Choosing Violin For Your Children

The 1/ 10 violin is an excellent option for preschool children who want to learn to play the violin, or for parents who want their children to learn. A full-sized violin is too long for children to be able to play all of the notes because the child's hand can't reach the end of the neck. Because the child can reach the full neck on a fractional sized instrument, they can learn to play without experiencing the frustration of being limited. Unfortunately, sizing can be a confusing issue, leaving buyers reliant on a salesperson's opinion.

Making Violin Strings

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.

Buying a 1/10 violin takes more care than buying a full-sized violin. Because the violins are smaller, there is less amplification of the strings, so smaller instruments automatically have less sound quality. Full-sized violins in the $100 price range are playable, but the instruments in that price range get less playable as they get smaller. An inexpensive 1/10 is an excellent choice for a child learning the fingerings and developing necessary muscle memory for playing, but the lack of sound quality will become evident when the child begins to actually play. If you would like the instrument to be usable for more than a few months, then it is better to spend more money on a quality instrument to begin with.

The violin is one of the oldest known musical instruments, and schools dedicated to teaching individuals how to play have been in existence for centuries. As the instrument has evolved over time, violin makers realized the need to provide instruments for a much smaller market, with children having considerably less arm reach than adults. An instrument like the 1/10 violin makes it possible for preschool children to learn to play without experiencing the frustration of not being able to fully utilize the instrument. Not all fractional sized instruments are of good quality, yet by taking the time to evaluate the instrument can help ensure that the violin produces a quality sound for years to come.