Full Size Violin, suitable or not Options

[coggy]

Hi everyone could someone please give me some advice, I've just bought a full size violin for my step daughter for her birthday next month she is 8 years old and I wondered whether I made the right choice size wise? I thought if I got her the half size she would soon grow out of it ??
Any thoughts???
Thanks
Sarah :)

[Fiona]

It depends how big your daughter is.

I think a full size violin is from about 10 - 11yrs old - depending on the size of the child.

I have just bought a 1/2 size violin for my son and he will be 7 yo in Sept. This is just about right I think.

He has a good angle at the elbow and can get to the finger board easily.

It certainly has plenty of growing room.

Don't know if anyone has anymore ideas ?

Good luck !

Fiona

[coggy]

HI thanks for your reply, she is quite tall for her age and dont forget girls in general are bigger than boys for quite a few years?

[Cath22]

I've never taught an 8 year old on a full size violin before. If she can put all 4 fingers down on the G string without changing the angle of the violin significantly then she should be ok. Some parents come to me and say that their son/daughter can hold a full size violin and can put their fingers down on say the A or E string, but the G is the hardest to reach, so that's the real test!

I would usually start an 8 year old on a 1/2 size violin, or a 3/4 if they are tall for their age - but it really depends on the individual!

I always recommend that parents take their children to a specialist strings shop to get their violin, where the child can try out the different sizes and get one that is perfect for them, with the advice of a specialist...

[Violinia]

The way to tell if a violin is the right size is to get the student to put the violin under their chin and link the fingers of their left hand over the end of the scroll (the very end of the neck - it looks like a scroll).

If they have to stretch their arm, then the violin is too big. The ideal is if there's a fair amount of give at the elbow, but not a ridiculous amount, but a decent amount, if that makes sense.

Buying a violin that's too big, knowing the student will grow into it is a false economy because it'll be almost impossible to play, especially when playing with the fourth finger. The student will continually feel strained and tired when playing and will want to keep putting it down and having a rest.

I know a 6-year-old boy who's playing on a tenth size (and it's just right for him) and I had to persuade a mother to buy a quarter size for her 7 year old because the half size he had was too big for him, so age is no guide really. Specialist help is really necessary here.

And remember, too small is better than too big!!! But obviously just right is best.

[Tango Romeo]

My 4 ft 11 inch (149 cm) tall, nearly 10-year old daughter is very comfortable on a 3/4 size which has served her well for 2 years. My somewhat shorter just 8-year old still fits nicely into her 1/8th size but has just move last week onto a 1/4 size - partly because of size but also to be able to get better dynamics which caused a bit of a problem at Gd 1 with no less than 4 comments about (lack of) dynamics ! All the advice seems to be that if the violin is even a fraction too big, it will be too heavy and the child simply can't reach as required. If it is a bit too small, it seems there is no real problem. Therefore, it seems best to err on the smaller side and the full size may be just too big for the moment.

[cheeble]

i didn't get my full size until i was 14, but then i'm very small for my age. i think i was about 4ft 11 when i got it... i'm 5ft 2 now.

[frumpybabes]

My son is 8 years and is comfortable on a full size, a 7/8th would have been better but a 3/4 was too small.

The size of the violin has nothing to do with the height of the child. It has to do with the arm length of the child.

http://www.musiccompany.co.uk check it out on this site, it has a chart to work out the size of violin suitable. Follow the link to violins.

Also I know of a very good shop to get violins to buy/hire. I recommend this company to all my violin students. You can hire a violin for £17.50 for 3 months and if you hire the violin for the year you own the instruments. If you need to upgrade size they will charge small fee. The violins are delivered next day already setup. The ex rentals are often in very good conditions, usually only out for a term to children who give up within that time. They offer the best cello service ever. £25 for 3 months hire with no deposit and insurance included. Can you beat that?

Here is a link to them, check them out string teacher/students
www.ackermanmusic.co.uk/string%20rental.htm


Hope this helps

[cecilia]

I got my full size the month before I was 14. I was 4'11" if height has anything to do with it.

[Rainbow]

I started on a 3/4 size when I was 8 and moved onto a full size when I was 10 and a half. I'm nowhere near a full size viola and probably won't ever be.

[elidatrading]

Sizing is a funny thing. I have seen greatly respected specialist shops say a child is ready for a particular size when their fingertips only just about reach the A peg (and I'm not exaggerating). A 1/8 size cello (back length 20 inches)played under the chin by an adult gives a fair comparison ...

(IMG:http://home.clara.net/davidcw/ebaypix/20inches2.jpg)

At the other extreme, in the US some seem to take the line that the elbow should be bent 90 degrees, which would put me as a five foot nine player on a half size violin .... but perhaps this is so they can play scales in tenths ....

I take the line that there are plenty of players taller than me and on me the end of a full size violin scroll comes about an inch up my arm from my wrist. A 15.5 inch viola scroll comes to mid palm on me. So i wouldn't put any child on a violin where their wrist does not reach the end of the scroll, with the possible exception of very tiny violins, because those tiny violins are such a nightmare to keep in tune and to get a decent sound on.


Liz

[Digby]

My 6 year old has just progressed to a 1/4 size and it is just right for her.

Where we live, in Gloucestershire, you can hire violins for £12 per term which we did for the 1/8 size but also if you do deside to buy, check ebay, as long as they are not completely trashed and have been looked after they do tend to hold their resale value. Having said that, she will have 'economy value'violins until she is big enough for a full size when we will probably push the boat out a bit.

It really isn't worth pushing them to a bigger violin before they are ready, not only for the reasons already mentioned, but it can also effect the childs posture as they tend to lean forward whilst holding it, so putting unnecessary pressure on the back which is certainly not an issue you want at the age of 8 when their bones etc are developing.

[Violinia]

I have always been of average height and needed my first full-size violin when I was 12. Taller children can manage one from 10-11 but rarely earlier.

Also remember that it is far less harmful to play on a violin that's too small than too big, and it's a very false economy to buy a size larger "so they can grow into it". In fact it's the opposite because a too large violin wil cause all sorts of stresses, aches and pains and the child will soon want to give up - hence loads of money wasted on lessons that go pretty much nowhere.

Violinia

[zoda]

QUOTE (elidatrading @ Sep 20 2004, 10:46 AM)

(IMG:http://home.clara.net/davidcw/ebaypix/20inches2.jpg)

not again Liz!

can't you just put that in your signature :lol:

[elidatrading]

We had a 1/4 size in the other day, Zoda. I couldn't play that one under the chin at all. It was quite nice playing it with the base resting on the bed though :lol:

Liz