Why I Should Have Researched the Violin Better...
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 16 сен 2024
- Ever know someone who jumps in ahead of themselves in the pursuit of . . . something?
In my case, my desire to have an instrument to learn overcame my good sense, and I bought a violin. Now, I like it, don't get me wrong, but I wish I'd found someone to point out just what a huge investment of time and money it was... Not to mention, if you don't know what you're doing, it can be very confusing, and full of trial-and-error. And I've already come to the conclusion that I need to find an instructor, somewhere.
Thanks for watching, and I hope you enjoyed it!
Update: Thanks to everyone who's watched this. I had no idea it would be so interesting/helpful to so many! I also recommend the "99 Dollar Violin Test," which I wish I'd seen before purchasing!
Also, for the future folks too busy/lazy to read previous comments: I KNOW my bow hold is wrong. I knew when I did it. I was just demonstrating that the violin makes sound, not how to play. Please, stop the helpful/condescending comments.
Some years ago in Scotland there was a well known player of traditional music called Ron Gonella. Ron was well known and respected, especially for the wonderful tone of his playing. When Ron passed away some years ago many were anxious to get there hands on his wonderful violin. And what did they find? It turned out to be a very ordinary, unremarkable instrument. The magic was in the hands of the player.
FACEPALM that bow hold
i had the money to buy the 2000$ violin but the guy at the store didnt want to sell it to me, he said something like this," if you have never played an instrument before try this one, and if you like playing it then get a expensive one later."
It's true. My brother wanted to buy a saxophone, but then he rented one and he ended up not liking it. So he saved himself from spending money on an instrument he would end up not liking.
That is a reputable owner who is interested in a life long customer instead of a quick sale. A good local music store can be your best friend.
You never want to buy a violin that costs $2000 from the start. The luthier made a smart choice not selling it to you. You will thank him later on because is more work maintaining a fine violin and you can't afford to do that when you are a beginner.
In the past few years, the biggest thing I've learned from all the violin snobs on this site is that they have no idea about 'The Touch of the Master's Hand.' Beautiful poem, look it up.
For the td; dr-ers, a master could make a shitty violin sound like a million bucks, while an amateur could make a Strad sound like a piece of shit cobbled together out of plastic and their own hair.
And in my case, as an AMATEUR, I have no ear for violin music. So, once I'm done squealing and scraping on my shitty strings--which means I've graduated from absolute noob to absolute amateur, I'll have a better idea of what superior violins sound like.
If I keep up the violin, then by the time I save up for one--which, apparently, means I should drop the equivalent of a fairly new used car on it--I'll be able to appreciate the upgrade in quality. Rather like a person starting out on a shitty, low-end computer, coming to appreciate the investment a high-speed gaming rig makes. Starting out on said gaming rig when unable to appreciate or utilize it to its full potential would, ultimately, be considered by others as a waste of good resources and an attempt by myself to put on airs.
And if I *don't* decide to pursue the violin, at least I'm only out a couple of hundred bucks, max, instead of the equivalent of a few years of community college.
if you do stay with violin and decide to buy a new violin the stentor student 2 is a very good violin. I bought mine on ebay for 158 something. and I completely agree that nobody should say a thing about your bow hold or how you sound. They also have no room to speak because we all started out that way.
Perhaps hand violin down to your daughter :)) the benefits of learning from a young age is significant
I wish I had researched more on my first purchase of my daughter's violin. It makes a lovely wall decoration now! LOL. Glad you made this video. You are given great advice to the person who is absolutely clueless! (Like I was.)
oh..and she had the white one! LOL.
I've been playing violoin for 40 years and teaching for 15. Yes, you get what you pay for. However in the hands of a novice any instrument will do. The cheap bow, strings, rosin, etc that comes with it are fine to start with. The only accessory needed is a shoulder rest. Start cheap and find out if you like it. Better yet, see if your local music store will rent you one (about $25/month in my area). For any instrument, get a few lessons from a teacher. If you play an instrument wrong it will always sound bad. Also it is easier to learn the right way first than to unlearn the wrong way.
$25 a month is crazy. I have just bought a $25 violin. No its not the best. And it doesn't sound as good as a $2000 violin. However if your just starting out or need a arts and crafts violin it is just wonderful.
Keep going kiddo, everybody starts somewhere, You may be helping some one somewhere. Remember, pay no attention to the instrument snobs. Some people are not happy unless they are pulling the wings off flies.
Don't regret too much. All violinists have been there. I actually got one for $70 (I know, face palm). But like you, I made the most out of it. Pumping out the sound ideas wonders. But yes, you get what you pay for. My parents did not understand the price of the norm.
Just bought my violin today. Already put about two hours into practicing (not count the 1 1/2 getting it set up). I gotta say, for only being able to crank out 5 notes. It's really rewarding to hear things done right.
I love her!!! She really is awesome! I take notes, and treat her violin videos as an actual class and she's very informative and she sounds more like a friend than anything! I ordered a 'cheap' violin and it should be coming in by next week and I'm really excited to use the information she gave me! Every beginner that can't afford lessons like me(I'm 16 so that's a definite too high price), should go to her channel and watch her videos. She covers everything and is a truely amazing teacher.
honestly I'm planning on getting a cheap electric violin (Mom can't complain about having to hear the god awful noise). It's what I can afford, and money should not deny people the ability to learn things. My mother refused to allow me to learn an instrument because she didn't want to 'waste her money' like she did on my older sister. So yeah, it'll sound terrible for a while, but at least I'll have an instrument to learn on.
Yeah blame the government and employers. I'm mentally disabled. Disabled folks only have a 35% chance of getting hired, -and- the government says I'm not good enough for Disability because I have a 35% chance of finding a job.
Seiena so basically youre undesirable for work, and udesirable for some sort of compensation, yet expected to make it in life with a disability?
Craig From Walmart Yup, that's the jist of it. The good ol' Catch 22. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. It's why I'm working on figuring out what kind of business I can start and be self employed. But that takes time sadly.
Seiena I wish you the best!
Not to be rude but your not holding the bow right so I'd suggest you look it up
that was like the first thing i noticed (i play cello and so i can imagine the way you hold the bow is the same) and it was driving me crazy when she was demonstrating it....
Not to be rude, but I totally agree... When I saw it I was like in my mind "You have to THINK to hold the bow like that."
But hey, everyone learns
Obviously...you GET what you PAY for.
Cheap violin = Cheap crap . Period .
The video didn't say anything about price vs quality. And she didn't say anything about the quality either. It was about the time and effort you have to put in to have a great experience with any instrument. But yes, generally, you get what you pay for. I honestly want to add a violin to the viola I already own, because I dropped off violin and switched to viola about the time you made your comment, and I need something cheap, since my whole fortune went to the viola. Also big fan of greninja.
You did pretty well.
Most of the accessories will last indefinitely. The rosin will last for years,
(or until you drop it). The bow looks okay. Learn how to hold it. that'll make a big difference. Tuning is just part of the art.
DO check the bridge every time, and pull it upright. In the video, it's leaning forward. If the bridge falls, the soundpost can fall. That's a $50 repair.
Even if you don't play now, keep the violin handy, pick it up occasionally, and maybe you'll get back into it.
I play several instruments proficiently and am learning the fiddle/violin (I'm still in what I tend to call the "cat-killin' stage"). Don't sweat the idiots who are snobbish and/or rude. They're mostly just trolls hiding their lack of confidence and talent behind bluster and vitriol - if they play anything at all in RL, which many don't, I suspect.
About how you think you or your instrument sounds. One thing a banjo teacher told me once in a workshop, and I've found to be true, is that a banjo, and by extension any instrument, makes two sounds: the one you hear while playing it,. and the one others hear while you're playing it. I'd suggest trying what I do, which is to find an echo-y room or location to practice in (like the bathroom, no, I'm not joking, it actually works), and listen to the tones you hear reflected back. Or, try recording yourself on something that makes a good recording; I think you might be surprised by how it actually does sound. Judging by what I hear in the video, I've heard far worse. My two cents.
Capn Clawhammer
That is something im definitely going to try. I have often wondered if it sounded different to me than to those listening.
Very good info on beginner instruments. I started out with a student model that cost me around $300, and it was fine up until I started playing with orchestras and various other people, where my sound and equipment actually mattered. I then upgraded to a slightly higher quality student model, and it set me back around $600 (or with trade equity around $300), it did great for what i needed it to, but once I became more advanced and in to the music I was playing, I had a desire for a high quality instrument. I bought an upper line instrument from a local maker and the instrument wasn't too expensive, I don't thousands of dollars to spend on a an instrument, but it set me back a pretty penny, and I LOVE it. My point is that a violin like yours is great to start out with, but you can always upgrade to a higher quality and more expensive instrument. ($50, $300, $600, $1600, $2000, $3000, and so on)
AS someone who has only been thinking about how nice it would be if I could play the violin for the last ten years... I really appreciate your video for a lot of reasons obviously your video is for beginners by a beginner and your challenges and finds a long the way. This is the first video I have seen and I learned a lot. Thank you.
This is an excellent video demonstrating how everyone who is going to learn something difficult has to start by learning how much they have to learn - and that's a very jolly purple violin. I have been on the same learning path and one thing I have discovered is that a resonant and expressive violin can make some really loud and distressing noises in the hands of a total beginner and be very off-putting. The pleasant buzz you get from a "not very good" instrument is much more likely to keep you playing.
Thanks for sharing your experience. There is nothing wrong with jumping ahead of ourselves, It's called ambition. Always be true to yourself, young lady, Your video proves that you have the heart to bring any instrument to life. All the best to you.
Hi I have taken a lot of those cheap violins and with a few minor upgrades they sound great. The two things that I have learned over the years from masters is this.
1. good quality strings figure to spend around 50 to 60 dollars for them. (but don't go out and get those yet.) The cheap strings will work while you are learning the basics and I wouldn't spend more than 10 or 12 dollars for a few sets. As you learn you will break strings that is the nature of learning to play any stringed instrument. I like real gut strings but they are out of my price range and are very delicate. So I have opted for the synthetic gut strings and they have a very nice sound quality over the less expensive steel and nickle strings.
2. The most important thing that I can offer is the bow. I recommend a good horse hair bow not a synthetic which is what you most likely got with the violin also a wooden stick.
Again these is all items that you can get down the road when you have mastered many of the techniques. This no different than any other instrument you want to learn.
I have found that sound of an instrument is not from the price but from the person playing it. Keep going with what you have.
I believe that you stated, you had a luthier look at the violin and said it was better quality than you expected I would work with them in setting it up properly. There are some things that a cheaper violin may need adjusted. The reason being is that they are not hand made and the tolerances are not as tight.. Such as the finger board length and height. A good luthier can usually make those adjustments for you. I wouldn't recommend you doing them as you can really mess the instrument up and make it unplayable.
Good video. I hope you are continuing with it. Progress is measured in months and years, I know. So keep it up.
Don't be so hard on yourself. It could be worse...you spent 2500.00 for two violins which you were sure sounded great based on the RUclips video demonstration. Think you seem to on the right track. Yes there will be times that you want to thru your violin away or at the wall as it is very difficult in the beginning. But if you keep at it ...you will develop a life long love. And nowadays you have RUclips. I wish I had that back then. Best of Luck!
I totally agree with you. I teach in a large class setting, and finger tapes are very helpful for my beginners when learning their basic hand & finger position. However, like I tell them, tapes are like training wheels on a bike; eventually you want to not need them anymore. I also agree about the cheap instruments. The main problem I've come across is that the pegs are NEVER carved properly, and usually will not stay in tune for more than a day--in addition to other problems.
Such a fresh approach! You had pretty much all odds stacked against you and you are still with it. Keep it up.
in the end its just the will to do it, i ended up storing the violin,
and after 6 years i unboxed it, fortunately for me it was an
exhilarating experience, though it takes at least 3 or 4 years too get a
grasp of some rudiment play, i still like my violin , though i found
it has a lot of limitations, but fo 300 bucks, its a lot to ask,
furthermore, when you learn the hard way, and you decide to change it for a better one , its really nice, all the tricks and faults dissapear, and it becomes real easy from then on.. Better yet, the next instrument will probably be your only one, cuz at the shop. you will try different ones, and be able to decide which one is the best for you.. and it doesnt necesesarily have to be the most expensive one.. the good thing is you get to keep all the accesories ,you just need to get a more reliable instrument, of course if you dont like it, it sell the thing, or give it as gift...
Agreed. I would love to have an instructor to help me, give me feedback, and be able to push me to the best of my abilities. I loved taking band when I was in school.
I really liked this video. I've been researching the violin for about a month, and this video is like a crash course of every small thing you should know about the violin before buying. The cheap ass rosin, cheap ass strings, etc. Also really liked the humour, whether it was intended or not. :p
Just want to put this out there for anyone who may be mistaken by the video, though. The violin didn't need any form of repair (or at least that would seem to be the case from the video), even though that would seem to be the case for a lot of the times when you purchase a low-end violin. The whole point is that you still need to buy a whole host of accessories that are pretty much essential to it. New strings, new rosin and rests. Then you have the other stuff that are good to have like a spare bridge, note markers, tuner and metronome, etc.
The cheap strings, rosin, bow, etc are all fine to start with. It won't make a difference your first year of playing. The only accessory needed is a shoulder rest. Skips the finger tapes, masking tape works just as well. Have someone at your local music teach you how to tune it. You'll save a lot of frustration.
@A7Guitar Thanks for watching! Very true, but in the case of machine-made violins, there's never any telling whether you're going to luck out in that department or not. And my point really is that it's not *just* the violin that's going to drain the hell out of your bank account--it's the tools, the accessories, the upgrades, etc. Plus, it's harder to learn to play than, say, a piano, so lessons with a qualified teacher may be necessary.
after some time you will find, that it is not the quality of the instrument, but the skill and feel that decides whether anyone would withstand the music you create
Rosin is for applying to your bow strings so that they have enough friction when moved across the strings to generate a sound.
I love this video. 1. I am thinking of learning it. 2. your experience helps me and others to look out for the traps and such. It's a beautiful instrument but yes, it needs research
The rubber mute you have is a practice mute the small ones are concert mutes. Violins are by far not the cheapest instruments, well if you are getting a descent one, there is so much dedication that needs to be put to learning strings instruments in general because they are so difficult to learn and require a lot of care.
Good for you! You are making the first step and try to stick with it. I enjoy playing almost every days after playing for years.
Thank you for sharing your experience. in fact, I'm trying to learn to play violin and doing research. I think what you're saying is not true only in violin. I had the same self taught experience in Photography, which started with cheap camera, morning to cheap DSLR, mid range, and with no good lenses (they were damn expensive), and then using and experimenting with cheap filters. Never managed to get quite the result i ever wanted. Later on when i started getting more money, i went with better stuff, good lenses (pretty expensive for a student like me) and good filters...oh! I got the desired results which i was after for last 3,4 years. But the experience and knowledge i got completely by myself, and trial and error gave me solid foundation and and abilities in photography.
May be now you're a pro violinist :D
Knowing how to play other stringed instruments really really helps
@lon3lyaznikka I'm glad you liked it! Just remember-those little upgrades can make a huge difference!
You should check your sound post after the bridge fell over, since when the pressure is released the body of the violin lifts a little which in turn makes your sound post fall over as well
This is true for any instrument. You absolutely get what you pay for.
Yep! Sounds very familiar. I got the $79 special that included bow, rosin and case straight out of the catalog - which also sold shoe lifts and Sea Monkeys! While waiting for it to arrive, I started to research violins on line and realized I had ordered a dud, so I read the reviews on Amazon and bought a second one before the first one had even arrived. Spent a whopping $199.99 (MSRP $595) for that one - with bow, rosin and case. Returned the first one unopened and took my "better" violin to a real violin luthier 2+ hours drive away to get it set up properly. Good thing, too, because my new violin DIDN'T HAVE A SOUND POST inside and if I'd tightened the strings, the bridge would have crushed the violin's top!
Once it was set up and the strings were changed, I used this violin for about 6 months in lessons before selling it on eBay and paying about $700 for a 100+ year old French JTL violin that I absolutely love and still play 5 years later. Of course, moving up to the $200 pernambuco bow sure helped the sound a lot, too!
As has been mentioned before, you get what you pay for (if you're lucky and do some research first).
its okay, every one learn from mistakes. I almost experienced your experience when I was buying a violin, good thing I spent time researching for about 2 days!
thank you so much for this video even though its been five years.
oh that finger tape is a great idea. I tune the violin every time I pick it up because I cannot stand out of tune instruments lol. I spent $250 on my violin, got tonica strings, the guy actually gave me a better reisen, and my bow is actually not bad. I played piano for well over a decade and I still feel like I need a teacher. I don't feel like I'm holding the violin/bow correctly, it's so hard. Also you can find a lot of free sheet music online because those music books are so expensive!
I played baritone through middle and highschool. I bought a violin a month ago and I'm loving it =)
If that bridge falls, you can also lose the sound bar inside.
rendering it useless without repair.
I love the last part "Music is always worth it"
I'm beggining to teach violin for friends at first, and I'm actually worried l can't keep them interested, as violin can be very... deceiving in the first years of playing
I stopped my studies for 5 years. There's nothing I regret more than that decision.
Oh, man.... i had almost the exact experience. My cheap violin wasn't even purple! :( But it was the same company and I could not keep it in tune because no matter how hard I tried, I could not get the pegs to stay put. (Yes, I tried the drops and chalk, etc.) I upgraded to the Mendini 500, which was about $140, I think, and that was the perfect violin for me. After six months of lessons, the only thing I'm planning to upgrade with is the strings, and I did buy a better bow. I hope you kept playing!
I found your vid helpful. I'm planning on buying the same cheap kind of violin to start off with and practice. Thanks for uploading ^^
There is nothing wrong with finger tapes, as that is the best way to learn where to place your fingers in the beginning. The problem with a beginner buying a violin online is that they don't understand a cheaper violin sold like that most likely has a lot of problems that need fixing. The default strings usually need to be replaced, the bridge is probably carved/set incorrectly, the pegs don't stay in tune long enough, and the bows bounce a lot.
I love the way you put it. What you say is completely true. People get 'cheap' violins because they break really and we shouldn't feel bad about breaking them since they were so cheap! =3 Getting new strings, rosin, a better part for this bit or that bit of the violin, its all apart of the experience. Yes, it costs money but I think its more than worth it. =3
Oh, you crack me up, I am learning the same things as I try to teach myself how to play. I haven't put tape on my violin yet and I've managed to find some notes and usually just sit there like 30 times putting my finger in the same spot til I remember...but eventually, I'll give in and buy the blasted tape.
When I bought my violin it was also at least half on impulse, I probably put a days worth of thought into it. I also went for something relatively cheap. I paid R1600, which translates to about 194 US dollars. It's an okay violin to start off with. My violin didn't come with rosin though, but although it might be a little bit expensive, it lasts long. In the beginning I couldn't get any good sounds out of the strings, but technique also plays a role in that. PERSEVERE
Sorry for the wait; mine's the one off Amazon. >_> If you're practicing at odd hours, or don't want to disturb anyone, definitely go for the electric. Even a muted acoustic violin can be noisy to the other people in the house.
D'Addario makes a clip on violin that's awesome! You can use it even while playing to stay in tune. Now, as to ALL your other comments: yes, it is overwhelming to take in all at once. It is a lifetime investment. Once you've fallen for it, there's no turning back. It's part of you and who you are. And that's pretty cool. 😀
wow I did the exact same thing. Bought a cheap 40 dollar violin, got the books, replaced the strings, etc. Though I'm a novice player I now know the manufacture of the instrument makes a big difference. I learned the hard way not to get a fancy colored violin as it can affect the tone. Nice to know I'm not the only one who got duped.
Hell it may have cost you 50 bucks,but damn its a beautiful colour!
Friend of mine bought himself a £150 second hand electric violin that he wouldn't stay in tune even with peg paste on. I changed the peg order so they all fit and he changed the strings. Tension was still too high to get it to the right notes. I took it to a local music store and the guy at the strings counter said that he'd seen a few like it before. It was a complete write off to him needing either sent to a luthier (a new one would cost less) or thrown away. My friend traded it in and got £1.
When I first started violin, I was encouraged to rent a good quality violin until I knew whether or not I wanted to continue; playing an inferior instrument is not conducive to learning and definitely not much fun. It was good advice.
Coming from a violinist, I believe that if you truly want to have a good violin, you're gonna have to buy an expensive one. Those ones are made very well and will produce a better sound.
What?! No demonstration for collapsing the bridge?!
I was on a demonstration-watching roll and ya killed it! ;)
I know the guy who wrote the essential elements book. He taught a 2 and a half week masterclass thing at Ohio State. It was AWESOME
I hope you are still learning violin. It's a great instrument! I started on a really cheap and horrible violin, but after a year playing on it and learning better technique, learned how to make it sound better with cheap strings and all.
I've unfortunately had to abandon the violin for now. I moved, and between my classes eating up my time, my daughter being in school, my sister and our new roommate, I haven't had the time, energy, or space to practice. And even when I did, it was rather disheartening without any feedback. I genuinely need a teacher. Just another thing I didn't think of beforehand.
Um, the finger tapes are to make sure you're training your ears for the *right* notes. Not the ones a mm above or below. I can't remember if I mentioned in the video, but my experience is in baritone, which have different key holds for flats and sharps.. I also brought up the price because I'm low income, and was looking specifically for a cheap instrument to learn, which this ended up not being, despite initial appearances. I've covered my 'bow hold' in several comments already.
I did the same thing as you, sister. Although, I didn't know that mutes existed. Thank you for the insight and I sure hope people learn from our unfortunate mistakes through your video.
There is a tuning accessory that clips to the pegs or peg box that is simple to mount and easy to read. Most music shops have them or you can get one online.
@KDMStudios If you mean the violin, it's a ViolinSmart, sold by Austin Bazaar on Amazon.com.
Most of the VSOs (violin shaped objects) can be made to play and they are serviceable for beginners for a year or two. After you get the cat out (takes about 6 months to stop squeeling and scratching) you start wanting something with more tone and playability. Real fiddles start about $5000 and a good bow is about $1000. Quality is never cheap. A guitar can be had for 49.95 but a 1961 Martin D-28 will cost you $10,000. Same with fiddles :)
one important thing i really recommend is that you look up theonlinepianotutor , she has this list of 10 violin lessons on youtube and, yes she's a violin tutor as well. her channel is really informative and there's many tips and tricks that she gives you, anywhere from holding the bow properly to learning how to play with vibrato. You should totally check her out...
Actually, having watched the 99 dollar violin test (now titled the 109 dollar violin test), I would recommend that violin. The guy apparently started selling them because he was so impressed with what was included--which covers several things I've recommended here.
Essential Elements is pretty much the standard band book. I can't imagine it's hard to find. Any music store, Amazon, Ebay, Half, they should all have it. And as my video should show, I'm not exactly an expert. However, if you look up the 99 Dollar Violin Test (check at the top of the recommended videos to the right), that guy found a real gem and has them available for sale from his website. I wish I'd known back then.
Not-quite-absolute beginner here (it's my ninth or tenth week after the start of my lessons). I can empathise... while I was trying my best to do my research, I came to the conclusion that the violin was an entire mini-universe unto itself. And then my teacher directed me to what I should focus on and the size of that mini-universe instantly ballooned.
All the best, Blackwidina! It's been four years since the upload; how do you sound now, if I might ask?
I also really like my bow. my bow is great. I don't know why, but I get a real sense of the bow being better than the violin itself.
the thing is, we just can't be snobby about a cheap starter violin. a cheap starter violin isn't setting poor foundations. it's just a launchpad.
hell, the first time I tuned my violin, the soundpost fell. then I couldn't find my tuner (long term guitar player, and I've always just played radioheads "airbag" on the low E to tune it)
Man, I'm experiencing most of the same things now - kind of like bought it on an impulse buy and was like, wow so what do I do with it now... I do think it's worth it but it's a real pain teaching myself how to play this on my own (no money for lessons). Good job with the vid, very informative to us noobs :)
You talk about brass being expensive.
I used to play oboe and miss it, so I looked it up recently and to get a (low end) decent instrument is over 2 grand, so I totally feel you!!
I just bought a MV500 violin for about 200 so we will see how it does.
To the video author: thanks for the insight. I used to play throughout elementary school and middle school, now I'm looking to get back into it for funzies. Would you still recommend a cheap violin to "fix up," or is there one you would've started with if you had known? I'm also on a tight budget... isn't everyone?
"The violin is the cheapest instrument you can get"???? yeah if you're buying an unplayable piece of junk. a decent violin with a good tone and good craftsmanship is going to cost at least $1,000. My Strings alone cost $80.
Thank you
Carl Wilbur Yeah, considering I bought the violin at 10 dollars...
Carl Wilbur you could buy a good starter instrument for like 400
Carl Wilbur my flute cost £1,600 and that isn’t even the final flute I have to get 😕 my next ones gunna be maybe £8,000 if I’m lucky maybe even £20,000 if I can get far enough to get one
My Strings Alone Cost $170
GOSH...I just brought a cheap violin and I might be walking down your OLD PATH RIGHT on thursday when it ARRIVE!!!
It is not that bad. The mute is optional, you can lean your book against a chair. Also beginners shouldn't buy fancy strings and tune their own instruments unless there is no music store near you.
"Musoc is always worth it."
I like that. Your video totally helped me. :)
@applejacks190 - I absolutely loved playing baritone, but I've found that it's somewhat rare outside of school bands. I've never played tuba, outside of messing around, but I can guarantee that baritone uses less air, and gets better parts (it shares the same tone & music as the trombones.) I'd definitely recommend it, just based on sound and playability. When you buy one, make sure that you get the type you want; they come in various keys, and I accidentally got one in E flat.
when it comes to spending for the actual instrument, you can get a good student violin (plus case, bow, rosin, shoulder rest) for about $500. This is what it cost me in Hong Kong. A decent trumpet in contrast would cost you about $1500. Most of the price of the violin is with lessons. lessons are generally $25 dollars each (weekly). That would be $1200 a year; $6000 for 5 years and be an "advanced" (but not pro) violinist. I think it's worth it cause I love the violin, but you have to see
I lol'ed at the gunshot part
the more you KNOW about your instrument, the better . even from the same maker, in the same price range, you can get some astonishing differences in tone. i always tell people though... check the position of the parts (bridge, sound post, etc), check for open seams on an older or second hand instrument, and if comparing instruments use the same bow....lastly remember that strings can make a huge difference.
Thank you. This was very helpful.
@92youngbear Thanks so much for your comments! Yes, I've also been told to use that hold on the bow(I call it the 'retarded rabbit'), but I'm new enough that holding that position for very long makes my arm tired, so I usually 'choke up' on the bow to lessen the strain. I also don't usually bother with a proper hold when I'm tuning or just playing a single note, like when I was demonstrating! ;P
My orchestra teacher hated me, and she was one of the nicest teachers overall. When my bridge broke, she made me sit in the back of the classroom and write essays. Like you, I liked the experience, but I was horrible. I didn't have the time to dedicate to it either because I worked, babysat and came home late. I wish she would have been honest. I'm bad at music. My choir teacher gave me a lullaby to sing at state, and I wouldn't go.
@goldenwingsoffire No, it's a ViolinSmart, sold by Austin Bazaar. You can find them on Amazon.com.
I enjoyed this. Thanks!
what i have learned researching violins liked color violins and regular ones is that people were saying that the colored ones are cheap sounding and you need to take it to get it checked out or something like that and it also said that when you hear somebody play a noncolor violin you'll hear the difference they also said that its made cheap now i do believe someone also said "you get what you pay for" I'm wondering if its worth buying a color violin or not and just buy a classic color violin :D
Go for classic. Color is painted instead of stained and it gums up and mutes the sound of the wood
it sounds okay :) you should be happy its a good starter instrument! just note that you should never get a colored instrument. the reason they color them is that they are hiding a bad cut of tone wood. but its fine though :)
When I first started the violin, I bought a $100 one. After half a year of playing, I decided to continue to play for the next four years of high school. So I bought a $1700 and it was worth it. So if you want to start playing the violin, I'd suggest renting one or buying a cheapish one first because not everyone will like it.
On the flip side of that, if you have a cheap violin that doesn't respond well to what you want to do it may be time for an upgrade. Quality does count further on down the road.
you just have to know what you can expect.
it's not a high end instrument BUT, despite what snobby people say, it IS a violin, and £30/$50 is a perfectly fair price to dabble in a new instrument.
it won't be "great" but it is a learning and experiencing curve.
even though just a week in I was researching my next violin, those few pounds were not a waste. because had I not enjoyed it, I'd have saved a lot more.
A wonderful journey awaits you. Nice video and best to you and yours.
Essential Elements is the best for teaching an instrument. That's what my school's band program uses. I taught myself how to play flute and alto saxophone, without a teacher, with them. I think I might get a violin and that book..
Chinese instruments have improved tremendously in the past decade. They are still very inconsistent in quality when compared to European ones, but you CAN (and sound like you HAVE) find a good one.
the violin sounded fine to me. also your attitude is good. next step: profits.
Tks 4 this video. "VSOs" (violin shaped objects) abound. This is a good video for students looking to cut corners. Yes, you can learn some stuff w a cheapie, but you saw the upgrading it took to get to square 1. YES, the bridge needs to be fitted to the violin. That may be the reason it baled in the 1st place. Price differences make differences in sound that really do affect your learning. As an adult learner, you look ready for Pete Cooper's bow hold video to make the most of what you have now.
we are still living in a world were you can buy a violin for less than Euro 1000,- and you
will have pleasure the rest of your live, especially violins made 1920-1940 in France
or Germany. Mirecourt or Markneukirchen
LMAO I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA CRY @ 0:28
No problem and good practicing! :D