Nah bro he plays in the school orchestra.Violin is awesome, please don't let him/her turn it into dubstep-violin bullshit.
Ok cool, will try the tuning app. I've literally never done anything musical ever so I have no clue.So, 3 of my kids play violin, one plays cello. A couple points:
-Learn to tune that shit yourself. Get an app on your phone, whatever. It needs to be tuned EVERY time it gets played. If you don't, there won't be consistency in where his fingers need to be to make an in tune sound. Tune it. Every time. Try the app Pano Tuner. Learn to use it so the strings are close to right every time. Did I mention every time? A little practice and it'll take less than a minute.
-Figure out how much tension need be on the bow, and relax it every time it's not in use. Every time.
-Use rosin regularly, and just as regularly clean it off the strings. Part of the reason kid violins are so scratchy and awful sounding is that the strings are covered with rosin.
-Strings don't need to be changed all that often. Perhaps 2 times a year if it's in high use. the type of strings you use matters, too. Research what's best for your violin. What size violin is it?
-Rather than buy, you can rent. Seriously, this is a good option. I use a company that allows all your rental dollars to accumulate. So as the kids grow, and you need different sizes, they swap them out and your rental dollars accumulate until you're at the point where your kid needs a full sized instrument. Then, all that money you spent renting goes toward the purchase price. Check them out:Kenneth Stein Violins - Chicago Violin Shop
I have extensive experience with this. Ask more questions if you have them.
Not that I am scoping out middle school girls, but I have observed that orchestra girl pussy seems just as viable as cheerleader pussy. I'm just saying.
My cousin teaches orchestra at HS and can confirm I banged one of her students (I was only 22 at the time)Not that I am scoping out middle school girls, but I have observed that orchestra girl pussy seems just as viable as cheerleader pussy. I'm just saying.
Yup, that's full sized.Ok cool, will try the tuning app. I've literally never done anything musical ever so I have no clue.
It's a 4/4 violin, so that should be "full size" right?
The one we bought was similar to this:Amazon.com: Mendini 4/4 MV300 Solid Wood Satin Antique Violin with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin and Extra Strings (Full Size): Musical Instruments
They're so insanely cheap it seems stupid to rent for $20/mo. He could toss this one in the street to get run over by a bus and it'd be cheaper than the damage deductible from Brook Mays on the rentals.
What kind of strings should I get him?
Ok I will look at it.Yup, that's full sized.
Get steel core strings, something like Larson. Steel core will stay in tune better, and with a cheap violin, they're going to give you the cleanest sound. They're less than 25$ for a set, I think.
Do some reading before you string it up. Make sure the sound post is in place, and give it about 8 days of touching up the tuning 4 or 5 times a day before you expect it to be stable. The pressure being exerted on that wood is quite something. Be patient.