Posts Tagged ‘play the violin’

Using The 1/16 Violin For Very Young Kids

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

At the time of its introduction, the Suzuki method of teaching music was revolutionary, particularly in the way that it allowed children to learn to play music at a very early age. With the increase in young players, smaller solo violins became a necessity for children who needed an instrument proportionate to their body size. This led to instruments being made that range from 3/4 to 1/16, with some makers even producing a 1/32 size. The 1/16 violin is one that is particularly popular with very young players.

The Suzuki method for teaching music to students was shockingly simple and effective. Before this method, students usually had to wait until they were 10 or 12 before learning how to play, even though they were taught to read music. This meant that violinists were less talented because they had less experience. With the Suzuki method of learning, students can start learning to play the violin as young as age three. The Suzuki method also teaches the young children to memorize the music rather than learning to read it right away. This gives the children an easier time of leaning, and enables them to start playing songs right away. It also gives them many more years of experience so that the violinist reaches higher levels of talent sooner. The most common size of violin to start off with is the 1/16 violin size, which is one of the smallest.

A 1/16 violin is made just like a full-size violin. Because of its smaller size, however, finer details are sometimes ignored. In addition, the violins are constructed for children, so the quality of materials used is often much rougher, with construction designed for affordability and durability. That durability, however, compromises sound quality, and the smaller size provides less room for the strings to be amplified, so very little sound is actually produced. While a better bow is made of wood and horsehair, the child’s bow is generally no longer than eight inches and consists of a fiberglass stick with plastic hairs attached.

While the 1/16 violin is an incredible invention in terms of its usefulness in allowing children to learn to play a musical instrument, it should be considered nothing more than a learning violin. Other than a learning tool, these small instruments have very little value. They do have their place in the music world however, as they have made it possible for very young children to learn to play.

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Choosing Violin For Your Children

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

For young children learning to play the violin, a 1/10 violin is an excellent option. A violin is designed to fit between the side of the neck and the palm of the hand. A fractional sized instrument, as the smaller versions are often called, allows a child to learn the necessary fingering along the length of the neck, which helps to encourage a child’s desire to learn. For many people, however, sizing is such a confusing issue that they choose to simply purchase whatever the salesperson tells them to get, which may not always be the best option.

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 0 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.

Schools for learning to play the violin have existed for at least five centuries. Over time, the instrument has evolved into its modern form, and violin makers behind that evolution have also recognized the need to make instruments to fit a child’s reach. A 1/10 violin, as well as other fractional sizes, make it possible for a child to play all of the notes, helping prevent the frustration in learning that comes with not being able to play what they want. While not all fractional sized instruments produce a quality sound, taking your time when purchasing one can help ensure that the violin plays well for many years.

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