My wife has expressed an interest in learning to play the violin, so I’m making that part of this year’s gift giving. I know nothing about violins except that they sound nice when played well.
I see that violins come in a number of different sizes, expressed as fractions - presumably 4/4 being a full-size and the other fractions indicating a smaller size? I assume that’s to accommodate children, etc? Should a full-grown (albeit below-average height) woman be okay to play a 4/4, or is there some kind of measurement system?
Are there any recommendations for specific brands or styles etc for a first-timer (other than, obviously not buying something too expensive the first time around)?
I’m also going to look into finding her one-on-one lessons locally. Barring that, are there any books, dvds, websites, etc that you would recommend for the self-teaching approach?
I think I had graduated to a full size by the time I was 11 or 12, so unless your wife is 4’9" or something she should be fine on a full (4/4).
Don’t go too expensive but don’t go too cheap, either. Cheap violins require a lot of work to get an even semi-decent sound out of, which will be extra hard for a beginner, discouraging, and grating to the ears (tinny and shrill). My general rule is if the violin looks orange and very shiny, and the bow seems to be made of plastic, it probably sucks to play. It might be better to go to a secondhand music store and get a gently used one than go for a factory-made lump off Amazon.
She ought to be fine on a full size, most adults are. I play a 3/4, but I’m 5’0" and have small hands. And even I can play a 4/4, it’s just a strain on my fingers when I go for the high notes.
I agree with chizzuk, if you get something too cheap it’ll sound awful.
I don’t have any self-teaching resources to recommend, sorry. I learned with a teacher, and I really think that’s the best way to go. It’s so helpful to have someone show you how it’s supposed to go and tell you what you’re doing wrong. There are some really basic things like how to hold the instrument properly that I’d never have figured out without my teacher, not to mention the more advanced stuff.
Oh, and a random tip for a beginner: the strings might hurt her fingers at first. This goes away with time and practice.
Good luck! The violin is a lovely instrument, I’m sure your wife will really appreciate your gift.
I think she’ll need a teacher. Violin is much harder to learn on your own than guitar or many other instruments; in fact I would say it’s near impossible (unless you already play cello or something).
As another thread here said, the key thing about violins is that (assuming they’re reasonably taken care of) they don’t get worse as they’re used, in fact often they get better. So there’s nothing wrong with buying used (unlike, say, trumpets which get worse as they’re used). The second thing about violins is that they’re pretty standardized, unlike say guitars. Most full-sized violins will feel about the same, especially to a beginner, so there’s no need to try a bunch of them to see what feels comfortable. They will sound different, but neither you nor your wife will really know what to listen for yet, so you’ll have to trust the salesperson.
If there’s a decent classical instrument store in town, I’d go there and ask about their used violins. Make it clear you don’t want the crappiest made-for-children-to-abuse model, but something suitable for an adult beginner. Remember, if you get a starter model and she wants something better later, you should be able to re-sell the starter model for a reasonable amount of what you paid.
Also: clean your chin rest with a slightly damp cloth every now and then. Gunk can build up and eventually cause pimples or worse. Back when I actually practiced a lot and was good, I had a “violin hickey” callus that once got infected badly enough from the chin rest to require antibiotics. Nobody had ever told me it needed to be cleaned, so now I’m telling you.