The kids violin implies that violinists come in all shapes and sizes. This is why we dedicated an article to help you find the perfect violin for your tiny virtuoso. Your children do not have to be prodigies to enjoy playing the violin. There are many research papers that show that children who learn to play an instrument early in their life, do better with many subjects in school.
There is strong evidence kids playing violin do better on scientific subjects like math. Furthermore buying a first kids violin will affect both their love for music and how much they gain from learning how to play it.
There are a few factors that you will have to consider before buying the perfect kids violin:
- First of all the size matters.
- Even a virtuoso has to start from somewhere.
- Hang on to your money, and do not spend too much.
- If you purchase a complete set, you will save money.
Main Factors Regarding Violins for Children
When looking for a violin, both the size of the instrument and your child matter. For example, if you have a seven-year-old, that is too big for their age, you will have to consider a size that is more suitable for a ten-year-old, rather than seven.
However, if you have a ten-year-old which is small for their age, you may have to consider a smaller size. Usually, children from ten to twelve use adult sizes, and the younger ones use child ones.
The size is so important because it helps the child hold the violin comfortably. So when we considered our list of best kids violins, we took a look at the various sizes that were available so we could give you a clearer look.
A kids violin that is the perfect size at a reasonable price is a great find, so we did our best to offer you a full range of prices and sizes.
Most people think that the child will be amazing. However, you should remember that even the prodigies have to start from somewhere. Also, the instrument he plays will surely not be a Stradivarius.
You should not go over your budget; we realise how tempting it can be to purchase the best product, because you believe that your little bundle of joy will be amazing. Just remember that many children give up, a little after they start out. Every parent thinks that their kid is special, and they are, however not every one of them is meant to play the violin.
Hang on to your funds and choose one of the instruments we have recommended in our list, which are reasonably priced. It is always a good idea to purchase a complete set, you will get everything you need in one place, and it will be cheaper than buying the accessories separately. Also that way you will be sure that the bow size will match, and you will not have to spend extra time in looking for another one that will.
We spent countless hours reviewing tons of kids violins, to keep you from having to do that on your own. Here is our list of the best kids violins on the market. They are not listed in any form of precedence; they are all spectacular choices. Continue reading our article about violins for kids to find more tips.
The Kids Violins we Recommend
It can be quite difficult to find a quality instrument for you, let alone for your kid. After all, children tend to have various needs and skilled levels if you compare them to adults. That is why you should consider their unique circumstances.
Kids violins are made to accommodate their smaller size, level of interest and ability to play the instrument. Here are the best kids violins on the market. We created this list to narrow down the best possible options; that is why we sought expert opinions, scanned through buyer reviews and, of course, researched the instruments. Keep reading our article about violins for kids for more tips.
Cremona SV-175
This violin for kids is created to meet the needs of beginners and intermediate student. It is also considered to be one of the best-selling student models this brand offers for the past 30 years.
This childrens violin was created from the best quality wood possible, which helps it create the finest quality of sound. This model is crafted from ebony fittings and fingerboard to provide the player with smooth and stable playing. The body is hand-carved from solid maple and spruce. Each instrument features Swiss-shaped pegs, The Cremona VP-203 bridge, and a Kaufman-style chinrest. The model is lightweight, as well as, the tailpiece.
The model also includes four fine tuners to make the control better and easier. Each of the Cremona student violins comes with Prelude strings, which were made in the United States. These are preferred by many students and are recommended by even more tutors.
The kids violin was finished with a crystalline varnish in a warm brown color which offers an esthetic appeal which accompanies the amazing sound. The finish was applied in thin coats, so that the integrity of the wood would be protected and, of course, to maintain the traditional appearance.
The set includes a case with built-in hygrometer and a Brazilian bow, crafted with unbleached horse hair. The outfit combines an affordable student instrument which also has professional level qualities.
Mendini MV300
This is a full-size violin for kids, which is crafted in a surprisingly high-quality. It is not up to professional standards. However, it works great as a beginner instrument. Considering its high-quality, it is no surprise that many tutors and players rate it high and recommend it.
The top is crafted from hand-carved spruce, and the back and sides are created from maple. The tailpiece is made from alloy, and it includes four fine tuners. The pegs, chin rest and fingerboard, are all made from maple.
For those of you who are just beginning their musical journey, it will not be hard for you, since there is also a high-quality bow included in the set.
A great advantage of this magnificent childrens violin is that it comes with many accessories which typically cost between $30 and $40 each. Let us start with the extra set of strings, which will come in handy when you are learning how to tune the instrument. There is also an extra bridge which is quite helpful for young musicians who have never played one before and usually end up breaking the first one they try. This kids violin also comes with a lightweight case, which features straps so that it can be worn as a backpack for comfort.
The bow features unbleached Mongolian horse hair; the wood is Brazilian. Moreover, it comes with a rosin a shoulder rest that can be adjusted which makes the perfect set for a beginner. Having in mind all these accessories, the most remarkable feature is the price.
Adm Handcrafted Solid Wood Violin For Kids
All Days Music’s student models are crafted to offer a combination of amazing sound, durability, playability, aesthetic appeal, and of course affordability to ensure that the students can get the best possible start.
Long-term musicians recommend this violin for kids to new players. The price makes it a good option for the people who are not sure if they will play for a long period. You will not lose a significant amount of money if your child decides that it is not for them.
You can purchase this childrens violin in blue or pink, but the traditional red-brown is the most popular finish. The users are quite impressed with the violin’s appearance, sound and price.
It is crafted from hand-carved spruce top, and the fingerboard is made from rosewood, as well as the pegs and the chin rest. The rest of the body is created from maple which gives it incredible acoustics and response. The tailpiece is made from alloy, and there are four fine tuners included.
There is a high-quality bow included, as it is crafted from Brazilian wood. Many experienced players recommend it since it produces amazing sound for a not professional instrument. In addition to the extra bridge and set of strings, this model comes with a case which can also be carried as a backpack.
What Should you Consider when Purchasing a Violin for Kids?
Some of the most important factors for any instrument are the craftsmanship, sound and playability. However, children tend to have different needs for models than us adults. Many of the factors that are a priority for a child musician might be less concerning to most people.
Size
Learning how to play on a violin, which is the wrong size will be harmful to your comfort and ability to grow as a musician. The most common mistake with children is when their parents give them instruments which are too large for them.
When you choose the size of the instrument for your little one, you have to consider his or hers age, strength, skill level, size, and hand shape. If your kid is a beginner, we recommend that you buy them a smaller model, rather than a huge one. It is crucial to choose a correct size violin so that your child does not have any problems developing a proper technique.
For more tips, keep reading the page of our site about violins for children.
String type
There are many brands which offer high-quality strings appropriate for all stages of your child’s growth. Many of them are quite popular. As a fact, many of the violins come with already installed strings.
The benefits of those include the fact that they last for quite a lot of time and they are affordable. Unfortunately, they can also be hard on your child’s little fingers. We recommend these brands who offer strings that have non-metal cores. These include Thomastik, D’Addario, Larsen, Corelli, and Pirastro. Keep reading our article about violins for kids for more tips.
Bridge
Another very important factor is the bridge placement, shape and quality. Before your child starts practicing, the instrument has to be fitted and shaped by a professional. However, that is frequently not the case with beginner models.
Kids violins might require assistance from a music shop to be properly installed. For example, if the bridge is placed too high, it may be hard for the child to press the strings on the fingerboard. It is also quite important to have the strings shaped and spaced appropriately. If the bridge is not shaped properly, it may be difficult to cross the strings in a clear manner, and the stop tones might be out of tune.
Chin rest
If the chin rest is positioned or shaped wrong, the instrument will become uncomfortable, and it may even be painful to hold for your child. The perfect one should fit your kid’s chin comfortably, which will enable him or her to keep their head straight while looking at the fingerboard.
The kids violins come with a chin rest already installed. However, it might be necessary to replace the stock unit. Just remember that comfort is your priority, though it is a disadvantage when the price is a concern.
Shoulder rest
This should be a good balance between firmness and softness. A quality one will allow your kid to have a proper posture. This will allow the musician to play without discomfort or any tension and will allow the kids violin to resonate clearly.
A new model for children will most likely come with a shoulder rest already installed. However, they are often of low quality. Similar to the chin rest you can replace it with a better one.
Price
This is one of the trickiest factors. The parents will have to find a way to balance the money they have to spend on a kids violin. Before you rush to buy the most expensive option, you should figure out how devoted is your kid to learning how to play.
Buying an instrument that will end up staying in his case is not a good investment. Even if your kids seem interested, you should consider how good they may become and how skilled he or she is.
So you do not want to speed too much. However, you do want a quality violin that will help your kid’s skills develop. Keep reading our article about kid violins for kids for more tips.
Age
Most parents purchase a newly crafted model. However, this is not necessary. There are quite a lot of advantages in owning an older kid violin, so it will be a good thing if anyone from your family is a musician to pass down their first instrument to your child.
Compared to the new models, the older ones have better reputations, and you can trust the quality in terms of the materials and the craftsmanship. Another advantage is that the sound and tonal quality will be more stable because the wood had enough time to enhance and season the sound.
Moreover, a new kids violin will need some time until it can produce its true sound, while an older one will already have its quality since it has already been “broken in”. This will be even truer if it was played regularly and the person whom it belonged to kept it in tune.
Do I have to Spend Much Money for a Kids Violin?
There are two ways you can go when you are considering of purchasing an instrument for your child. On the one hand, it is tough to sound good on a small model, so you will have to spend more money if you want to buy a smaller kids violin that will sound good. The brands and tutors who recommend this idea, believe that if it is easier for your child to produce the sound he or she wants, it will be more enjoyable for them to play and they will be less likely to give up on this hobby. When you think about it, it does make sense. The parents and teachers who follow this idea end up spending more money on an instrument and typically feel like the return investment is that the child sound amazing, practices on a daily basis and quickly advance their skills.
On the other hand, if your tiny bundle of joy truly loves playing, it will not matter how much you spend. Moreover, we have an example of such a case. We know an elementary music teacher. One of her students did not own a kid violin, so the tutor gave her one that was school property. The teacher shared with us that the instrument was not very good, it was cracked and a bit beat up. However, the student was so excited to own one that she did not care how it looked or sounded. In fact, she was so happy, she practiced more than anyone else in her class, even the kids with very expensive instruments. The parents and teachers who believe this do not spend too much on an entry violin. They check how much the student will progress and if he or she will enjoy playing before purchasing a better model.
To be honest, I do not know if my first kid violin was expensive or not. I will make a guess that it was not that expensive since my parents used a call-in radio announcement. It did not matter to me how much it cost or how it looked, to me it was golden. I loved it, and I did not even realise that anything could be better until years later when they bought a better one, and to be honest, I liked my old one better, in the beginning.
Key Points to Remember when Purchasing a Kids Violin
It does not matter if you are looking for an expensive model or a budget one. There are a few significant factors you have to consider:
- The violins come in various sizes, and it is crucial to get the size right. There are dedicated charts for specific child sizes, make sure that you order the correct one.
- Even if you cannot afford a good sounding instrument, if you have the opportunity to purchase good strings, because they will make the kids violin sound better. The comparison is something between long nails slowly going down on a chalkboard and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
- Most of the kids violins are sold in sets. They usually include a bow and a case; they sometimes offer other accessories as well. They are typically cheaper in an outfit than if you buy them separately.
- Renting a violin is not the better deal. First of all, it will be used. Secondly, it will cost between $15 and $30 a month, which does not include insurance and the initial deposit.
- You should plan to spend at least $100 and more between $200 and $400 for a great model. Fortunately, the smaller sizes are cheaper than the same brand or even model in a larger size.
Making the Decision
At this point, you should be well informed about the unique and significant components of a quality kids violin for your little one. Hopefully, the information we gave you has answered most of your questions so that you can proceed to purchase the perfect instrument for your child.
We recommend that you make a list with the most important features to determine how you can narrow down the choices for the ideal instrument.
Kids have diverse experiences and skill levels, based on their family history, talents or personal interests so the violins for children can vary from basic beginner models to quite the sophisticated units.
It might be necessary to test the models you take an interest in, to figure out how much your kid will enjoy it while practicing.
You should also test out the size, to check if the model you like is the appropriate size. We recommend that you carefully choose the accessories to make the experience of learning as easy and enjoyable as possible for your child.
It is quite important to pair the violin your kid will play with some extras that will help them want to advance and keep playing. We recommend that you compare the information you read from here with your hands-on test and purchase an instrument that will help your child fall in love with playing.
Some Violin References Online
- Violins of Hope Concert Teaches About the Holocaust (Cleveland Orchestra for Students and Community)
- Cue the Violins: Philadelphia Orchestra Partners with KIPP (Violin or Cello in The Hands of Every Fifth Grader)