New Player, New Violin?, starting violin Options

[lottie]

Hello!!!! At last! It's taken me weeks of problems but I am finally able to post on ABRSM and join in the forums!!!

I just started playing 6months ago and LOVE the violin. I was a clarinet teacher years ago but have taken up the violin as a new challenge. I play with a Scottish fiddle orchestra and am just starting to learn double stopping and position changes but I haven't started vibrato yet.

I'm playing a 'Zeller' but I'm finding problems using my fourth finger partly because the violin has such a thick neck and partly because my hands are quite small.

I'd like to know if anyone has any experience playing a 7/8 size violin and if they think the smaller size affects the tone? I think I'm outgrowing the Zeller already and am thinking of moving to a Gliga Gama.

Any thoughts/opinions would be of interest.

Oh and Hi again - I've been able to read the forums for ages without being able to join in and it sounds like such a friendly knowlegable place!

[lottie]

I've had a 7/8 on loan for a few days now and the first thing I noticed was how much easier it was for me to play in tune... but it sounded like a 'kiddie's violin'!!!!! .. all thin and reedy.

My Dad has loaned me his full-size saying it has a more refined neck than the Zeller and I should find it sitting easier in my small hand and that's true - it's a bit more of a stretch than the 7/8 but my fourth finger is nearly bang on tune with it.

So I'm hoping the Gama has a more refined neck than my chunky Zeller!

But what to chose; a 7/8 which might have a 'smaller' sound which I don't want, or a full size that I will eventually learn to pitch properly as my hand learns to stretch???? Anybody have any thoughts???


This violin business is really complicated!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tess]

I've had a 7/8 on loan for a few days now and the first thing I noticed was how much easier it was for me to play in tune... but it sounded like a 'kiddie's violin'!!!!! .. all thin and reedy.

My Dad has loaned me his full-size saying it has a more refined neck than the Zeller and I should find it sitting easier in my small hand and that's true - it's a bit more of a stretch than the 7/8 but my fourth finger is nearly bang on tune with it.

So I'm hoping the Gama has a more refined neck than my chunky Zeller!

But what to chose; a 7/8 which might have a 'smaller' sound which I don't want, or a full size that I will eventually learn to pitch properly as my hand learns to stretch???? Anybody have any thoughts???


This violin business is really complicated!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Hi Lottie,

I am not a violinist, I must confess. Well, like Bo and AmandaL, my girl is also using a 7/8 violin. Maybe she has big hands for her age. It is an old French one and no, it does not sound kiddish/bright at all. It has a lovely tone! If your 7/8 feels comfortable, then by all means as AmandaL advised, go with it. If it sounds horrid to you, try changing strings, might work??? If it doesn't - I'm just throwing out ideas here - get another 7/8. No point changing to a full size if the 7/8 itself feels comfy.

Best wishes,
T (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)