When is a violin too small

Sometimes it was almost impossible to play the double stpos. Flex your wrist doun,fingers must be perpendicular to floor. The scroll must tuch the thanar and fingers. Let me join the short person chorus. The real problem is actually the bow -- it takes a little bit of a swing of the arm to be able to draw the bow all the way to the tip. This is annoying, though not unworkable. The tone is, in fact, not powerful, but sweet and mellow. I have a student who in her mid fifties is about 4'10'' and, as do I, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis.

Her hand is quite tiny and her fingers short. We located a fifty year old, handmade instrument for her. She is able to hold her own in a quartet. Sometimes, a full length instrument with thin ribs high arching will feel smaller.

On the other hand, I know a guy who used to have wicked shoulder problems playing on a Tononi. But when he sold the Tononi and got a full-sized Peresson, his pain went away. I will make some more if there is a demand for it. And to David Tseng: The lady's violin neck sure wouldn't be to everyone's taste or phyical predisposition, but that small neck has made a world of positive difference in comfort for me.

My hands are very small for a woman of my height--I'm 5'5''. But my hands are quite small and my fingertips are are much smaller than a male's.

I guess that's why the smaller neck of my violin makes playing easier for me than on a standard neck. I've held my lady's violin side-by-side to standard size violins, and there is no difference to the eye in overall length--there may be a few millimeters difference if we brought out tapes, but no difference apparent to the eye in the side-by-side test.

When I look at the necks of violins in the community orchestra, they look positively behemoth to me--and I'm awfully happy not to be navigating them. But I can see why a male with larger fingers would have the problems you described with the delicate neck of a violin such as the Rinaldi not the real Rinaldi I play.

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Share More sharing options Followers 0. Reply to this topic Start new topic. Recommended Posts. CJ Posted January 12, Replacing a violin that is too small or too big with a correctly-sized violin will enhance playing comfort and technique, and that is far more inspiring for a new and enthusiastic violinist.

A Connolly Music Publication. How to tell if your violin is too small or too big. Published by StringOvation Team on June 30, Size Variations in Violins Violins come in a spectrum of sizes. You wrap your fingers around the scroll with your fingers resting in the peg box. Due to the longer length of the neck they will need to use a sponge or shoulder rest.

If they are not able to hold the violin up with the aid of the shoulder rest or sponge, you should try a smaller size. If this works, you have found your size. If it doesn't you may want to try a different chin rest on both the large and smaller violin.

You could also choose a different brand of violin with the same size label that typically measures a bit smaller then the standard size. The smallest, standard size a viola comes in is a 12". Therefore, most students in the fourth grade are not quite big enough to start on a viola. Is it possible to turn a smaller violin into a viola? Yes, there are adjustments a luthier can make to a small violin so that it can be used a a viola. However, this would require you to purchase an instrument which is something that I don't recommend for beginner students.

If a fourth grade student can reasonably play a 12" inch viola I have no problem recommending it if they want to play at school, but I will not recommend this option to a student that just isn't big enough and you will learn why when I discuss the problem of instruments that are too large. I advocate that students begin on violin and switch to viola later, when they are big enough to play a viola and have acquired a fair amount of fluency in their violin technique. I personally, do not start students on viola.

There are two sizing methods that most strings teachers find inaccurate. The first is sizing by age or height. The second is the yardstick method. Age and height method: This is when students are sized using the average size instrument for their specific height or age. In my studio have students ages on this size violin. Children grow at different rates while some are smaller for their age and others are taller. At certain stages in their growth a child may grow unevenly, they may have longer arms then someone of their same height.

Age and height alone cannot help you determine the violin size. The Yardstick Method: A yardstick is used to measure the length between the students collar bone and their left wrist. However, this method is generally completed incorrectly by measuring from the students shoulder to the palm of the hand or the middle tip of the finger, resulting in an instrument that is a few sizes too big. Again, this method is not reliable because it only accounts for one aspect of a students body rather than all variables that need to be considered.

What other things do you look for and consider when sizing, other than the length of the arm? Larger instruments are heavier. Therefore, a student who practices with a violin that is too big will be very sore and tired after a 30 minute practice session. This is sure to discourage students from playing and practicing in general. It's true that Suzuki teachers tend to size students a bit smaller than traditional non- Suzuki teachers.

I do feel using a smaller violin is a large part of the reason of why Suzuki students are more fluid early on. We don't burden the student with an instrument that is too large. This allows the student to command the instrument and play with flexibility. Of course, your child will grow into a large violin eventually, but they will not progress quickly the large size hinders correct execution of technique and your child may injure themselves before this point.

There have been many times that I have moved a transfer student to a smaller size and they suddenly improve faster and play with more ease! They play more in tune and have better tone. There have been times where I would not take on a new student because they were not willing to switch to the correct size. I don't wish to create and be responsible for a situation that could cause a serious injury to one of my students.

Students will spend a lot of time playing their instruments so we need to set them up in a way that makes them comfortable. With tension comes injury and too large of instruments stresses the child's body.

Violins that are too big force the body into odd angles and poor alignment. Not only do students develop physical injuries from a large instrument there can be emotional side-effects. Students that have a too large of a violin become unmotivated due to pain and fatigue while playing.

They may notice that it is harder for them to execute technique properly slowing their progression compared to classmates with correctly sized instruments. Carpal tunnel syndrome, Tendonitis, pain, scoliosis, headaches, poor alignment in the spine and shoulders, tension in the jaw and Temporomandibular Disorders TMD.

TMD are disorders that effect the Tempromandibular joint, the jaw and facial muscles. Josha Bell is very popular concert violinist. He has recorded many albums and plays all over the world.

I don't know if you have met Joshua Bell in person, but he is a tall guy. He plays on a full size and I would guess the scroll of his violin is closer to his wrist rather then his finger tips and he has no problem getting around on his violin. So, before you commit to a larger instrument, make certain that your child is physically ready for it:.

Many times students will view moving to a larger instrument as a mark of progress. You may want to try introducing better quality strings, or investing in a bow upgrade first. Many times children need to move to an intermediate instrument due to performance progress. And, when this is the case, choosing the next level violin is very important. Most likely, your child will use an intermediate violin for many years, so take your time when making the purchase.

Visit a variety of dealers, take along extra sets of ears, and have your child play each instrument as many times as necessary before making the final decision. A Connolly Music Publication.