague and condescending as a term?

Firstly it suggests that the instrument that the OP has bought (and is delighted with) isn't a real violin, which isn't true - and secondly it suggests that such a thing as a proper instrument exists - how do we define it then? How much does it have to cost? If a couple of hundred doesn't get you a 'proper' violin, does a couple of thousand? If so, why? How is it made? Do we consider high level workshop instruments to be proper? If not, then are only luthier made instruments proper? If that's the case, how many of us actually play on a luthier made instrument - very few, I'd wager - does that mean we're not playing on proper violins?

Such a strange turn of phrase, I feel!