This is going to sound stupid.
I'm planning to take up the violin next year in school, but I wasn't sure whether you had to pre buy/rent a violin first or whether the school provides it.

One of my friends rents her flute externally, but I don't know if this concerns other instruments too. Plus, I'm going to a different school next year so it probably won't apply.

I heard my friend ask my music teacher if she could borrow a violin in school and my teacher said that she could if there was a spare.

Thanks for any replys.

First, you need to call the local county/borough music service which provides instrumental music tuition to your new school/schools in that area. Ask them if they can provide the violin. My local one does this free of charge if you take lessons from them via a local school.

If not, ask your school's music dept. if they have a spare one of your size.

Failing both, you could then either rent one or buy one.

The last option is quite cheap because people usually get a cheap one for the first year in case they give up!

We got our daughter a nice-sounding German one for less than £50 as it was very old with lots and lots of scratches (but no cracks) and ex-rental. Alternatively, like a friend of mine, you can buy a brand new cheap and cheerful-looking Student Stentor but to my ears (and I've been told I've got very good ears), it sounded awful!

Take your pick!

Wow, that's pretty good. The older the violin the better it sounds huh?
You know when you said your local council does a free of charge thing, why have you bought a new one? Did you just prefer to select your own?

We had to buy our own violin bec our girl did not manage to get her lessons from the council's music service via her school.

We don't know the true reason why but there were only 4 violin places available in the school for 28 kids who wanted such lessons! At the time she asked for the place I think she was 7 so she lost out to the kids who were older and had first priority. We then started her on a private teacher when she was nearly 8. Had we waited for 2 years, she would have been 9, and would have got a school place easily.

All the Best!

Thanks.
The school I'm going to gives Instrumental Burdaries if You're on an orchestral instrument at the standard of a grade 6 of Associated Board level. I'm grade 8, not in sight-reading on the piano becasue I can't do two hands, but I'm pretty fluent using one hand, so I think I can read violin music okay.

The piano isn't an orchestral instrument, but when I asked, the woman told me that she wasn't sure if I'd be entitled to the bursary, but I might be.

If I do get one, do you think I'd get an instrument too?

Music bursaries vary from school to school. Some are very generous and cover both music tuition fees plus rental. It also depends on how "poor" your finances are and how badly the school needs violinists! If you are already grade 8 at another instrument, they might be impressed.

You'll have to wait and see. You don't really need the violin now till your very 1st lesson.

I know, but I'd like to do my research first.

Well done - great attitude!

Ha! I wish my parents had had the gumption to do that! I was turned down at 8 because I was too young and then at 9 because I was too old: they'd changed the policy. I ended up having to wait until secondary school.

Liz

No not really, that's an oversimplification. The quality of the instrument is much more important than its age. But there is some improvement with age, especially over the first few weeks / months (depends on the instrument how long it takes to reach its potential)

liz

I always thought it took a couple of years for this to happen.

Me, too.

It probably depends on the instrument. The brand we sell most of, in common with many other East European brands, seems to do most of its improving in the first few hours of playing. Rumour has it that German violins, and better Chinese violins, take a couple of years, but I have not been personally able to verify this.

Liz