Choosing Violin For Your Children
Feb 7, 2010 Blue Grass Music, Cajun Music, Clasical Music, Country Music, Easy Listining, Jazz Music, Modern Music, Music, New Age Music, Oldies, Pop Music, R&B Music, Rap Music, Rock Music
Because the violin is designed to fit against the side of the neck and is played with an outstretched hand, it can be difficult for young children to learn the instrument. A full-sized instrument is simply too long for a child to reach the lowest notes. A 1/10 violin allows a child to reach the entire length of the neck, which encourages a child’s to learn. Because the sizing can be confusing, however, buyers often feel lost when trying to find the right size to purchase.
Violins come in a variety of sizes, from the 1/16 violin to the full-size, or 4/4 violin, to the 1/10 violin, which is in between. Although the sizes look like fractions, the numbers do not represent the physical dimensions of violins. Instead, the numbers indicate a specific size, as well as how that size relates to other sizes. Generally, a full-size body measures 14 inches without the neck, a 3/4-size body measures 13 inches, and a 1/2-size body measures about 12 inches.
Because of the differences between full-sized and fractionally sized instruments, buying a 1/10 violin is a slightly different experience. Because the instruments are smaller in size, they provide less amplification of the strings. As a result, fractional sized violins tend to produce a lower quality sound than 4/4 violins in the same price range. Inexpensive models of smaller instruments are excellent for learning fingering and chords, as well as for developing the muscle memory necessary for playing well. Unfortunately, the flaws in the sound will become apparent when it is actually played, making it essential to replace the instrument with a more expensive model that provides better sound. As a result, it is less expensive to buy a better model than to buy a cheap one and replace it after a few months.
Schools for learning how to play the violin have been in existence for at least five centuries, but the violin has been around for much longer. The modern version is the result of evolving instrument building, and fractional sizes have been part of that evolution, as makers have acknowledged the need for a size that fits a child’s much smaller reach. Fractional sizes, like the 1/10 violin, make it possible for even preschool children to play all of the notes, enabling them to learn without growing frustrated at being too small to play even the low notes. Of course, when purchasing a fractional sized instrument, it is necessary to take your time and evaluate the instrument, if you want a violin that will play well for years into the future.
Tags: 1/10 violin, play the violin, viloin for kids, violin, violin for young children