Take a trip to your local music shop or do an online search for 'beginner violin' and you'll realise just how much choice there is. Prices and quality can vary dramatically so it's worth considering a few things before you commit to buying an instrument:
1. Do you actually need a violin?
Some schools will allow you to hire an instrument (possibly for free or a small fee) and occasionally you might find a private teacher who has an instrument for hire. Otherwise, you'll definitely need your own instrument if you want to start learning.
2. Do you want to buy outright, set up a finance arrangement or rent through a music shop?
Buying outright might be the cheapest option in the long run but if you ideally would like a higher quality instrument or don't have the cash to begin with then a finance arrangement might be the best choice. Quite a few online music shops and possibly even your local music shop could help you with this. You might find they even have the option to rent instead.
3. Are you confident you want to learn the violin?
For some students there can be a bit of hesitation in spending so much money on a violin when they, or their child, might change their mind quite quickly. If renting isn't possible, then consider buying a violin at around £100 rather than £250+. A violin priced at £100 is a great instrument to get you started and you always have the option of upgrading later on when you're fully committed to learning.
4. Have you spoken to a teacher before buying?
It really is worth discussing your options through with your prospective teacher. They'll let you know if your budget is too low (or too high!) and can guide you towards the best local shops or websites to make sure you buy the best possible violin.
5. What size of violin should you buy?
Most, if not all, adults use a 4/4 full size violin. If you're buying for a child and particularly if they're in primary/junior school they may need a 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 size instrument. Your teacher or local music shop will be able to measure you or your child to confirm what size you need. If you're buying online then there's some great videos on YouTube which describe how to measure correctly.
6. Should you buy a brand new violin or a second hand instrument?
If a student's budget is tight I will often search Gumtree for a local second hand violin to recommend, making sure it looks in good condition. This is a great option for children too as they can move through the violin sizes quite quickly. When students grow out of their violins or upgrade I also try to sell these violins at a cheaper price to other students before recommending they list them on Gumtree so it's definitely worth asking your teacher first!
7. Can a violin ever be too cheap?
Brightly coloured £30.00 violins from eBay sound like a great deal and look appealing but having seen these violin literally break in half I can confirm that some things are just too cheap to be true. They're also not generally set up very well so will often make learning feel harder than needs be.
If you've thought through all of the above and you've spoken to your teacher then you're probably ready to buy! In the next blog post I'll show you some examples of beginner violin outfits I'd recommend for a range of budgets.