OT- Buying inexpensive Viola

[PeterPansMum]

DS would like to play viola next year, and DH wants to buy one so we aren't just tossing $$$ out the window. I'd like to buy something cheap, decent quality. Renting would probably cost around $120 for the year, so around that price would be good.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with buying. I found a store online called music basics with $100 violas.. Can't find any reviews either way. Thanks for any help!

 

[disykat]

In general, musical instruments that are "cheap" are not decent quality. I'd seriously consider renting, at least for a few months. Then talk to the teacher about what to look for in a good instrument before you start looking. Start asking around, start looking on craigslist, etc. but don't plan on buying before she's even started.

We own instruments and I agree you should buy rather than rent for very long. However, I think it is actually a good "investment" of funds to rent for a while before buying. One of my son's changed his mind when they had the assembly to choose instruments. After talking for two years about how he was going to play the sax, he came home really excited about the trombone. Several of my son's friends changed instruments in the first month.

 

[prplcrzy]

I can't offer any advise where to get one, but wanted to let you know that you may want to rent one for a few months and see how things go before you buy one. My dd wanted to play the flute and ended up not liking it after a few months. I'm glad I had rented it from the school rather purchasing one outright.

Hope you have a better experience.

Nancy

 

[goofyisinphilly]

I work at a music store and would highly recommend renting a viola. Violas come in different sizes and that effects the cost. Not to mention it shouldn't cost anything to change sizes if she grows during the year. Renting should run around $30 a month with a rent to own program. You aren't throwing money away if she sticks with it and if she doesn't you aren't stuck trying to sell a cheap instrument. Not to mention there are service plans so if something breaks you don't have to pay out of pocket.

Hope this help.!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

First of all how old is your son? My DD started playing violin in 4th grade. At the beginning of the year a couple of the local music stores came to the school and had a good deal where we could rent her violin for I think 3 months for only $26. That was good because it gave her time to find out if she liked it. After that time it would be $26 per month. At the end of the 3 months she still wanted to continue so we felt the same as you about buying one. We did alot of asking around from people we know who play. One music teacher told us that we needed to get her a really expensive one that cost thousands! For a 4th grader who was just starting? No way. Then we talked to my DH's aunt who plays violin for a living. She told us that the first couple of years of learning violin is learning technique and that at that point it wasn't a problem not to have an expensive violin. She said she learned on a pretty pathetic violin. Another friend of ours that plays agreed. So we went online and ended up buying a violin for $150. Not the best violin in the world but it got her through grade school. When she started junior high school her teacher said it was time for her to upgrade so we bought her a better violin that she uses at home and for concerts. She still uses the other one at school though so we don't have to worry about her good one while it's there. We have no regrets with going this route. Having the cheaper violin didn't hurt her playing ablity. Hope this helps you. Good luck! BTW my DD'S orchestra is going to WDW in May so maybe your DS could get to do the same one day!

 

[Melissa_E]

I work at a music store and would highly recommend renting a viola. Violas come in different sizes and that effects the cost. Not to mention it shouldn't cost anything to change sizes if she grows during the year. Renting should run around $30 a month with a rent to own program. You aren't throwing money away if she sticks with it and if she doesn't you aren't stuck trying to sell a cheap instrument. Not to mention there are service plans so if something breaks you don't have to pay out of pocket.

Hope this help.!

I absolutely agree with this! I'm a school music teacher and try to recommend shops that have rent to own programs where at least a majority of your money goes towards a purchase at the end of the rental. This way, if the child quits, you don't have an instrument collecting dust or if the child really likes it, you have equity built in.

 

[bgirl29]

I just wanted to recommend you start out renting a viola too. My son started in 6th grade and is now in 10th and on his 3rd viola because he outgrew the first 2. Also we have had bows replaced and 2 new cases free of charge because they were covered under the rental insurance. It was very nice when he needed a new size to just go to the store and try out new violas to see what type he wanted next. I believe every month the entire payment was applied to the cost of the viola except for 3 dollars that paid for the insurance.