Bartók: (44) Duos for Two Violins

Buying a violin.

Advantages: Well worth learning
Disadvantages: can be a bit of a minefield.

, are louder but the nylon ones are easier on the fingers - I'd ercomend nylon for children especialy if you don't want to be able to hear them practising. You do occasionally come across gut strings still. I don't recomend these - they are very tempermental, go out of tune regularly, break easily and are very thick and consequentally quite difficult to play. Again prices vary but as with all things what you get is what you pay for. Rosin - you will have to buy this seperatly, but your bow won't work without it. it only costs a few pounds and lasts for eyars.Ask your music shop for some - the odds are they will only have one or two types so little decision makign is called for. Case - make sure you have a hard case that will hold your violin securely. Many violins will come with one. If the case is second hand, check all the hinges ...

Bryn_Pearson 13.09.2002 · Read full review
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The violin -by a viola player!

Advantages: Potentially beautiful sound
Disadvantages: The squealy noises to start off with

including classical, but also covering a lot of different folk music (Irish, Hungarian, Chinese etc), many jazzy styles of pieces, and even pop music. I recently saw a music video on MTV of a guy playing violin to a pop song in the rain, although I can't remember the title. So the violin is to suit anyone with taste in a wide range of music. What size do I need? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As with any instrument, no musical knowledge is required to start playing, just a good teacher is the best thing to have. Violins are available in lots of different sizes, for adults, 4/4 (full size, then 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, and even 1/32 are available. Sizes down to 1/8 should be available from most music shops, the two smaller sizes normally rewuire, specialist violin shops are required. It is important that the correct size is used, if not playability ...

drawcabia 03.12.2006 (04.12.2006) · Read full review
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How to help your child learn the violin

Advantages: Encourages self discipline, can be fulfilling
Disadvantages: can be expensive

I admit it- I am one of those responsible for teaching those little blighters to play the violin! The violin, it must be said has an unfortunate reputation. There are all those violin jokes about cats, earplugs etc. It is a shame. I actively encourage yougsters to try the violin. I always give a suitability assessment, and to be honest it is only very rarely that I find a child totally unsuitable.Most children can manage to achieve something if a few criteria are followed: 1: THE INSTRUMENT: Buy the best instrument you can afford. No, don't take out a loan on a strad- find out if your child is the next Nigel Kennedy first! However, there are some grim kits around for about £70. I refuse to teach on them. The bows don't play properly and they often break. The violins themselves mostly sound foul and are not properly set up ...

water-witch 30.11.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Violin