Violin Frequently Asked Questions
What size violin do I need?
The size violin that you will need depends on your height and arm length. Adults generally use full size violins and children use sizes smaller than that as their arms are smaller. You decide the size of your violin on the length of your arm. The arm is measured by putting the violin under your chin and extending your arm along the violin. For more information on violin sizes please visit our page on choosing violin sizes.
What is the bow for?
When people think of a violin the image they often get in their minds is that of only the violin but people forget that a bow is also needed. The bow is made of wood and horse hair and is dragged along the strings to make a sound from the violin.
What is rosin, do I need it?
Rosin is a plant resin which is formed into a hard cake and rubbed along the hairs of the bow to lubricate it. You need it because without treating your bow with rosin it will produce a scratchy sound when you play the violin.
Are new violins better than old violins?
It is the general opinion that older violins produce a better sound because they have been ‘played in’ and therefore have a better tone. The opinion that new violins make a cheap and nasty sound stems from people buying very cheap violins and finding them to be rubbish violins with rubbish tone. There are new violins available to buy that have good tone but you must be prepared to pay a little more for them.
How much practise should I be doing when I start to play the violin?
I would recommend that when you first start playing the violin you practise for 5 minutes a day, five days a week. The key to successful practise is to practise little and often. That way you will progress at the correct speed. Of course if you want to play your violin more than that then you can but only do concentrated practise for 15 minutes a day.
How do I care for my violin?
The violin is a wooden instrument and requires gently cleaning with a soft cloth to remove rosin and any dirty finger marks. Specialist violin cleaning creams can be bought to keep the wood in good condition but never clean your violin with furniture polish as it can damage the varnish on the violin.