Another New Violin Lol Options

[Terra]

Thanks Willobie and rosfrog. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I had a bit of a fright there at Terra being able to pick up the violin and play the Debussy straight off without even having had a lesson, so I'm glad it's a different tune. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I know some people can do difficult things straight off without ever having learnt, but it's really discouraging for the rest of us... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Look here Clicky

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) That's totally different to what I was thinking of. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

Hey! lol. No I am not that amazing. It is the easy version!

It's not the easy version, Terra, it's a completely different piece to the one I was thinking of. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

The Debussy is a lot longer (around 2 pages of melody line only on average sized priniting) and is a different tune. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

You did give me a shock though! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Oh I know them both but didn't know they had the same name (had to youtube it). Always good to confuse a few people in the evening (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[jojo]

Congrats on your new violin!

When I started violin I KNEW I was going to stick with this so I spent £700 odd pounds on my violin. Looking back I may not have done it that way. I went all on my own and chose it myself, if I had 'another go' at it I'd take my teacher with me next time.
BUT having said this I was lucky and picked a violin that now at grade 5-ish I am still very happy with and will do me until beyond grade 8 or until I am 'fed up' with it, if I will get fed up with it that is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It's quite a loud/bright violin I have to say (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Terra]

I know that I'll stick at violin, it's just that ocational chance or the fact that I don't have £800 odd to spend right now. I must admit if I did I probably would have brought a violin that would have seen me past grade 8.
I'm really happy with my violin. I'm quite attached to it and the next one I get I'd like to be a really good one that will take me to grade 8 or further. I am too sentimental with things like this, i'm probably more then too attached to this guy lol.

[river]

I am too sentimental with things like this, i'm probably more then too attached to this guy

the Stentor is a great instrument for beginners, but i suspect that by the time you're ready to upgrade, you'll have noticed its shortcomings, and it won't be a difficult decision...

(this is what happened with me, anyway--sadly, it'll be another while until i can afford something better ;-)

[Terra]

I am too sentimental with things like this, i'm probably more then too attached to this guy

the Stentor is a great instrument for beginners, but i suspect that by the time you're ready to upgrade, you'll have noticed its shortcomings, and it won't be a difficult decision...

(this is what happened with me, anyway--sadly, it'll be another while until i can afford something better ;-)

Yeah but maybe that would be a good thing because I could sell it on and have a little bit to go toward the next one.

[jojo]

I was actually saying that my way is probably the 'wrong' way of doing things!
I think you will be better off this way, to have the stentor and then choose a violin that's good 'for you' when you reach a higher level, possibly with the help of a friend/teacher who can advise.
Happy learning with the violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)
ps you have not told us if you gave your violin a name and if so, what is it? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Terra]

I was actually saying that my way is probably the 'wrong' way of doing things!
I think you will be better off this way, to have the stentor and then choose a violin that's good 'for you' when you reach a higher level, possibly with the help of a friend/teacher who can advise.
Happy learning with the violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)
ps you have not told us if you gave your violin a name and if so, what is it? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I am still thinking of a name for him. That is as far as I got (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I will let you all know when I come up with one.

[Terra]

In reply to your question JoJo, I decided to call him Valen. My husband helped me chose the name as I like latin names and wanted a latin name for him.

[jojo]

In reply to your question JoJo, I decided to call him Valen. My husband helped me chose the name as I like latin names and wanted a latin name for him.

That is a very unusual name I must say, never heard of it! Excellent (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

[Terra]

In reply to your question JoJo, I decided to call him Valen. My husband helped me chose the name as I like latin names and wanted a latin name for him.

That is a very unusual name I must say, never heard of it! Excellent (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party1.gif)

Picking unusual names is what I do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) My daughter is called Ayrria dirrived from Aria (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[AmandaL]

I know that I'll stick at violin, it's just that ocational chance or the fact that I don't have £800 odd to spend right now. I must admit if I did I probably would have brought a violin that would have seen me past grade 8.
I'm really happy with my violin. I'm quite attached to it and the next one I get I'd like to be a really good one that will take me to grade 8 or further.

Speaking as an experienced violinist and teacher of the same, I would advise taking both your playing and violin purchasing one step at a time. While I do not want to dampen your enthusiasm of wanting playing to a high standard, on a bowed string instrument it's a long long road - a never ending one even.

Additionally, if you buy now what you think you'll like playing in a few years time, the chances are you'll have changed your mind by then. You have to nuture and improve your skills and technique first, before deciding what type of violin suits you best. Bear in mind that bow choice will also become important, it's not just the violin that will need consideration.

[Terra]

I know that I'll stick at violin, it's just that ocational chance or the fact that I don't have £800 odd to spend right now. I must admit if I did I probably would have brought a violin that would have seen me past grade 8.
I'm really happy with my violin. I'm quite attached to it and the next one I get I'd like to be a really good one that will take me to grade 8 or further.

Speaking as an experienced violinist and teacher of the same, I would advise taking both your playing and violin purchasing one step at a time. While I do not want to dampen your enthusiasm of wanting playing to a high standard, on a bowed string instrument it's a long long road - a never ending one even.

Additionally, if you buy now what you think you'll like playing in a few years time, the chances are you'll have changed your mind by then. You have to nuture and improve your skills and technique first, before deciding what type of violin suits you best. Bear in mind that bow choice will also become important, it's not just the violin that will need consideration.

I guess thats true. I have my stentor for now which I am quite happy to play with until I need something better. I'll see what happens in the future.

[all ears]

Nothing wrong with a well-made factory instrument, and yes, your tastes will surely change. Son had a violin that was NOT a proper instrument - fingerboard the wrong shape and size - but if you'd walked into a shop, you would have been told that it was a hand-finished old German violin, and much "better" than a modern mass produced violin! (Teach us to go bargain hunting... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ).

[nova]

I know that I'll stick at violin, it's just that ocational chance or the fact that I don't have £800 odd to spend right now. I must admit if I did I probably would have brought a violin that would have seen me past grade 8.
I'm really happy with my violin. I'm quite attached to it and the next one I get I'd like to be a really good one that will take me to grade 8 or further.

Speaking as an experienced violinist and teacher of the same, I would advise taking both your playing and violin purchasing one step at a time. While I do not want to dampen your enthusiasm of wanting playing to a high standard, on a bowed string instrument it's a long long road - a never ending one even.

Additionally, if you buy now what you think you'll like playing in a few years time, the chances are you'll have changed your mind by then. You have to nuture and improve your skills and technique first, before deciding what type of violin suits you best. Bear in mind that bow choice will also become important, it's not just the violin that will need consideration.

Hi, I would completely agree with this - it is a very long learning process and one of the major aspects is the development of an acute ear for all the nuances of sound - I don't think it's at all easy to make an informed choice about an instrument or bow if you are a beginner because your demands and expectations change so much with experience.

I'm still finding that the holes in my technique get in the way of evaluating instrument and bow quality (perhaps I'm a bit of a slow learner!) and wish I hadn't spent several hundred pounds on a bow which I now realise, a couple of years later, doesn't really do what I want.

It's an interesting dilemma; good equipment certainly helps you play better but it is hard to know what 'good' means until you can play better...

I hope you enjoy the process anyway!
N

[AmandaL]

It's an interesting dilemma; good equipment certainly helps you play better but it is hard to know what 'good' means until you can play better...

This is a particularly common occurance where many a new player will fork out for a violin that they can't play to its full potential, or indeed know whether it will do what they want in their hands - because they don't yet have the skills.

Your bow purchase is the perfect example.

The guidance of a teacher is helpful, providing they give an objective view.