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Subject Topic: Violin ? Help, Macbeth! or anyone! Post ReplyPost New Topic
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StephanieA
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Posted: Feb 15 2007 at 4:17pm | IP Logged Quote StephanieA
I have a financial decision to make...and I am not sure what to do. Two violin teachers have told me, "Buy the best quality violin you can for the money." Ummm...that really doesn't help answer the question of...what do we really NEED. So..

My 12 year needs a 3/4 and our old 3/4 needs so much work that it doesn't pay to fix it. I bought the smaller ones over ebay (satisfied with them) and the 1/2 from Southwest Strings (an Etude), but the varnish is horrible, so I won't go that route again. My daughter has been playing for 1 1/2 years and is in book 4 Suzuki. She won't be making a career of music. So my thought was Shar's Maestro. But following in her steps is the 9 year old who is clipping along in the middle of volume 5 and is more musically inclined. I have been told that in volume 6 and 7 that the lower end violins (being the Maestro) won't give you the high notes clearly, etc. Once my son started Barber books, this really was an issue with his cheaper 4/4. I am being encouraged to purchase a Doetsch for 3 times the amount of the Maestro.

Is there enough truth in this to justify the cost?
Or would both the girls be just as good off with the Maestro from Shar. (And it isn't like the violin will be babied with 4 littler ones in the house, finding the violins, and "playing" them. Gulp.

Thanks!
Blessings,
Stephanie
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MacBeth
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Posted: Feb 15 2007 at 5:04pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
Stephanie, buy the best you can afford , and you can always resell it...

With a 9yo in book 5, I'd go with the higher end fiddle. The difference will be quite noticeable, especially to a well-trained ear; playing a good instrument is part of the training, too! Where is the Doetsch sold? Mail order?

What about looking locally? I found a very nice used Japanese instrument for not-too-much via a local luthier. The Chinese instruments now are quite good, and very inexpensive. Also, I have an excellent 3/4 available now, but it might be a bit too much (PM me, no obligation ; we are a bit nutty when it comes to instruments). At this level, you might want to listen before you buy.



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St. Ann
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Posted: Feb 16 2007 at 4:28am | IP Logged Quote St. Ann
Stephanie, my 3yr old likes to play the violin too! I put it on top of the china cabinet to keep it out of (harm's way) reach. Naturally, my 7yr old also can't reach it, but I am always around to get it down for her. The violin is from our music school. We are renting it for 8Euros a month. It is a1/4 violin. Dd2 just began playing in September or October.
Our dd1 plays Cello and has a very good 1/2 cello, which we bought from a violin maker. It is a handmade Cello from China. It was her big 1st Communion present from us and our parents. The sound is terrific and we are very glad that we made this investment. The violin maker will take this Cello back when she grows out of it and will pay a good part of the 4/4 cello, for when the time comes.

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JenniferS
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Posted: Feb 16 2007 at 4:21pm | IP Logged Quote JenniferS
Our oldest three play the violin, also. I don't know a lot about instruments, but my dh and his family are very musical. They used to own and run a music store. He says that the money spent on a good violin is well worth it! We are blessed in that his family has handed down good violins to ur dc, and his mother purchases whatever we are in need of, as she wants the kids to have good intruments.

Sounds like your 9 year old is very talented. What a gift!!!

Jen
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StephanieA
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Posted: Feb 17 2007 at 8:21am | IP Logged Quote StephanieA
Thank you so much for the replies! Now I know what I need to do. Macbeth, I wrote you (pm) earlier this week. Did it go through? I had trouble with the pm earlier this month. Thanks!
Blessings,
Stephanie
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