A child’s lessons at a music school always require some parenting in matters of choosing a musical instrument. When it comes time to go after him to the store, the first question parents ask is: "How to determine the size of the violin?"
Of course, a win-win option is to choose a tool with a teacher. He will be able to evaluate the violin in all respects and choose the best of those presented in the window, because even mediocre factory tools can vary greatly. However, such an opportunity does not always happen, and then parents should be a little prepared in the theoretical part, because in reality everything is not as complicated as it seems.
Terminology
The size of the violin in centimeters can vary from different manufacturers, this applies to both factory and master instruments, however, there are global standards, so here you need to arm yourself with a ruler or centimeter. But first of all, let's look at the concepts of “half”, “quarter”, “whole”, etc. The whole name is the violin 4/4 (four quarters), this is an adult violin. Smaller instruments are called, for example, “half” (that is, half a whole or 1/2), “quarter” - 1/4, “eighth” - 1/8. These established names came from the notes, respectively, of the whole, half, quarter and eighth, but the intermediate sizes of such nicknames did not receive.
How to determine the size of the violin
To find out what size the violin is, you need to measure it in two ways:
- The length from the curl (head) to the bottom of the deck (excluding the button, the part on which the ledge is attached).
- The length from the shoulder (the part where the fretboard ends from the back of the violin) to the bottom of the deck (excluding the length of the “heel” protruding from the back where the fretboard connects to the deck).
These measurements will help determine the size of the violin:
- the ratio of 60 cm / 35 cm corresponds to the whole violin;
- 57.2 cm / 34.4 cm - size 7/8;
- 53.3 cm / 33 cm - size 3/4;
- 52 cm / 31.7 cm - size 1/2;
- 48.25 cm / 28 cm - 1/4 size;
- 43 cm / 25 cm - size 1/8;
- 40.6 cm / 22.9 cm - size 1/10;
- 36.8 cm / 20.3 cm - size 1/16;
- 32 cm / 19 cm - size 1/32.
However, it should be borne in mind that sometimes the difference in the size of whole violins for some manufacturers or for different models can reach two centimeters. But the width of the deck does not matter and often differs not only among different masters, but also among factory tools of different models, which often repeat the proportions of some well-known master violins, such as Stradivarius or Guarneri.
Sizes of violins by age
Individual student data can affect the required size of the violin, both up and down. Sometimes even an adult can, due to his physical characteristics, play the violin 7/8, but as a rule, the child’s violin should be changed every 2 years.
Conformity table size / age
We offer you a table by which you can approximately determine how old certain sizes of violins correspond:
- 1/32 - from 1 year to 3 years.
- 1/16 - from 3 to 5 years.
- 1/10 - 4-5 years.
- 1/8 - 4-6 years.
- 1/4 - 5-7 years.
- 1/2 - 7-9 years.
- 3/4 - 9-12 years.
- 7/8 - 11 years old and adults with small hands.
- 4/4 - 11-12 years old and adults.
It should be borne in mind that such ratios may vary.
If there is no ruler, but the child is
However, in order to correctly choose the size of the violin for the child, it is not necessary to make accurate measurements, there is a much simpler way. It is necessary for the young musician to extend his left hand a little to the side, without straining, then put the violin on his left shoulder. If the size of the violin is suitable, its head (curl) will be exactly in the center of the palm, and your fingers will grasp the curl without tension.
This should be done if you were not able to consult with a teacher before the purchase, or if the child has some features (for example, is quite tall or small for his age).
Tool change
So, how do you understand that a child grew out of his violin? It is enough to carry out a simple manipulation above each year. If the head of the violin rests against the beginning of the palm or even the brush itself - it's time to switch to a larger size.
Often, teachers exchange and sell tools between their students, which is very beneficial. In addition, in some workshops there is such a practice when the violin purchased from them changes with a surcharge for a larger one, which is also very convenient, so you should not assume that teaching a child on strings involves serious expenses. The market is now awash with a huge number of Chinese instruments, which may not be very good, but cheap.
There is one more nuance: sometimes you can take the violin a little more than required. This applies to the so-called intermediate sizes, especially the size 7/8, because, depending on the growth rate of the child, this tool will require a change after 3-9 months.
However, there is a second caveat: playing a smaller violin is easier, so you should not take a violin two to three sizes larger. This leads to clamps of the hand and the inevitable overstrain of muscles. This can still be justified in some way if the child is rarely engaged at home or not at all. Therefore, get ready for the fact that if you save on the instrument, buying it "for growth", most likely, cause the child a complete disgust for the lessons, because they will be associated not only with constant discomfort, but even pain (with prolonged play). Think about whether to save money when there is a large selection of budget models on the musical instrument market, you can also look for options in violin workshops.
It is believed that a smaller violin sounds worse and quieter than a whole. In most cases, this is true, but only applies to factory tools. Many workshops make good violins of size 7/8, which are in no way inferior to the whole, so if you have small hands, you don’t need to “struggle” with the whole violin, now you can choose a concert version of an intermediate size.
Questions about Bows
Choosing a bow is a second, but no less important task. Too short a bow will inevitably lead to psychological clamping and severe fatigue of the right hand (the student will instinctively restrain movement, knowing that the bow is short). Too long a bow is also not good, although if it is not possible to take the desired size, then the best option is “to grow”, but this is an extreme case, and everything should be agreed with the teacher. In addition, the student's bow should not be too heavy. The wrong choice can affect not only the setting of the hands, but also the health of the student.
How to choose a bow for sure
The sizes of the violin bows obey the same rules as the dimensions of the instrument itself.
The ruler will help in choosing again, but now the turn has come for the student's measurements. The length of the arm from the shoulder to the hand is the right guide in this matter, but do not forget that this applies only to children, adults play with a 4/4 bow:
- 1/32 - less than 35.5 cm;
- 1/16 - 35.5 cm;
- 1/10 - 38 cm;
- 1/8 - 42 cm;
- 1/4 - 45.7-47 cm;
- 1/2 - 50.8 cm;
- 3/4 - 54.6-56 cm;
- 7/8 - 56 cm with small hands;
- 4/4 - 58 cm and more.
In addition, you can no less accurately determine the appropriate size in practice. It is necessary to put the bow on the string with its upper end, while the elbow should be straightened without tension. If the size is small, the right hand will not be unbent to the end, and if large, the right hand will be wound behind the back, not finishing the bow to the end.
Why is it important to choose the right size?
If a thing is small or large, it looks messy, but nothing more. But the correctly selected size of the violin is the first step in mastering hard art, because if it turns out to be more or less than it should be, it will be difficult for the student not only to keep the correct position of his hands, but also to understand it.
All actions during the game should be brought to automaticity and at the same time not cause discomfort, which is impossible with an improperly selected instrument.