Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
The Arts in the Everyday
 4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Subject Topic: Violin ? Help, Macbeth! or anyone! Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
StephanieA
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: May 11 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 394
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
Back to Top View StephanieA's Profile Search for other posts by StephanieA
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
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.



__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
St. Ann
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Oct 20 2006
Location: Germany
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2137
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.

__________________
Stephanie

Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
Back to Top View St. Ann's Profile Search for other posts by St. Ann Visit St. Ann's Homepage
 
JenniferS
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Nov 09 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1049
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
Back to Top View JenniferS's Profile Search for other posts by JenniferS
 
StephanieA
Forum Pro
Forum Pro


Joined: May 11 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 394
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
Back to Top View StephanieA's Profile Search for other posts by StephanieA
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com