All About Violin Classes and Teachers

[HyperKiasu]

sorry for late response...


and thank you for all the great tips from great mummies...
:salute:

i bought one synwin violin for my son.
1/4 is too small
1/2 is a bit too big
finally chose 1/2

hope he can develop fondness for violin....

[airex]

The strings do make a difference in the tone quality, even for the factory manufactured models. It would not sound as good as the hand made ones but definitely not as scratchy as the original strings. I had positive feedbacks from my students’ parents after changing the strings.


Sometimes, it is a huge commitment to spend a few hundreds on a hand-made violin, esp for a beginner. Therefore I always suggest changing the strings for basic beginner model to improve the tone to a certain extent which benefit the students when learning.

[metz]

Oh yes, the original strings are pretty scratchy. My friend couldn't stand it, that's why she loaned my son her kids' old Synwin violins. Once my son played on it, he could no longer stand the factory made violins. Kept commenting my girl's violin sounded horrible.


But really strange, I did ask the violin teacher if I should change the strings on my girl's violin. He didn't encourage it. Even when one of her strings broke, he merely replaced it with a $1/$2 string. Then at Synwin, the staff (could be one of the brothers) also advised me not to. Weird :? . Maybe it was because I asked for the Dominant strings? What kind of strings do you usually get for your students?

[phankao]

chamonix:

Oh yes, the original strings are pretty scratchy. My friend couldn't stand it, that's why she loaned my son her kids' old Synwin violins. Once my son played on it, he could no longer stand the factory made violins. Kept commenting my girl's violin sounded horrible.


But really strange, I did ask the violin teacher if I should change the strings on my girl's violin. He didn't encourage it. Even when one of her strings broke, he merely replaced it with a $1/$2 string. Then at Synwin, the staff (could be one of the brothers) also advised me not to. Weird :? . Maybe it was because I asked for the Dominant strings? What kind of strings do you usually get for your students?

We personally used Pirastro Piranito strings with a special version E-string. Until he changed his violin and used Vision Titanium strings as advised by his teacher. Seems that Pirastro strings not so popular with students here? Even though they are around the same price range (maybe slightly cheaper if you buy in bulk from overseas). I personally prefer them over Dominant bc there is very little adjustment time needed for the strings.

http://www.wwbw.com/Pirastro.wwbw

You may like to read these 2 articles which do a review on various strings:

http://www.stringsmagazine.com/issues/Strings95/coverstory.shtml

http://www.violinist.com/wiki/violin-strings/

[dasalo]

chamonix:

Kept commenting my girl's violin sounded horrible.


Even when one of her strings broke, he merely replaced it with a $1/$2 string. Then at Synwin, the staff (could be one of the brothers) also advised me not to. Weird :? . Maybe it was because I asked for the Dominant strings? What kind of strings do you usually get for your students?

Hi charmonix, where to find $1/$2 strings these days? Synwin has 2 brothers? I thought Mr Yap have only a son and a daughter?

Dominant is generally good for all violins IMO.

[fristrom]

dasalo:

Hi charmonix, where to find $1/$2 strings these days?
Dominant is generally good for all violins IMO.

I replaced one violin string in synwin few weeks ago, and the string was $2.16. Soon, the replaced string had problems, and we ended up replacing the whole set with Dominant. If I know the strings make so much difference to the sound, I would have replaced the strings much earlier

[metz]

fristrom:

dasalo:

Hi charmonix, where to find $1/$2 strings these days?
Dominant is generally good for all violins IMO.

I replaced one violin string in synwin few weeks ago, and the string was $2.16. Soon, the replaced string had problems, and we ended up replacing the whole set with Dominant. If I know the strings make so much difference to the sound, I would have replaced the strings much earlier

From my kids' violin teacher. Was quite surprised that the string was that affordable (first time changing string).

Dominant strings are good but I think the violins also play a very important part. Both my kids are using Dominant Strings now but my girl's violin still sounds rather scratchy when I compared hers to my son's. I suppose I'll have to bear with it since it's still a beginner's violin.

[buds]

Hi all. Hubs finally bought a new violin for our DD.

She received it for her birthday present.

Thing is... now we have to return the violin that
our friend loaned to us. While his violin is still in
good condition, the violin case is worn out from
lugging the thing around rainy days and all. The
straps also came off. Hubs checked it & said it
really cannot be fixed.

Am hoping someone knows where i can get just
the case? Planning to return him before
we move... :xedfingers:

[phankao]

buds:

Am hoping someone knows where i can get just
the case? Planning to return him before
we move... :xedfingers:

I usually buy just case alone from Gramercy at Tanjong Katong shop. Their cases are lighter and cheaper than the ones at Synwin. But do look out for rust at the metal parts and check carefully before you confirm which case and pay for it, that's all. Other than that, their cases are pretty good for the price.

I bought rectangular case that can put files/scoresheets in the side pocket for around S$50. I think the violin-shaped cases are cheaper.

[phankao]

dasalo:

Dominant is generally good for all violins IMO.

Only problem is that I find Dominant strings to have several days run-in time, unlike the Pirastro strings. So I prefer to use Pirastro student strings.