Well, what’s done is done. The paperwork is signed and my soul is their’s for XX payments of YY a month. This is not like me, I research things into the ground. And while I’ll be the first to let anyone make a living, I have no idea if this is an $80 or $800 violin.
It sounds good, the boy is happy, and I figure this is going to be one of those life experiences, hopefully a good one.
This is precisely what happened.
I learned to play the violin in 5th grade. By the time I got to my senior year in high school, I was first chair of the viola section, was a member of a wedding troupe, and a member of a couple of communities orchestra.
Orchestra is great. I was a real klutz as a kid, so sports wasn’t an option as an extracurricular. I was too introverted to want to join a club. But playing in an orchestra taught me the kind of skills you get out of both sports and clubs. Like teamwork and the importance of self-discipline. And how not to choke under pressure. (Plus, all my fun memories of school come from orchestra field trips, orchestra parties, and an assortment of orchestra mischief.)
If he sticks with it for a year and he likes it (and you can afford it), I would strongly recommend private lessons. I would have never practiced if it hadn’t been for the nagging of all those tutors I had, and practicing is what helps you to advance from the back of the section to the front. I only remember a couple of kids who didn’t have lessons and who still managed to be really good. If you had lessons, you most certainly were going to be at least above-average. If you didn’t have lessons, chances are you were going to suck. Orchestra is more fun when you’re in the “doesn’t suck” category. It’s kind of like life.
One word of advice: it’s going to be tough the first year. Those first months of playing are going to be very squeaky and squawky. It takes awhile to develop the ear and the motor skills. I am grateful that my parents had nothing but positive things to say as I learned how to play, even though I know I sounded really bad.
Well, I guess it was one of those intangible things ‘getting a better job’ will help fund. We’ve been listening to him tonight (and I, er, fiddled with it a bit) and it’s certainly interesting. I can see how good and bad form makes sound, and it’s LIGHT…I’d never come close to one before.
I distinctly heard the first three notes from the Original Superman theme coming from the Violin while he was playing…only they weren’t in the right order, and there were some other notes in there as well…but I heard them.
And I know where my shootin’ muffs are.
One option that hasn’t been mentioned: find a local wholesaler, or other bulk supplier, and ask if they’ll do a consumer retail purchase.
Years ago, I wanted a cheap, basic flute–I was playing occasionally in pubs with friends, and did not like taking my nicer, and more expensive, instruments into environments that often had clumsy drunks, lots of smoke in the air, etc. In other words, if my flute was going to be damaged in those places, I wouldn’t want it to be an expensive one I studied on, and played in more formal settings. I’d heard about this technique, and looked into it.
I found a bulk supplier that supplied a lot of local high schools, and private schools (for example, they would sell a school three trumpets, four clarinets, a bassoon, and four trombones in a single order). Their instruments were not top-quality, but they were beginner-quality, playable instruments.
I made a call. Yes, they would happily do a single-instrument sale, with the manufacturer’s warranty; and so I got a flute such as a beginning player might use, at a much lower price than I would have paid for the same instrument in an ordinary retail store. That instrument has seen a lot of places, pubs, and bars; and experienced a lot (thankfully, no drunk ever sat on it); and it still plays nicely.
Just an idea. Something to look into anyway.
For inexpensive private lessons, contact the Orchestra director at your local high school. There will usually be a few students willing to teach for an extra $10/half hour.
TheKid played violin from 3rd grade - 10th grade. We rented-to-own through a local music store that also allowed credit towards trade ups - she began with a 3/4 size violin, okay quality, by the time she quit she owned a pretty decent quality full sized violin.
Unfortunately, it’s now simply gathering dust in her closet.
I played in my schools’ orchestras for 7 years, from sixth grade until I graduated high school. Apparently, I was fortunate that my elementary, intermediate, and high schools’ programs could all afford to provide students with instruments for free. I’ve never heard of students having to pay to play. The only kids who owned their instruments were the very good ones who took private lessons and were members of the state youth symphony.
OP, I hope your son enjoys the experience. I was never very good, didn’t practice as much as I should have, and I wasn’t interested in it enough to take private lessons, but I still loved playing and felt so formal and talented during performances. Girls wore long black dresses and boys wore black slacks and sport coats. Milling around backstage felt like preparing to perform at Carnegie Hall. 
I played string bass in orchestra and tuba in band all through middle and high school. (I play both professionally now) Best thing about school for me was music classes. Worst thing about music classes was the crappy school instruments I had to play. Whoever invented the fiberglass sousaphone should be slapped and sterilized.
Anyway…
All three of my daughters are taking music. One in high school band and two in middle school band. Don’t regret renting an instrument. It’s probably better than some beat to hell school instrument. Besides, yer kid may decide it’s not for him and you’ll have to unload an instrument with no clue how to do it or how much it’s worth.
I hope your boy takes to it. Private lessons are definitely a good idea. I give lessons and work with my daughter’s marching band and orchestra and you can pick out the kids that take lessons. They’re the ones sitting first chair and becoming the ensemble’s leaders.
The time involved for parents can vary. If you join the music boosters club you will end up sinking some time into it. It’s not mandatory, but my wife and I feel like we’re more in the loop as far as what’s going on. Orchestra doesn’t demand anywhere near as much time as the marching band. No strings at football games.
Long post, sorry. It’s an important subject to me.
I played the violin from 3rd through 12th grade. I was pretty good at it. I took private lessons from my high school teacher. Played first violin in the school orchestra for several years.
Never owned an instrument, but my parents rented one from a local music store. We returned it after I graduated. Haven’t picked up a violin since then, and haven’t missed it. It was something to do in high school, but overall, music has never been a major interest in my life. (In fact, in 8th grade I missed a concert due to a science fair that ran later than scheduled. My music teacher was angry, but science *was *a major interest of mine.)
I don’t know if there’s a lesson here or not. Looking back, I should have tried out for the chorus instead. I don’t have much of a voice, but it would have saved my parents a lot of money, and the girl I had a huge crush on was in the chorus.
At my high school we taught the little kids at the elementary school for free. Went towards community service credit for graduation. It beat being a candy striper at the nursing home, and plus at the end of the year we’d get to show off our students at a recital. It was a good experience.
This is priceless. May I have permission to quote this on Facebook?
I am so glad that things are working out.
I tell kids that band is kinda like a bank account. The only way to have more interest is to invest more in it. Also, remember that interest ebbs and flows. When your son just doesn’t want to do it any more is when he will need the most support and encouragement. The hardest part is to persevere through the times that interested has waned a bit. Middle schoolers haven’t had enough life experiences to know that many things in life are like that.
I wasn’t that community service oriented - I charged for flute lessons. It was my first job as a sophomore in high school. I absolutely loved it.
I wanted to thank you all for your help and experiences, His first class is this afternoon, we’ll see how it goes.
Doug K wrote:
Please do. Spread the word, brother!
My daughter played violin in the middle school orchestra. It was a great experience for her. All of her friends played as well - the instructor was fantastic. She started in elementary school and it was hard on the ears at first, but as she got better it became a pleasure to listen to her practice. She even started writing some of her own music, or trying to play something she heard in a movie or on TV. I think it brought out a lot of artistic creativity in her. She is playing as a HS freshman now, but I think this may be the final year of violin as she really wants to take an art or photography class next year.
We have a local music store that supports the school music programs all around town, and they have a rent-to-own program, so that worked out well. I have no idea if the violin we now own is good or bad, but it sounds fine to me.
One thing you can do to encourage your son is to take him to a local orchestra performance so he can see and hear what is possible. I have done that with my daughter and it does stoke more interest. Listening to classical music at home can also reinforce his interest. Good luck!
I can’t answer that but I am in tears reading this thread because:
My sister told me that she’d been first chair in her section I think for her entire 8th grade year. Nobody went to the recital where she had like a half a song solo. Neither of our parents had any idea she was that good.
I also begged and begged and begged for dance lessons, but was also not allowed to take them. (driving + costs)
So it depresses me when I see the thinking of some parents who find giving a ride to and from one activity is just too damn much sacrifice to make. Now, if the parents have the kid overscheduled for band, plus two sports, plus martial arts and underwater basketweaving classes, then yeah, I get it. My parents were the other end of the helicopter spectrum: I didn’t think they gave a shit.
Consequently, I took choir. And thought I was a horrible singer until years later when I realized the stupid choir teacher always had me in the soprano section. I sing in the contralto range. No* wonder *I sucked.
Dogzilla, I was just like you, and had similar issues with my mom. You wouldn’t believe how good it feels to hear my kids play their instruments! And I’m very, very slowly learning to play piano.
Unintentionally Blank, as for the strings and orchestra program, we’ve been happy so far renting from one of the many local music stores, as you have now done. The rent applies to ownership, and we trade in for bigger sizes or if we want different instruments. They do any maintenance. Once the kids are full-size, we’ll buy using the credit.
I started playing violin when I was about 10. My school didn’t have an orchestra, so I took (cheap) private lessons. I got my cousin’s very used violin. After a couple of years, my teacher recommended that I get a better teacher, and my new school had an orchestra. My new teacher insisted that I get a better instrument.
Day 1 in the middle school orchestra: I became the concertmaster, and I held onto that post until 11th grade, when long-story-short, I went where all low-self-esteem violinists go: to the viola section. Fortunately, the music department had lots of instruments available, so I played a school viola.
Being in the orchestra, regardless of instrument, was one of the high points of my high school years. When I was a senior, I tried to join the choir as well, but there was a new policy that you couldn’t be in more than one music class at a time.
So what I’m saying is: Do everything possible to encourage your kid to play an instrument or sing. Even now, 50 years later, I no longer play an instrument, but I do sing. And it’s amazing how much I learned playing violin/viola that’s applicable to singing.
A few years ago, I ran into my elderly violin teacher, recently retired from the Cleveland Orchestra. He asked me whether I still play. I lied and said I did. Well, it wasn’t a total lie; Many of the things he taught me were life-long lessons that still enrich my life.
Every kid should have that.
Then here’s another life lesson for you: One internet thread cannot possibly convey the entirety of a stranger’s life.
I hadn’t mentioned I’m a Cubmaster for a local Pack. Nor did I mention the additional time spent with my boys in their Den, or the running around, politicks, hidden costs, and many other things I’ve done to ensure the Pack continues to run, in part, because it helps my kids. I have also had plenty of kneejerk StraightDope reactions to scouting, because it must be populated entirely from Mormon Pedophiles.
I don’t wish to skew melodramatic, but the snap judgements get a little tiring.
I’ll be brutally honest: I don’t like sports. I don’t see the value in sports. The ‘lessons’ sports give can be had elsewhere.
I value art. TheOtherBoy is enrolled in an afterschool art program, and I’m a little concerned because while he is artistic, his art is not ‘arty’ in the vein of the stuff that’s available after school. If they had ‘comic book art’ he’d be all over it. Minecraft, Cars, Houses, Cities. He eats it all up. That is not what is available…we’re sending him to what IS, because he’ll pick up some breadth.
I value music. See this thread.
I value science and math and engineering and am intentionally, subversively, exposing the Cubscouts to it, because you sure won’t get it anywhere else.
Please don’t write me off because I won’t take my kid to Hockey, k?
For me, joining band was the greatest experience of my middle school and high school life. Just looking at my Facebook friends list, many of them were band members and even my band director (in his 70s) is a Facebook friend of mine.
I didn’t have the talent to compete at the highest level, but today I can read music, enjoy the Chicago Symphony, and consider myself a patron of the arts. I also took 2 music appreciation classes in college and got A’s in both of them, all because of the music knowledge I picked up. I often wish I’d stuck with it into college, but I chose a double major and there really wasn’t enough time in my freshman year of college.
I hope he enjoys it. If I had to pick a string instrument, I would have picked the cello. But, my college roommate played the violin and I certainly enjoyed listening.