Violin Player, The - Vanessa Mae

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

...more in demand! Having said this, there is a much wider range of music publish for the violin, and teachers are easier to find. Violin music is written in the treble clef, whereas viola is written in the alto clef. For all those of you with raised eyebrows at the moment, it's the equivalent of speaking French and English; similar but different languages! There are more virtuoso pieces written for violin, so if your dream is to be a master player, I would definately recommend the violin. Where to start ~~~~~~~~~~~ To start playing, the best thing to have is a teacher. They will give you the best advice and can point out when you're going wrong. Schoolchildren may be able to take lessons at school, which tend to come a bit cheaper than privately. Some counties provide instruments for students in their first year, which is an excellent... Read review

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

...instruments because they are there. If you had to buy a beginner flute you would be looking at least £200. An oboe starts at about £1000. Why only pay £70 for a violin? It is one of the most difficult instruments to play- why compound the difficulty by providing a sub standard instrument. 2: STRINGS. Make sure that there are good quality strings on the instrument. You want it to sound "nice" don't you?! There are many different makes of string and there are 3 main types. Covered Gut, synthetic core or metal.I personally use covered gut, but they are more for advanced players and can be expensive. I would suggest Thomastik Dominant's for a student. . They even come in short lengths for the smaller violins.They are a wound string with a synthetic core. This has several benefits. They sound MUCH better. They are thicker than the cheap... Read review

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

...Whether it is for yourself or your offspring, buying your first violin can be a daunting prospect - how do you know what you will need? Hopefully, this will help. Before you go shopping, ask around - your teacher if you have one or anyone you know who plays the violin, if you can get a recomendation of a good shop, this will make your job easier. Better still, try to elicite the help of someone who alerady plays - the advice of someone who knows their stuff can be very reassuring, as well as useful. The violin - you can really spend as much or as little as you like - you can pick up second hand Chinese violins for very little (£40?) you can spend thousands. Obviously, if you are starting out, you won't want a hugely expensive instrument. Spend what you can afford. Make sure the body of the violin is in good shape - avoid anything... Read review

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