Best
Beginner Violin for Adults
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Overall: Hand-Carved Maple And Spruce Body
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Best Feature: Durable Ebony Pegs And Ebonised Fingerboard
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TedScore: 9/10
Best
Beginner Violin for Kids
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Overall: One Of The Most Bought And Recommended Violins For Kids, Schools And Teachers
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Best Feature: Includes Hard Case And Bow
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TedScore: 9/10
Best
Violin
Accessory
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Overall: Stylish and practical
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Best Feature: Designed in Germany with a sturdy and robust polycarbonate shell
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TedScore: 9/10
Music teachers say that the ideal time for children to start learning the violin is between ages 5 to 7 when the kid is motivated and can focus.
If you’re here and reading this post, it only means that you’re considering buying your kid a violin. Congratulations! You’ll have an aspiring young musician, and your home will soon be filled with peaceful, calming, and also fun violin music.
Since we only want the best for our children, it only makes sense for us to choose the best violin for them. So, we’re here to help you out.
In this article, we’ll help you out with the essential things you need to know about starting out with this musical instrument. We’ll also narrow down your endless choices into some of the best instruments for your beginner violinist!
How to Choose a Violin for Kids Around 5 years old
Before purchasing the best violin for your kid, there are many important factors to consider.
There are beginner violins specifically designed for young children. These kids’ violins provide the perfect balance of comfort and sound with quality materials for your child’s instrument. Once you have found the correct size, you should also look for an instrument with good-quality strings and a bow that’s easy to use.
With these considerations in mind, you can have confidence that your kid will start playing the violin at their best in no time!
Violin size
If you’re looking for a violin, you’ll want to consider the available sizes. The most common sizes are full-size (4/4), 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16 and 1/32.
A full-size violin is typically 59 centimetres (or 23 inches) long from violin scroll to endpin. A full-size violin is the most common size for adults and children aged 11 or older.
For younger children or those with small hands, the 1/2 size is generally recommended. Other sizes such as 1/4, 1/8, 1/10 and 1/16 are also available and are typically used by younger or smaller students.
The smallest size is the 1/32 size, typically used by very young children or those with very small hands. Whichever size you choose, make sure it feels comfortable when playing!
How To Measure
Measuring the size of a violin is easy and straightforward.
All you need is a measuring tape or ruler. Start by standing the violin upright and measuring from the neck button area to the purfling edge of the end button. This should give you a measurement in millimetres or inches. You can also measure from the neck to the middle of the body for additional measurement.
For best results, use the millimetre measurements, as some of the standard inch measurements have been rounded up or down for convenience. Once you have measured your violin, you can refer to a size chart to determine its size.
When sizing a student violin, grab a yardstick and measure from their neck to the middle of their palm for an exact size.
Once you have your measurements, shopping for the best violin should be much easier!
If in doubt, check out our dedicated Violin Sizing Guide here.
Materials
A violin is a beautiful and intricate instrument made of a few simple quality materials. The body and component parts are crafted from wood and held together with glue.
The strings are usually made of metal or synthetic material, while the top is usually made of quarter-sawn spruce or rosewood. The internal parts like the corner and end blocks and linings are also usually spruce or solid maple wood. For the best sound, these are the go-to woods for making violins.
As for the fittings, these include a neck, a fingerboard, a bridge, a soundpost, and four strings to bring out the rich sound. All of these materials come together to create beautiful music!
Shoulder and chin rest
Using a shoulder and chin rest when playing the violin is essential for optimum comfort and performance.
A properly fitted shoulder rest will provide your young starter with a secure base that helps hold the violin in place, positioning it at the correct height for your neck and shoulders. This allows them to focus on playing the beautiful instrument rather than worrying about it slipping or sliding around.
The chin rest also plays a vital role in finding the most comfortable playing posture, working harmoniously with the shoulder rest. To find the perfect fit for your very young child, consider the length of your kid’s neck and the breadth of their shoulders.
With a moveable or dynamic balance, your young violinist can have maximum freedom while playing and avoid any unnecessary tension or strain. With both the shoulder and chin rests in place, they can perform with confidence and ease!
Weight
Violins typically range from 350 to 700 grams in weight, with lighter instruments requiring more skill to craft.
Choosing the right size of the perfect violin for your child can be tricky. When considering the best kids’ violin, you want to make sure the weight of the instrument is appropriate for your child’s age, size, and skill level.
It’s important to ensure that the musical instrument isn’t too heavy, as violins typically weigh between 300 and 450 grams (0.66 – 1.00 lb).
If you know any violin teachers, you can also reach out to them, and they should be able to help you select the right size for your child and make sure they are comfortable playing it.
Bow
When choosing the perfect starter violin bow for your kid, there are several factors to consider.
Firstly, the size of the bow should be based on their age to help to ensure they can comfortably grip and use it. The material is important too. Higher-quality bows are usually made from materials such as Pernambuco or carbon composite, which are likely to last longer and provide a better sound.
Additionally, the bow’s weight is something to keep in mind too. A heavy quality bow can be difficult for younger violin players to manage, so it’s important to get one that is just right for them.
Finally, it’s always beneficial to have your child’s violin teacher mould their violin hold with their own right hand. This will help them form a correct bow hold without any unnecessary tension in their hand or wrist.
Acoustic or Electric?
Acoustic and electric violins may look similar, but they have some important differences.
Acoustic violins are hollow, allowing the strings’ vibrations to resonate and amplify the sound. They can produce a classic, timeless sound that’s perfect for classical music. However, they can be difficult to hear in large venues or during performances with other instruments.
Electric violins, on the other hand, have a solid body. They are louder and can fill up an entire concert hall. These violins also have a pickup attached to them, amplifying the sound through an amplifier and speaker so they can be played without being plugged in. Electric violins also offer more versatility regarding effects, such as reverb and distortion.
However, electric violins are not always ideal for performing in classical genres of music where the classic tone is essential.
Warranty
The best kids violin is highly regarded for its superior craftsmanship and exceptional sound quality. So, it’s essential to look into the warranty of purchasing a quality violin. A minimum of one year is standard, but ideally, you should look for a warranty that covers pegs, chinrests, endpins, and tailpieces for one year, and bridges for three months.
Damage caused by playing is not covered, nor are any new cracks in the body, neck, bridge or any other part of the instrument. It’s important to remember that many auctioned violins are sold ‘as-is’ so there’s no guarantee of being able to return it if something goes wrong.
Therefore, you should take extra care when playing your quality instrument as it’s impossible to predict how well it will be cared for afterwards.
Top 11 Best Violins For Young Children
Here are some of the best beginner violins that are perfectly fit for kids!
DESIGNED FOR: 4-5 years old beginners
FEATURES: Hand Carved Spruce Top and Selected Maple Back and Sides
OTHER INFO: Ebony Tailpiece, Tuning Pegs and Chinrest
Student 1/10 Violin by Gear4music
