When new to playing the violin, you are not just learning to read and play music, you are also learning the instrument itself. To start with, you will gain a basic understanding about how to properly hold the bow and violin, how to tune it and what accessories to have on hand. Violins themselves are small and easily portable, but they do require extra gear, like a case to protect the instrument from temperature changes and extra strings in case of breakage.

There are quite a few different strings on the market, which are designed to have differing effects on the tone and sound quality of the instrument. Of course you’re not expected to be knowledgeable about all of the details right from the start. You will pick up the information as you progress, and in the meantime, don’t hesitate to ask for help from the music community. Folks like experienced musicians, luthiers, and teachers can provide valuable insight into what are the best violin strings for beginners.

There are a LOT of options

Violin strings vary based on the core material. The three main types are gut, steel and synthetic. Gut strings, made from sheep intestines and some metal, are the original type. Steel strings are all metal and therefore the most stable, and synthetic, made from perlon or nylon are the most popular.

Musical preference, or the genre of music you favor, will influence the type of string you choose because each produces a different quality of sound. For example, steel strings produce the brilliant tones associated with jazz or country music and synthetic strings are ideal for classical music. Two other factors that will influence your choice of strings for beginners are gauge and tension.

As a beginning cellist, properly tuning a cello is one of the most important skills you’ll need to learn early on. If your cello is out of tune, it is practically impossible to practice or improve your playing. In order to learn how to tune your cello, you’ll first need to become familiar with the pieces of your instrument and how they function together as a unit.

The cello has four strings which are tuned in perfect fifths like a violin. The notes are: C, G, D, A, in a descending order of thickness. The low C on your cello corresponds to two octaves below the middle C on a piano.

Cellos have four tuning pegs, one for each string, that are located on the scroll of the instrument. Some cellos have four fine tuners affixed to the base of the strings on the tailpiece and allow for more minute and precise tuning adjustments with the use of a lever.

C, G, D, A

When you’re first learning to play the cello, one good mnemonic that can help you remember the order of the strings is “Cats Go Down Alleys.” It’s also beneficial to learn the “circle of fifths,” a diagram that’s used in music theory in order to understand the major and minor keys in music. Using C as the starting point, the circle starts with C, G, D, A.

Most students first learning to play the cello use a tuning device. Digital turners that clip on to the peg box are reasonably priced and very convenient to use. Once your intonation becomes more developed, using a tuning fork and harmonics to keep your cello in tune will work just as well. Regardless of whether you decide to tune with or without the use of a digital tune, you start tuning with your A string; the standard tuning for A is 440 Hz.

When learning about the cello it’s vital to know that, just like other instruments crafted from wood, it’s susceptible to changes in humidity, temperature, and atmospheric pressure. Not only can these types of conditions result in severe damage to your cello, they can also affect how frequently you’ll need to tune your strings.

All the strings you could need

Choosing the right strings for your instrument and playing style is important as well. The three factors to take into consideration when choosing your strings are:

• Type
• Gauge or thickness
• Brand

Over time and as you become more proficient on your cello, you’ll choose the type of string, the gauge, and the brands that produce the best sounds from your instrument.

There are many different brands of cello string, and each brand has its different makes. Some of the most popular cello strings include: Larsen, Jargar, Thomastik-Infeld, and Pirastro. When you need to buy cello strings, whether it’s an individual string or a set, JSI has a wide selection of both.

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Learning to play music is an incredibly enriching experience for young children, but getting kids to practice their instrument can be a difficult proposition. Like homework or any other compulsory activity, there may be days where they’re tired or simply not in the mood. Sticking to a set schedule, with specific parameters like what time and how long the daily session will be helps by setting their expectations.

When your children are very young, it’s up to you to provide the structure and routine surrounding practice sessions. By doing so, you’re teaching them discipline, time management, and self-motivation, qualities that will in turn help them be successful in all areas of their lives. Keeping them motivated to be productive rather than waste time is something with which most parents struggle. Making it fun through the use of some creative tools is an excellent way to keep them on track.

It’s good to make mistakes

Rather than attempting to learn new songs all the way through, some parents encourage their child to pick a manageable number of bars. They can feel good about mastering a certain portion of the music while practicing every day. Setting and achieving mini-goals provides a sense of accomplishment, and you can even have ‘Friday concerts,’ where they string together the bars they’ve mastered during the week.

Rewards are also an excellent motivational tool. Make learning new exercises fun by making up games with prizes that are awarded as they master each one. An example is a parent who used a bag of dried beans and “paid” their children in beans when they mastered a new exercise or stanza. Then at the end of the month, the kids could cash them in for a fun prize or a small deposit into their savings account.

Get them involved by brainstorming ideas together for a game that they’re excited about. Finding the right motivational tool takes time and thought, but it’s certainly worth it. Learning to play an instrument is an investment in their future. Finally, don’t forget to remind them often that making mistakes is part of the process. Demanding perfection is more likely to derail their musical career than encourage it.

Finding what works best for your child

If keeping kids in musical lessons is your goal, they’ll need a lot of support in the beginning. Getting kids to practice will be your responsibility at first, but the good news is you’re teaching them the skills they’ll need to take over for you as they grow. Even if you don’t have a music store near you, your child can still learn to play an instrument. JSI offers the ability to purchase a new instrument or rent stringed instruments online and have either delivered to your home. With our large selection of quality instruments, favorable terms and helpful staff, you’re sure to find what you need.

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