If they don’t practise they will not improve. If they don’t improve you will be listening to the current noise forever. That can be an expensively long time, but with only a little practice, your child (and you) can soon begin to hear the results.
Q: I can’t get him to do any practice.
A: As a parent you should encourage him to practise. Teachers vary in the amount of practice that they expect their pupils to do, some will insist on ½ hour every day while others suggest a more casual approach. With complete beginners I believe 10-15 minutes practice 4 or 5 days a week should be enough to keep them motivated and eager to learn. It’s also no good trying to cram the entire week’s practice into one session, as they will forget everything by the next time that they take their instrument out of its case. They need to build up stamina in a number of muscles that otherwise are seldom used and, importantly for some people, you could be wasting a lot of time and money.
Q: When is the best time to practise?
A: Some people prefer the early morning while some choose later in the day, it’s a personal choice. It is much more important to find a regular practice time. This may be before or after dinner, ten minutes before a favourite TV programme, or just before leaving for school. Make practicing as much as a habit as cleaning your teeth and washing.
Q: I’ve been offered a violin without a bow or case for only £25.00. That sounds a real bargain, should I buy it?
A: Possibly, but if you will need to buy a case (£35), a bow (£25) and if any work needs to be done on the instrument i.e. new bridge (£15) replacement peg (£6) set of strings (£12) it can get very expensive and you may still end up with an old, battered, poor sounding instrument. It is often cheaper to buy a new beginners violin outfit than repair an old one. This is not necessarily the case with cellos.
Q: Where should I store the instrument when it’s not being used?
A: Don’t ever store it near a radiator or in direct sunlight as this may make the wood to swell, warp and possibly split causing irreversible damage. Try not to keep it in a place too difficult to access; you never know, your child may want to practise.
Q: This bit has just fallen off. Shall I super glue it back together?
A: No. I see a lot of damage done to instruments by well meaning parents doing their own bit of D.I.Y. It is often more expensive to repair someone’s handiwork than to repair the original fault.
Q: I want to buy her a violin rather than renting. Where should I go?
A: Wherever you like, there are many shops and web sites selling instruments. For a basic beginners violin outfit you should expect to pay between £80 & £120. It is not always the case that the more you pay the better the instrument is. Ask about any part exchange deals that they offer. You need to buy the correct size of instrument so check with your child’s teacher first.
Q: I don’t need to get the instrument insured as it is covered on the house insurance.
A: Don’t automatically think that it is covered because if it is not in the house when the damage occurs it’s unlikely to be covered. Check the policy carefully. Alternatively seek a specialist musical instrument insurer. See the links and information page.
Q: A string seems very loose, shall I tighten it up?
A: Only if you know what you’re doing. Strings do occasionally become loose due to temperature change or the odd knock but if it is tightened too much it may snap. Strings are not that expensive although you will be without a working instrument for a while. That means no practice.