Violin for children: what dads have to know

A child can start violin from his or her small if his or her instrument is of his or her measure and there's an adult ready to come with his or her practice. What's best to know from the start: the first few months are dedicated to posture, bow and ear, and sounds aren't always good. It's normal and it's part of the way.

That guide explain how to choose the size, what to expect at first, what Suzuki approach ideas can serve you though your teacher doesn't use them and how to help at home without becoming his teacher.

To sum up

The violin is chosen by the measure of the child's arm, not by age or "great for its duration."
The first months are of posture, arc and ropes to the air, and an rough sound at first is normal.
A small child cannot tuning alone: an adult learns how to use his or her tuning and microtuning.
From Suzuki's approach, listening and family participation are useful, although teacher uses another method.
A short and daily practice with an adult close by advances more than long sessions from time to time.

Age and size: The violin has to be of its measure

Violines come in fractional sizes from very small to 4 / 4 of an adult. The right size depends on the length of the arm rather than age. The basic test: with the violin supported on the shoulder and the left arm extended, the paddle (the "snail" of the end) should be at the height of the palm and the fingers should be able to enclose with comfort.

Violin sizes and approximate ages (indicative)
Size	Approximate age	Note
1 / 16 and 1 / 10	3 to 5 years	For very young children, most often with a lot of participation from dads.
1/8	5 to 6 years	First steps with very simple pieces.
1/4	6-7 years	A common size to start with at school age.
1/2	7-9 years	Many children have already combined listening and reading.
3/4	9-11 years	Last step before full size.
4/4	From age 11 to 12	Adult size and his arm and his birthday decision.

That's why it's common to rent, buy used or sell the old one after passing to the next size. Before buying, ask the teacher to measure your child and review the instrument. The complete guide is at how to choose your first violin and its size.

The ear and first sounds

The violin has no scattering or keys: the exact note depends on where the child puts his finger, millimeter to millimeter. And the sound depends on the arch: his weight, his velocity and his contact point between the bridge and the diapason. That's why at first, it's normal to hear cheeks, a little high or low notes and a cut sound.

Many teachers put guide tapes at the diapason The first few months for the child to know where his fingers are going. They leave after his or her ear takes control.
Sing before playing It helps a lot: if the child can sing the melody, they can look for it at the violin.
Listen many times to the piece Before you learn it, you have an ear to figure out where it's going.

What's with the violin?

A small child cannot tuning alone, so someone at home has to learn. Study violins usually have microtuners at their cordal, that allow small adjustments without touching the clamps. [violin tuner]](/herramientas/afinador/violin) The place and a little practice, any father or ma gets it. If a string's very out of tune or the bridge looks tipsy, better to wait for class: forcing the clamps can break a string or move the bridge. More details about how to tuning the violin.

Patience in the first few months: what's normal

The violin has a slower start than other instruments because first we have to build the posture. A frequent sequence:

Common stage at the start of violin
Etapa	What's been worked	Advance sign
Postura	Stand well and hold the violin between his jaw and his shoulder, without squeezing.	He holds his violin for a few seconds without his help.
Arco	The arch grip sometimes starting with a pencil, straight moves.	The arch goes parallel to the bridge at the air ropes.
pizzicate and ropes to air	Press the strings with his finger and do rhythms with his bow into a single string.	He's changing his string without playing two at once.
First fingers	Put your fingers 1, 2 and 3 onto your lead tapes.	Play a simple, tuned scale.
First pieces	Melodies known as rhythmic variations of "Star."	Play a complete piece of memory.

Don't worry about how the first few weeks have been without "songs." That's what's after that that's how to play with good sound. The arch's grip deserves special attention and we explain it at how to hold the violin's bow.

The Suzuki approach and the role of dads

The Suzuki method, created by Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki, starts with an idea: children can learn music as they learn their mother tongue, listening a lot, mimics and with the family involved. In practice, that means listening daily to pieces, listening to ears before reading and a father or a mother who attends classes and guides practice at home.

To teach Suzuki as such requires a specific training, so that not all teachers apply it, and that's not the only way to learn violin. If you're interested in that approach, ask the teacher for his training. In any event, some of his ideas serve with any method:

Replay the pieces your child's learning at home or at his car.
Be present in some classes and note what teacher wants.
To repeat a great deal what's coming out, and not just the new.
To celebrate small steps: a good posture is also an accomplishment.

How to practice violin at home with your child

Filling together At first, with the tuner.
Check the posture with a mirror30 seconds are enough.
Prepare the arch: tightness of dregs without exaggeration and passing with colophonia as soon as the teacher indicates. Dregs do not touch with their fingers.
They work the goal of the week in short blocks and 10 to 15 minutes are enough to start with.
Close with something that's coming out.To end with good taste.
Keep them well: Loosen up the bow bristles, clear up the colophony powder from the ropes and close the box.

If they live in an apartment, a practice satico goes down quite a bit and prevents them from leaving the violin with a window with direct sun or inside a closed car: sudden changes in temperature and moisture affect the wood. The care routine lies with how to clear and care for a violin.

Common mistakes of parents (and how to avoid them)

To buy a big violin "to last." It generates tension in his neck and arm and makes it nearly impossible to tuning his notes.
To buy the cheapest without revising. Some very economic violins come with a bad and bad bridge or with clamps that do not support tuning. He asks the teacher to review it.
To wait for songs soon. If you demand pieces from him in his first month, his child feels bad when his work actually goes well.
To run different from his teacher. He's asking what to watch that week and focus on that.
To leave the practice for the weekend. The violin demand frequent contact and sometimes works better.

With patience at first, the violin opens the door to children and youth orchestras, to camera music and to a very fine ear. If you are looking for teacher, in [violin classes]](/clases/violin) Find how to get started.

Frequently asked questions

At how old's it better to start violin?

There are children starting at 3 or 4 years old with a great deal of participation by parents and some starting at 7 or 9 or later. The important thing is that the violin be of his or her measure, that the child have an interest and that someone goes with his or her practice at home.

How often do we have to change violin size?

When the child's arm grows high enough to have his or her current violin small. Ask his or her teacher to measure him or her every while, especially after a stretching. It's not necessary to advance to his or her next size.

Is it normal for my son to get frustrated with his violin?

Yes, especially in the first few months, as soon as the sound doesn't come out as I wish. It helps to listen to recordings of the pieces, hold small achievements and hold short sessions. If frustration becomes constant, talk with the teacher about how to adjust the repertoire or rhythm.

Do my son have to have a good ear to learn violin?

No need to come with a special ear: an ear trains with his play, singing and listening. The leading tapes, singing before his play and his weekly work with his teacher make his tuning better with time.