What size violin do I need? Violins come in 4/4, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, and I think even 1/16 although I've never seen one of those. 4/4 is adult size. If you're an adult but are really tiny you may be able to find a 7/8 size. They used to call it a Lady's violin. Or even a 3/4 size. Children need to be measured for size. They can usually do this anywhere violins are sold, rented or repaired. I can usually get close to the right size by just looking but you still may want to try it out before you buy.
What size viola do I need? Violas are measured in inches and come in many sizes so you'll definately need to try them out to be sure you can reach all the notes before you rent or buy one. Full size violas start at 15 inches. Sometimes music stores who rent them put viola strings on a violin and call it a viola. You want to avoid that if you can. It would probably work OK for a child beginner for a short time, but a real viola is infinately preferable.
Where can I get a violin or viola? You can rent violins and violas at most music stores. The price is varied but most can be rented for $10 - $20 a month. The advantage to renting is they usually take care of regular repairs and if you decide you don't like the violin you can just take it back. I've had several people get inexpensive violins or violas on Ebay or other sites on the internet. The prices are low but you don't really have any way of knowing if the instrument is playable. The best places are from a private owner or from a violin shop that specializes in string instruments.
Where can I buy music? You can get music on the internet on amazon.com or Ebay that is used and costs less. Some of the music stores around here carry the books I recommend. If you call first, you may save some unnecessary footwork.You can also Google it and find sites that sell it.
What kind of strings do I need? If you're a beginner, Supersensitive or Red Label are O.K. Don't let them sell you mandolin strings. They're kind of tinny sounding. For more advanced students D'Addario Pro Arte are nice and Thomastik Dominant are very good. ( I prefer the Dominants ). Strings do make a difference so don't buy the cheap junk if you need to sound really great.
Why can't I hear anything when I try to play my violin? If your bow is brand new, it may not have any rosin on it. Try rubbing some on. (It may need a lot)
How can I tune my instrument? If you have a piano, a keyboard, a pitchpipe, or a tuning fork I can show you how to tune to it. You can also go to a website like 8notes.com and they have notes you can tune to. There are electronic tuners available also, although I don't have a lot of faith in them. Some violins may be very difficult to tune because of sticky pegs or slippery pegs.
Can I take a lesson every other week? If I have the space for you it is possible, HOWEVER, it really isn't the smartest way to go about learning such a difficult instrument as the violin or viola. A lot of bad habits can be "learned" in that space of time between lessons that we will then have to unlearn. It is much better if I can moniter your progress every week. That way I can help you correct any problems before they become bad habits. If you can't commit to a lesson every week and practice every day then you will probably spend a lot of years wasting a lot of money and not really getting very far. Also, students taking lessons every week will be given top priority for lesson times.
How much should I practice? The key to everything is practice. The more you play the better you will get. If you want to see steady improvement, you should practice at least 1/2 hour every day. The absolute minimum would be 5 days a week (2 1/2 hours a week) Seven days is preferable. In music you have to know what is coming on the page or you'll always be surprised and always make a lot of mistakes. Believe me, your teacher will know if and how much you practice.
