Everything Your Child Needs to Play the Violin
If you’re reading this, I’m going to assume that your child just told you they want to play the violin. This is an exciting time! But if you’ve never played violin yourself, you may feel lost on where to start! I want to share my list for beginners of everything your child needs to play the violin.
Of course, the main thing your child will need before starting lessons is a violin. Luckily, I have a free violin buyer’s guide that explains how to buy a good violin without breaking the bank. Click here to download your own copy!
I wanted to specifically focus on all the other materials you will need to find as your child prepares to learn the violin. If you feel like you have no clue where to start, this blog post is for you!
#1 - Bow
The first thing your child will need besides a violin is a bow. In case you don’t already know, the bow is the thing your child will use to actually play the violin. Many times, the bow is sold separately from the violin, so this will likely be a separate purchase for you.
#2 – Shoulder Rest
Violins are not naturally shaped to fit comfortably on the musician’s shoulder. When your child begins playing, they will need a shoulder rest that attaches to the bottom of their violin so they can play comfortably.
#3 - Rosin
Something most people don’t know unless they play the violin is that the thing you know as the “violin sound” doesn’t happen without a sticky substance called rosin! Rosin is a resin found from trees and other plants that your child will apply to their bow before playing their violin.
#4 - Sheet Music
Now that you have these items, your child will be ready to play, but they’re going to need instructions! If you already have a violin teacher lined up, you can ask them what music their students typically use.
The type of curriculum you choose can be dependent on your child’s violin teacher, your child’s interests, and your child’s level of experience. If you don’t have a violin teacher or would like to do your own research, you can visit your local music store and ask for their recommendations.
#5 – A Music Stand
If you don’t already have one, a music stand is the final necessity for your child as they learn the violin. If you’re on a budget and your music teacher doesn’t require your child to use a music stand, you could use something else to prop up your music in the meantime.
But, it will always be helpful for your child to have a collapsible, easily transportable music stand to take from home to practice or group playing sessions.
Thank you so much for reading this, and for investing in your child’s future! I hope this was helpful to you, and that you feel fully equipped to gather all the materials your child needs to learn their new instrument!
If you’d like a free copy of my violin buyer’s guide, go ahead and download it here, and let me know if you have any other questions. I can’t wait to see you again next week!
