Tips for Renting or Buying a Violin, Viola, or Cello for the First Time

Where to Find your First Instrument

If this is your first time learning a string instrument, your first question might be where to obtain one. A good place to start is to search for local music stores. You might want to call ahead and check which instruments they have available. If you’re one of my local students in the Redwood City area, you can find a rental instrument at either Clocktower Music in San Carlos or Heaney Violins in Mountain View. For purchase of a full size violin, viola, or cello, I highly recommend Heaney Violins, since they have a wide selection and a very helpful and knowledgeable staff! If you can’t find a music store in your area, another option is to rent or purchase an instrument online. For instance, I’ve had good experiences with Kennedy Violins and Shar Music. Finally, if you’re part of a school orchestra, the school will often provide a loaner instrument. Be sure to check if you’re allowed to take the instrument home with you and use it over the summer. Otherwise, you’ll need to secure a rental for part of the year in order to maintain your practice habit and continue advancing your skills during the school’s off season.

Is it Better to Rent or Purchase?

For adult beginners and teens who have finished growing, I generally recommend renting initially or purchasing a less expensive instrument to start out on. This gives you a chance to try out taking lessons and learning the instrument. Later, when you’re ready to make a larger monetary investment in a higher quality instrument, you’ll have some experience playing, a better idea of the types of sound you’re looking for in an instrument, and some savings.

Much like shoes, violins, violas and cellos come in different sizes in order to better accomodate each musician’s physical reach. For children and teens who are still growing, choosing a rental is often more cost effective than purchasing, since they’ll soon need the next size up. Parents may find it particularly beneficial to purchase a fractional size instrument, however, if younger siblings are likely to get use out of the same instrument down the road. As a final consideration, see if your store offers a rent-to-own option, since this is the best of both worlds and takes the guesswork out of the equation!

Which Size do you Need?

Below is a chart showing the instrument size, the arm length recommended for each size, and the age range that most commonly corresponds to them. This can give you a general idea of which size you can expect to need. Note that arm length is measured from your neck to the palm of your left hand.

Keep in mind that every individual is different and this chart only shows us the average scenarios. You may need to consider other factors such as the size of your hands, how far your fingers can comfortably stretch, and, in the case of cellos, your height. Luckily, most brick and mortar music stores that rent and sell instruments will let you try out the instrument in the shop with staff assistance so that you can verify you’re getting the correct size. Call ahead to find out if your local store requires an appointment for this.

Tips for Purchasing a String Instrument

Ready to buy? The first thing you’ll want to do is decide on your budget. For an string instrument to be a noticeable step-up in quality from a rental or student instrument, expect to put down roughly $500 to $1,000 at a minimum. Since there really isn’t an upper limit to how much a string instrument can cost, you’ll need to set the maximum price based on what you can personally afford and the amount you’re willing to invest.

Once you’ve settled on a budget, it’s time to visit your local music store if you have one in your area. It’s a good idea to call ahead or check the store’s website to see if you need to make an appointment. Consider bringing a friend or family member along with you to provide you with a second opinion. Ask to try out three or four instruments at various price points within your chosen range, and perhaps one that’s more expensive than you plan, just for the sake of comparison. If you already know that you’re partial to a certain maker or style of instrument, let the staff know so they can include these instruments if they carry them. For each potential instrument, play something simple like a scale and one or two excerpts from pieces you have memorized. Notice both how it feels to play as well as how it sounds. Make sure your chosen excerpts cover the low, mid, and high ranges of the instrument, and use the same excerpts for every instrument you try out to ensure a fair comparison.

If you’re particularly lucky and the staff member assisting you happens to be experienced with the violin, viola or cello, you can request that they play each of the instruments you’re testing while you listen from a few feet away. This can provide a very useful, additional perspective since you can hear what the instrument sounds like from the perspective of an audience member. It also allows you to give your full attention to the subtler differences in tone more easily.

So, what do you do if you have no local brick and mortar music store that sells string instruments for intermediate students and above? Purchasing one online is an option, just be sure to check the site’s return policy and find out if you can try out multiple instruments for free before settling on the one you wish to buy. If possible, may also be worth while to do some research in advance on the specific models of instruments you’re considering by reading reviews or listening to sample recordings that compare them.