How to Choose a Good Violin

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Learning to play the violin is a rewarding journey. But, picking the right instrument is key, especially for beginners. This article will help you choose a good violin in Singapore. It’s for students, teachers, or those buying for music schools.

We’ll look at important factors like size, craftsmanship, sound quality, and budget. These will guide you in finding the perfect violin for your musical adventure.

Table of Contents

But, what makes a violin “good”? The answer might surprise you. A “good” violin depends on your personal taste and what you want to achieve with your playing.

Why Choosing A Decent Violin Is Key?

Getting a good violin is crucial for musicians at any level. A quality instrument sounds rich and resonant. It also helps players improve their skills and expression.

A bad violin, on the other hand, sounds harsh and muffled. This can be really frustrating, especially for beginners.

Playing a quality violin is comfortable and easy. It reduces the chance of injury, letting players focus on their music. This is vital for those who practice a lot.

The quality of a violin greatly affects learning and performance. A well-made violin responds better to the player’s touch. This helps control sound and expression, boosting a musician’s artistry.

Investing in a quality violin helps musicians progress and enjoy playing. It offers a rich sound and a comfortable feel, making the choice clear and beneficial.

 Violin Type  Price Range  Craftsmanship  Tone Quality
 Factory-made Violins  Below $100 Semi-mechanised process  Wide range in quality
 Semi Handmade  Below $300  18th, 19th, and 20th-century instruments  Varying quality based on origin
 Fully Handmade  From $300 to $30,000  Crafted by individual makers China, Cheque, Russian, European wood

How to Choose a Starter Violin for Your Child

If you have a child who is new to playing the violin, there are several factors that you need to take into consideration before buying them their first instrument.

Firstly, it is important to consider the age of the child. Younger students will require a smaller instrument with a narrower neck and finger board. Older students may be better suited to get an instrument with a wider neck and longer fingerboard.

Secondly, it is important to consider your budget. LVL Music Academy offers high-quality starter beginner violins at prices that are comparable with secondhand options. You may consider JV01 and JV02.

How to Choose a Starter Violin for Adults

Choosing the perfect starter violin for yourself is dependent on your personal needs and budget. A violin is a fragile instrument that requires careful handling, not to mention upkeep.

The most important aspect of choosing a starter violin for beginners is the cost of the instrument. The pricing of violins varies greatly depending on model, and quality.

High quality violins are usually expensive and may be unaffordable to many first-time buyers without a budget set aside specifically for this purchase. However, it is possible to find affordable options that are still of high quality at LVL Music Academy. You may consider JV01, JV02 and JV03.

What to Consider When Buying a Violin

If you are just beginning to learn the instrument, you might not have any idea which model of violin is best for you. Our staff at LVL Music Academy will be able to assist you on this.

If you are relatively new to the instrument and do not know what to look for in a quality violin, here are some things for consideration when buying your first violin:

Price: Generally speaking, more expensive violins have better sound quality than less expensive models. A good rule of thumb is that anything under $500 is not likely worth your time or money. You can always start with a beginner violin first and then upgrade to a better one if you are tight in budget, but if your budget allows then we recommend going for better hand-crafted violins.

Tips on How to Find the Perfect Violin For Your Child

There are different sizes for kids, typically below 12 years old. A violin is not like a shirt or an umbrella, it needs to be fitted to the person size who will be playing it. As an adult player above 13 years old, you will be playing on a full size violin also known as 4/4 size.

It is important to find a violin that fits your child’s physical size. The violin sizes for children are 1/16,1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and so forth.

The best way to find out which size of violin is right for your child is by visiting LVL Music Academy shop. We will be able to measure your child’s arm length accordingly to find the right violin size.

Violin Accessories for Children

Along with the violin, kids need the right accessories. These include a light case, a padded shoulder rest, and rosin for small hands.

  1. Lightweight carbon fibre case: Protects the violin and is easy for kids to carry.
  2. Shoulder rest: Helps kids play with good posture and grip.
  3. Child-friendly rosin: Makes playing smooth and clear for kids.

Violins Under $100 - What You Should Know?

We are aware of the quality of the wood which is not good. The sound it will make is scratchy & violins that are not set up are unlikely to play well. We do not sell violins in this range because they can be seen as just being objects, which also has no use for someone who is trying to learn the violin.

Violins Under $200 - What You Should Know?

At LVL Music Academy, we have a violin model JV01 which is priced at $195. It is really for someone that just want to dabble the violin without much commitment. However, the sound produced is of a metallic sound which might not be very ideal to the player. When the sound produced is not good, it will frustrate the player and thus will eventually stop playing the violin. This will then waste your time and effort and this is the reason we do not usually recommend violins under $200.

Violins Above $500 - What You Should Know?

Better quality of wood and accessories are being used and thus better sound production will be produced. This is essential for players who do enjoy and appreciate the sound of the violin.
The purchase of a violin is an investment. It is recommended to take your time before making a decision. A violin can be a lifetime instrument and should be carefully chosen.

You will notice that there are many violins to choose from in terms of style, sound, prices, and different brands. Before approaching the decision process, it is important to know your needs and also what you want from the violin. For example, if you intend to use the instrument for orchestra or chamber music, then you want a louder sound as opposed to solo playing (for which softer tone is better).

From our experience, students who purchase our violin models of JV03, JV04 and above tend to continue their violin journey.

How To Choose A Good Violin For Beginners

Choosing the right violin is key for beginners. To start your musical journey smoothly, consider these important factors:

Ensure a Professional Setup

A violin not set up right can slow your progress. It’s vital to have it professionally adjusted. This means the bridge, soundpost, and strings need to be just right for playing. At LVL Music Academy we check every violin and make the necessary adjustments to make sure the instrument is in great condition before delivering to the customer.

Choose the Correct Size

Violins come in sizes from 1/32 for kids to 4/4 for adults. Pick the right size based on your age and height. This ensures you’re comfortable and can learn the right way.

Don't Cross Your Budget

Beginner violins cost between SGD 200 and SGD 600. They offer good quality at a fair price. Stay away from violins under SGD 100, as they’re often made poorly.

Ask About the Warranty

When buying a violin, ask about the warranty. A good warranty gives you peace of mind. It protects your investment if any problems come up. AT LVL Music Academy we provide warranty for one year so if your violin seams open up or other similar issues we will take care of it.

Repair Services

As a one stop place we provide sales of instruments as well as all sort of repair services from cracks, bow rehair, strings change, and upgrading accessories.

How To Choose A Good Violin For Advanced Players

Choosing the right violin is crucial for advanced players. Look for violins made with top-quality materials and traditional techniques. These features ensure a rich sound that shines in groups.

Check the violin’s craftsmanship carefully. Look at the inlays, varnish, and overall finish. These details show the luthier’s skill and affect the sound and feel of the violin.

It’s also important to try out different violins. This helps find one that matches your sound and playing style. Advanced players seek a violin that lets them express their music clearly.

While these violins are pricier, the investment is worth it. The right violin can enhance your music and impress audiences with your skill.

 Violin Model  Price Range  Key Features
 Jviolins – JV05  $2,600  100% German handmade violin. Wood is naturally aged for 20 years.
 Antique German Violin, Jacobus Stainer, c. 1930  $18,888  Crafted circa 1930 in Markneukirchen. Attractive two-piece maple back. Quality medium-grained spruce top
 Jviolins – LVLEH25  $4,250  Using the finest European wood, aged naturally for 25 years. For those seeking an elegant sound and refined aesthetics.
 Antique Italian Violin Viotti by Antonio Stradivari  $15,888  Crafted entirely by hand with visually striking wood grains. Fitted with Evah Pirazzi strings.
 Jviolins – LVLEH35  $5,850 Featuring a composition of naturally aged 35-year-old maple and spruce, it produces a versatile and rich tone.
 Jviolins – LVLEH20  $3,250  Boasting naturally matured 20-year-old maple and spruce, it radiates a versatile, opulent tone suitable for various musical style.
 Labeled Stradivarius Violin – Edition 1  $5,250 Crafted from wood aged for over 30 years, ensuring unparalleled richness and depth of tone. Equipped with German Wittner tailpiece.
 Labeled Stradivarius Violin – Edition 2  $6,250 It proudly displays the iconic Stradivarius label, symbolising its top-notch quality. Fitted with high-quality strings and features an ebony fingerboard, pegs, and fittings.

Conclusion

The most important thing to learn when playing any musical instrument is how to make a sound with it. You need to be able to produce a sound on your desired instrument before you can play any song on it. It is important that you have an easy-to-play violin that will produce a nice sound so that you can focus on techniques and not trying to make the violin sound nice. The violin itself should sound nice on its own.

Picture of About The Author:
About The Author:

Alan Senejani
Alan is the co-founder of LVL Music Academy and in charge of everyday operations. His wife, Ms Janice and himself are passionate to bring out the best in kids & adults with quality music lessons in Singapore. He is a loving father to his 4 years old little girl & 1 year old little boy.

Picture of About The Author:
About The Author:

Alan Senejani
Alan is the co-founder of LVL Music Academy and in charge of everyday operations. His wife, Ms Janice and himself are passionate to bring out the best in kids & adults with quality music lessons in Singapore. He is a loving father to his 4 years old little girl & 1 year old little boy.

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