student-violins.com

Kids Violins and What to Look For When Buying or Renting a Violin
If you are here, you may be in the same spot we were, looking for kids violins and wondering about violin sizes, violin tuning, violin accessories such as a violin fingering chart, music stands, violin tuners, etc.


There are three ways to get kids violins for your student:
1. Buying
2. Renting a violin
3. Borrowing. We will not discuss borrowing because a lot of this information will not be relevant to you. However, you may want to check out our accessories for kids violins area of this site for information on violin tuning instructions, music stands, violin sizes in the sizing chart section of this site, violin accessories, and/or the violin fingering chart.

If you are renting kids violins or considering renting a violin there is a definite benefit in renting a violin locally, although renting kids violins is available online. The cost of renting kids violins long term will drive you insane. And the worst part is that violin stores have a limited number of kids violins available for renting. Most of them are well-used kids violins and may be slightly damaged. When you get kids violins with even a hairline crack, there is definitely a loss of tone. If there is nothing else to choose from in the store, you get what you get.

Having said all this and although the cost of renting will drive you nuts, we highly recommend renting a violin for the beginning student to be sure they will want to continue studying the violin. Also, renting kids violins locally may give you a chance to buy any violin accessories you may need. Otherwise you may buy violin accessories online. We often buy violin accessories online and never have a problem; we are even considering purchase some music stands online.

Another thing you will want to learn about is violin tuning instructions. We have written an article about violin tuning instructions for kids’ violins for your convenience; we hope you find it helpful.

To buy kids violins you can turn to a local music shop or choose an online buying experience. We recommend buying children violins and most violin accessories after your student has completed one year of violin study and likes it!

If you are looking at buying kids violins online, you need to know what the proper violin sizes are. When buying children violins, make sure the store you purchase from has a trade-in program so you moving to a larger violin sizes in the future will be at a minimal cost. Consider the fact that your child’s violin sizes will be changing as they grow. The store we use charges $50 to move up to the next size if you have purchased the children violins from them.

It is also nice to build relationships store personnel so they will help you with other violin accessories such as violin tuners, in the future. Also, anyone at your local violin store should be able to help you with violin tuning instructions. I can’t stress enough how important it is to know about violin tuning.

The violin case should be included in any rental or purchase you make. If you find yourself here looking for a new case or even a used case, here is a nice selection that is reasonably priced. We prefer cases that have a shoulder strap attached.

What to Consider

O.K., so you’re wondering if you need to buy violin accessories and violin supplies. To buy violin accessories, there is not much that you ABSOLUTELY need, but there are some violin supplies you may want to consider such as: violin shoulder rest, rosin, violin tuner, music stand or a metronome (electronic metronome or classic metronome).
Buy Violin Accessories in Order of Importance
#1 Violin Shoulder Rest


The first violin accessory we purchased was a violin shoulder rest, but we waited a few months. In the beginning we just folded up a wash cloth and attached it with a rubber band to provide a quasi violin shoulder rest. If this is you, you definitely need to invest in a violin shoulder rest, it is inexpensive and will truly help your violin student.
#2 Music Stand

When you buy violin accessories consider a music stand if you don’t already have a music stand, don’t try to prop your child’s music up on something other than a piano or a music stand. Also, a music stand can be used for years and not just for the violin.
#3 Violin Tuners

Another item you may want to consider when you go to buy violin accessories and/or violin supplies, is a violin tuner.
#4 a Metronome
Classic Metronomes

A metronome is really something you have to decide if you need. I think it depends on the student. Our daughter does not use a metronome, however as she advances, she may need one. You can choose between a classic metronome or an electronic metronome.

This is by far the most popular item on this site, the violin fingering chart. Use it to help your child memorize the fingerings on their violin.