What to consider buying for the growing musician in your life:
If you're like me, you've realized that it is getting crazy close to the [enter holiday/event name here]. That is ok, just bookmark this list for that moment when it is Hot Tamale Crunch time and you need to order/run out and buy it. This is not a sponsored page, these are my own recommendations from my computer search bar and comfort of my ergonomic plastic office chair. We have local stores that are NICE TO HAVE, so if you can - patronize them first: JW Pepper, Arioso (through Schmitt Music), and Eckroth Music.
I made this guide because sometimes we don't have any idea what is best to get for the in-between stage of young intermediate player to advanced. Here are a couple of areas to help you get started:
I made this guide because sometimes we don't have any idea what is best to get for the in-between stage of young intermediate player to advanced. Here are a couple of areas to help you get started:
- Something they need. Sometimes - ok - many times, kids don't tell you until the night of a concert that they broke a string, or they don't have rosin, or they lost *insert essential item here.* This is the bare, nuts-and-bolts list of what to get:
- Strings - strings have a life: they can go bad relatively quickly or take their sweet time. If you read the linked article and wondered "what time frame is a good guess the strings have gone bad?" Violins and violas - every 2-3 years; cellos and basses - every 4-5 years (and that's being generous). Recommended brands: (violins and violas) Dominant, Evah Pirazzi, Obligato, Vision, (cellos and basses) Larson, Spirocore, Jarger, Helicore. You can find these in local stores, or online. Tip: once the strings are changed on an instrument, keep the old ones in the old envelopes, so you can quickly change one if you have an emergency.
- Rosin - it is brittle and breaks when dropped. I would gauge the student who needs it and how often you are replacing it to determine how much to spend. Good brands are pictured here, but you can get pretty fancy, too.
- Shoulder rest - our standard rest for students who either are on the cusp of a full size violin/viola, or have a full size instrument, is the Everest, or its equivalent (there are many iterations of shoulder rests out there). This can be purchased locally at any of our music stores. Why is it under "something they need?" The sponge is a great tool for a beginner, but as the student and instrument grow, it is more and more important that the student have an ergonomic tool to help position and hold the instrument, balanced with the weight of the head and position of the neck and jaw.
- Rock stop/strap - this is a little out of my depth since my primary instrument is violin, but I too have performed on and experienced the ever-slipping cello/bass endpin, on both carpet AND hard floors. I found a resource that lists some favorite brands of cello players.
- THE BOOK. My students will be working out of Habits of a Successful Middle Level String Musician by Selby, Rush, and Moon in middle school.
- Something they want. What music does your student like to play? I would recommend taking cues from what you hear them practice the most. Fiddle? Movie/pop? Classical? Make sure it is appropriate for their level, so steal their music when you head over to the music store and a sales associate can help you zero in on what to buy. Bismarck/Mandan DOES have one sheet music store in town, and that is J.W. Pepper. Some book series to explore:
- Suzuki books for each instrument, starting Book 2 and up. Runs mainly classical and Baroque in music styles.
- Solos for Young ________ (insert instrument name) Series - has all kinds of music for musicians except pop and contemporary.
- The "solos" display as you walk into the store is worth a glance. These collections usually feature Broadway or movie hits, or pop tunes that could be familiar to your student. The associate behind the counter can be helpful; if you give the associates your child's playing ability, they should be able to assist with a music purchase.
- Something to grow with them as they advance in music-making. I can remember the first time I received my full-sized violin in middle school. It was an intermediate model, not quite a step-up, and I used it for a couple of years from the rental store. That instrument served me well, but it was when my parents realized I was excelling at and enjoying the violin that I received my step-up violin. I still play it to this day and it has an incredible sound. Good step-up instruments have the following:
- A beautiful sound. Resonant, in all ranges. You can play in high positions with proper technique and your instrument does not sound pinched or whistle-y.
- Good, working parts. The bow tightens and untightens easily, with a full amount of clean horse hair. The pegs move and stay where needed. The bridge stands tall with no warping. If there are fine tuners, they move easily as well.
- The most important part in purchasing a step-up instrument is to have your student play on it, and play on more than one variety. Your student may feel self-conscious, but it is important to do this, to find the right step-up instrument.