A used violin can be a great deal, but it can also be a big waste of money if you get the wrong one. There are a lot of things that can go wrong with an instrument, whether it’s new or used. For both new and used instruments, low quality and incorrect setup can be a problem. With used instruments there could be issues due to age and improper care that could make the instrument almost unplayable.

If you are planning on picking up a used violin online or in person, like at a store or even a yard sale, there are quite a few factors to keep in mind. The following are just some tips to remember when you consider used violins.

Older is often better.

We live in a culture where people assume newer means better, but this really isn’t the case with violins. Usually, older violins are better, and quality instruments actually appreciate! Often an older, pre-1900 violin is quite a score, as these will have a lot more character. The fewer bumps and bruises an instrument has, the better. You will probably want to take an old violin to a shop to get it fixed up and set up correctly so that you can sound your best.

Proper setup is essential.

It doesn’t matter if the instrument is old or new, if the violin is improperly set up it can sound nasal and metallic. If the violin isn’t set up correctly, some techniques like crossing strings can create some bad sounds, like screeching. As I said, you will most likely need to take it into a shop to get it set up correctly, but if it comes with a proper setup, you may save a bit of money.

Quality is key.

A poorly made, low quality violin can negatively impact how you play. It doesn’t matter if the violin is old or new; if the maker employed shoddy craftsmanship and low grade wood, the instrument won’t sound very good. Inspect the instrument to be sure it was well-made in the first place; something that was cheaply made definitely won’t get better with age.

Take it to a pro.

If you can, take a used violin to a shop before you buy to be sure that it’s in good condition, as not all vintage violins will be good finds. Often a used violin can have issues like a warped fingerboard or something that could make it unplayable. Even if the violin is playable, it may not be playable in all places, or it might not sound quite right. If it’s in poor repair, it could look good, but it could be on the brink of falling apart. A professional should be able to tell you if your used violin is a great buy or a bad deal, but know that a pro probably can’t tell good from bad from an online classified ad. The average player should proceed with caution before buying used violins from eBay or Craigslist.

Have you bought a used violin before? Let me know about your experience in the comments.

In an earlier blog post I talked about how much practice violin players need each week. Depending on your age, ability level, and overall goals, you may be trying to squeeze in a lot of practice week-to-week…and wondering how you are going to make it actually happen! Many of my students want some practice tips to keep them motivated and on-point, and the following are just some that I’d like to offer.

1. Practice in short intervals. I previously mentioned that it’s helpful to split practice into several intervals throughout the day. These smaller periods make it easier for you to squeeze in practice, even if you are busy. If you think that you have to practice in big chunks, you might skip practice on a hectic day, but if you are committed to short spurts, you can get in practice time more easily. For instance, for most students, it would be beneficial if you would practice for 10 minute intervals several times each day during the week. For those with ambitious goals like 400 minutes weekly, several 30-minute sessions are a super idea. Regardless of how brief or long your practice sessions are, make sure that your practice time is quality and challenging.

2. Don’t put your violin away. Putting your violin in its case and tucking it away may help you tidy up your home, but it could impede your practice efforts. You will be more likely to practice if your instrument is handy, so keep it out. Leave your violin case open and keep it in a hallway, your bedroom, or some other high traffic area. When you have a free moment or are bored and looking for something to do, you will be more likely to pick up your instrument and play because it’s already in your line of sight.

3. Dictate your own practice time. Lots of folks have a busy life, so I’m guessing you do too. You should practice whenever it works for you—morning, noon, or night. Even if your free time to practice is in the middle of the night, you should do it. If you live with other people or near other folks that you don’t want to disturb, you should pick up a practice mute. A practice mute is an awesome accessory that allows you to hear yourself play, but you won’t bother others who would normally be within earshot. If practicing at 4:00 AM works best for you, you can go for it with a practice mute.

These are just some of the pieces of advice I offer my students when it comes to violin practice. There are plenty of other tips that I’ve heard tossed around that could be quite helpful when it comes to practicing the violin; maybe you have some interesting ideas too. If you have a favorite tip, share it with other students in the comments!

New players do need a violin and bow, of course. They also need a desire to want to learn, some discipline, and a little bit of guidance. On top of that, however, if someone wants to learn how to play the violin, he or she has to scoop up some violin accessories. Many new players see my purchase recommendations, but they skip over the accessories, thinking they aren’t far enough along yet to worry about them. Some of those items can be vital to a player’s success even early on, and one of the must-have accessories for every violinist of all levels is a shoulder rest.

What does a shoulder rest do?

The purpose of a shoulder rest is to aid in holding the violin correctly. A player is supposed to pinch the instrument between their chin and their shoulder, and this is really tough to do without some sort of shoulder rest.

Without a shoulder rest, many students rely on their left hand to hold the violin up when playing, but this is a very bad habit! If someone is using their left hand to keep the instrument up, they can’t move that hand. As this student progresses, they will need to move that hand back and forth, and if the left hand is what is keeping the instrument up, they can’t play vibrato and do other techniques.

Not only does the shoulder rest keep a player’s left hand more mobile, it helps to keep the violin level. Without a shoulder rest, students often dip the violin which causes them to play out of tune.

What kind of shoulder rest should is best?

There are many types of shoulder rests, so a student can get one of these without spending a lot of money, if he or she spends any at all. I’ve seen people play well enough with just a cloth on their shoulder; it doesn’t work as well as a proper shoulder rest, but it is much better than nothing at all. I happen to prefer curved shoulder rests, as most people find them more comfortable, and I am particularly fond of the Kun Shoulder Rest. It really depends on the student’s preference though.

What other accessories are necessary?

There are a lot of other violin accessories that are on my must-have list for new and advanced students. Violin rosin, a violin dampit, and a music stand are some of the other things that I consider to be necessities, and I plan on discussing these in the future. There are also other accessories that I find to be helpful too, like center chin rests, a practice mute, and a metronome–again, I will be coming back to these in a later blog post.

If you are getting geared up and ready to begin playing the violin, you should be sure you have all of the necessary equipment before you get started to give yourself the best chance of learning successfully and with greater ease. By following my purchase recommendations, you can create a shopping list, but you could also simply email me, as I’d be happy to help!

This is really discouraging, and sometimes students want to quit because they feel like they aren’t improving. However, with a little bit of troubleshooting I often can pinpoint the problem and help them become better players. Often, the fix is simple—he or she needs a better violin.

A lot of my beginning students make the same mistake. When someone wants to start playing, the urge for most people is to buy an instrument that is as inexpensive as possible. He or she doesn’t know if they will enjoy the violin and stick with it, so not making a big investment seems to make the most sense to them. They will then get a violin online for an incredibly low price, but this violin is usually also incredibly low quality.

These poor quality and low cost violins sound bad, even when played by great violinists! Shoddy craftsmanship, subpar materials, poor wood, and a whole host of other things could be wrong with these cheap violins, causing them to screech and squawk no matter what the student does. These cheap violins make it harder to make a good sound, and this can really hold back progress and create frustration. The irony is that people buy these because they don’t know if they will want to continue learning to play the violin for one reason or another, and this inexpensive violin usually is the reason some of these folks give up!

For people who decide to stick with the violin, these low quality instruments usually end up costing more in the long run. They quickly realize that if they want to progress, they need to get a better instrument ASAP, and this means that they will end out shelling out the money on a better violin anyway.

Not all inexpensive violins are bad! Someone can still have a high quality instrument without spending a lot. At my violin store, Superior Violins, I have a beginner violin outfit that is around $100; it’s the best outfit I could find in that price range. One of my favorite modestly priced violins is the Peccard—it sounds like an instrument that would cost up to $2,000, but it costs a fraction of the price.

If you want help picking out a violin that provides good value and won’t hold you back, I have a page of my top recommendations from my Superior Violins store. Of course, all of the violins and accessories I carry there will have my seal of approval. Finally, if you would like more information on selecting the right violin for you, wherever you are going to buy from, send me an email; I’d be happy to help!

Did you know you can WIN a new Electric Violin Outfit from Superior Violins? Visit the Superior Violins Facebook Page for details.

Before I go any further, I need to state that I am a firm believer in quality practice. You could spend all day “practicing” the first song you learned, but if you have been playing for six months or a year or more, it won’t do you much good in terms of improvement. You need to challenge yourself and work on new things, and you need to set practice goals in terms of time for yourself to get in quality practice that can help you become a more proficient violin player.

When you set time goals for your violin practice, you need to keep your age, current ability level, and your overall goals in mind. For instance, if you are setting goals for a small child, you probably want to give them a goal of 30 minutes of practice weekly, and this shouldn’t be done all at once. Regardless of your age, set these weekly goals, and work on reaching these in small chunks daily; this keeps you focused and prevents frustration. Ideally, you may want to break up your practice into 10-minute bits.

So how much should you practice in a week?

Your first factor in determining how long to practice your violin is age:

- As mentioned, young children under seven probably are just fine with 30 minutes or less.
- Slightly older children, those aged seven to 10, should shoot for 50 to 90 minutes weekly.
- Children aged 10 and 11 will probably do well with 80 to 100 minutes each week.
- 12 and 13-year-olds should aim for 100 to 120 minutes of practice weekly.
- Teenagers should adjust their practice depending on their overall goals and their other commitments, but 100 minutes a week should still be the minimum.
- As for adults, practice time varies from person to person, so you should set your own goals. The next factors I discuss for setting practice time goals are even more vital for adults.

The second factor is ability level. If you are an advanced violin player already, you should be practicing harder pieces and techniques. This takes more time. Regardless of age, the farther along you are, the more time you will want to spend practicing.

The final factor is overall goals. There are different aims for everyone, but the following are some examples:

- If you are training to play professionally or attempting to earn a violin scholarship for a university, you probably want to practice a lot—maybe up to 400 hours a week.
- If you are a child or teen playing because your parents want you to, which sounded like me when I was your age, you want to practice the recommended minimum for your age group, so you keep learning and don’t fall behind.
- If you are playing the violin because you find it to be a fun and enjoyable hobby, you should maybe practice a few times a week when you feel like it.
- If you are an adult learning to play the violin because you like learning new things, you should set goals, but if life gets in the way and you don’t practice for a week, don’t sweat it.

As you determine what your weekly violin practice goals should be, keep your age, ability level, and overall aims in mind. No matter how old you are, however, you are busy; if you miss practice don’t beat yourself up or try to overdo it next time. Just remember that a consistent effort will best help you to advance, but really, any quality practice will end up being beneficial!

If you would like more information about learning the violin, more practice tips, or additional details on setting goals, email me or access my free lessons.

Also, on Classical Monday this week, we have Michael Sanchez featured teaching you how to play Pachelbel’s Canon in D! Hope you all enjoy!

Happy Birthday America! HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY!

I hope you all had an excellent week and are as excited for the weekend as I am! I can’t wait to get out in the sun and enjoy this beautiful Michigan weather!

Here is the video for this weeks Fiddle Friday! Hopefully you can accomplish it in no time and be able to play it for your friends and family this weekend!

Enjoy learning how to play Cotton Eye Joe!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdmdGEKc2hc

Cheers!

I’m very excited to share with you this weeks Theme Song Thursday video. I hope you have a few minutes to check it out and maybe try and learn it yourself!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4a5ltpHfq8

Let me know if you have any suggestions for next weeks!

Sorry for the late post, however, I now have up Zelda’s Theme Song. Check out the video if you want to learn this very popular tune and show off to all of your friends!

Enjoy!

Today is another great Classical Monday! The video I have today is How To Play Ode To Joy! I think you all will really enjoy it!

As a special treat, I am also including the Spotlight Saturday video that I did the other day! I was very excited about this one as well.

Don’t forget to check out my twitter and facebook page for updates on my new videos, sales, random facts, etc. I very much appreciate all the comments and questions! Don’t be afraid to ask, I’m always happy to help!

twitter: @MichaelViolin
Facebook: www.facebook.com/violintutorpro