The cost of a good quality violin or cello is often outside the reach of music students and many amateur and professional musicians alike. Whilst inexpensive mass-produced instruments will suffice for novice players, a good student instrument costs significantly more, and accomplished players often find the cost of suitable top quality instruments to be well beyond their means. Here are some tips for making the best of your current instrument for musicians who cannot afford to upgrade to the next level.
Invest in a better bow from your violin shop
The quality of bow used to play a violin or cello can make a staggering amount of difference to the tone produced, indeed popular folklore among players suggests the resonance of the bow is responsible for up to a quarter of the overall sound quality. It is certainly true that a good well-balanced bow enables the player to successfully attempt more advanced bowing techniques.
The cost of a good quality bow is only around a tenth of the cost of a similar quality violin, so if funds are limited, a new bow can help improve the sound quality of your existing instrument. Modern high quality bows are usually made of Pernambuco wood. When buying a new bow, make sure you try a number of bows in your price range, as each bow is individual and it is important to choose a bow which complements your instrument and playing style. Most violin shops will provide an area for you to test out the bows, and some may even loan you a selection for a more extended trial period.
The importance of good quality violin strings
Accessorising your instrument with good quality strings can also make a significant difference to the tone quality. Dominant strings are an excellent, reasonably priced, synthetic brand, and are probably the most popular strings in the world (Violinist.com). Some violinists prefer gut strings and Pirastro are the best known manufacturers, offering a variety of different ranges. Your violin dealer may be able to recommend a good set of strings to suit your own instrument.
Learning to tune your instrument using the pegs is a good idea, since you will then be able to remove the metal adjusters. Most advanced violin players only use adjusters on the E string, and removing the other adjusters can help with tone as they may rattle and resonate during use.
Choose the right violin rosin
Violin and cello rosin is applied to the bow to increase friction and thus improve the tone of the instrument. It is a resin from pines and other conifers which is produced by heating fresh liquid resin to evaporate the volatile components and leave a solid product. Violin rosin may include extra additives to increase the friction further, including gold and silver dust, so some rosins can be very expensive (The Violin Site).
Good quality rosin can improve the tone of the instrument and help the player to successfully master more complex bowing techniques. Some examples of good brands of rosin for the more advanced player include Pirastro Gold rosin and AB rosin.
Veronica Mitchell - Veronica studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge University before becoming a secondary school science teacher. She enjoys writing about ...
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