How to determine the size of a violin. Sizes of violins by age

The child's lessons in a music school always require some parenting in the choice of a musical instrument. When it's time to go after him to the store, the first question that parents ask: "How to determine the size of a violin?"

Of course, a win-win option is to choose a tool with a teacher. He will be able to evaluate the violin in all the parameters and choose the best one presented in the display case, because even mediocre factory tools can differ greatly among themselves. However, such an opportunity is not always, and then parents should prepare a little in the theoretical part, because in fact everything is not as difficult as it seems.

Terminology

The size of the violin in centimeters can vary from different manufacturers, this applies to both factory and master instruments, but there are universal standards, so here you need to equip a ruler or centimeter. But first of all, let's understand the terms "half", "quarter", "whole", etc. The whole name is a violin 4/4 (four quarters), this is an adult violin. Instruments smaller in size are called, for example, "half" (i.e., half a whole or 1/2), "quarter" is 1/4, "eight" is 1/8. These surviving names went from the notes, respectively, the whole, the half, the quarter and the eighth, but the intermediate sizes of such nicknames did not get.

How to determine the size of a violin

To find out what size a violin is, you need to measure it in two ways:

1. Length from the curl (head) to the bottom of the deck (excluding the button, the part on which the sub-head is attached).
2. The length from the shoulder (the part where the neck ends at the back of the violin) to the bottom of the deck (excluding the length of the "heel" protruding from the rear where the neck is connected to the deck).

These measurements and help determine the size of the violin:

• The ratio of 60 cm / 35 cm corresponds to the whole violin;
• 57.2 cm / 34.4 cm - size 7/8;
• 53.3 cm / 33 cm - size 3/4;
• 52 cm / 31.7 cm - size 1/2;
• 48.25 cm / 28 cm - size 1/4;
• 43 cm / 25 cm - the size is 1/8;
• 40.6 cm / 22.9 cm - size 1/10;
• 36.8 cm / 20.3 cm - size 1/16;
• 32 cm / 19 cm - the size is 1/32.

However, it should be borne in mind that sometimes the difference in the size of whole violins from some manufacturers or from different models can reach two centimeters. But the width of the deck does not matter, and often differs not only among different masters, but also among the factory tools of different models, which often repeat the proportions of any known master violins, for example Stradivari or Guarneri.

Sizes of violins by age

Individual student data can affect the necessary size of the violin, both in large and smaller. Sometimes even an adult can, by virtue of his physical characteristics, play the violin 7/8, but, as a rule, the child's violin must change every 2 years.

Match table size / age

We offer you a table on which you can roughly determine what age corresponds to certain sizes of violins:

• 1/32 - from 1 year to 3 years.
• 1/16 - from 3 to 5 years.
• 1/10 - 4-5 years.
• 1/8 - 4-6 years.
• 1/4 - 5-7 years.
• 1/2 - 7-9 years.
• 3/4 - 9-12 years.
• 7/8 - 11 years old and adults with small hands.
• 4/4 - 11-12 years old and adults.

It should be taken into account that such relationships may vary.

If there is no ruler, but the child is

However, in order to properly choose the size of a violin for a child, it is not necessary to make precise measurements, there is a much simpler way. It is necessary that the young musician stretched his left hand slightly to the side, without straining, then put the violin on his left shoulder. If the size of the violin fits, its head (curl) will be exactly in the center of the palm, and the fingers will grasp the curl without tension.

This should be done if you could not consult a teacher before the purchase, or if the child has some special features (for example, it is quite high or small for his age).

Tool change

So, how do you understand that the child grew out of his violin? It is enough to carry out the simple manipulation described above every year. If the head of the violin rests on the beginning of the palm or even on the brush itself, it's time to move on to a bigger size.

Often teachers exchange and sell tools between their students, which is very profitable. In addition, in some workshops there is such a practice when the violin bought by them changes with a surcharge for a larger one, which is also very convenient, so do not assume that training a child for strings is associated with serious expenses. The market is now flooded with a huge number of Chinese tools, which, maybe, are not very good, but they are cheap.

There is one more nuance: sometimes you can take a violin a little more than you need. This applies to the so-called intermediate sizes, especially the size of 7/8, because, depending on the growth rate of the child, this tool will require a change after 3-9 months.

However, there is a second nuance: playing a smaller violin is easier, so do not take a violin two or three sizes larger. This leads to the clamping of the hand and the inevitable overstrain of the muscles. This can still be somehow justified, if the child is at home rarely or not at all. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that if you save on the instrument, buying it "for growth", most likely, you will cause the child to be completely disgusted with the activities, because they will be associated not only with constant discomfort, but even pain (with a long game). Think about whether it is worth saving, when a large selection of budget models is presented in the market of musical instruments, and you can also look for variants in violin workshops.

There is an opinion that a smaller violin sounds worse and quieter than the whole. In most cases this is true, but only applies to factory tools. Many workshops make good violins of 7/8 size, in no way inferior to the whole, so if you have small hands, do not need to "fight" with the whole violin, now it is possible to choose a concert version of the intermediate size.

Questions about bows

The choice of the bow is the second, but no less important task. Too short a bow will inevitably lead to a psychological clamp and a strong exhaustion of the right hand (the student will instinctively restrain movement, knowing that the bow is short). Too long a bow is also not suitable, although if it is not possible to take the right size, then the best option is "to grow", but this is an extreme case, and everything must be agreed with the teacher. In addition, the student's bow should not be too heavy. Wrong choice can affect not only the setting of hands, but also the health of the student.

How to choose a bow for sure

The dimensions of the violin bows are subject to the same rules as the dimensions of the instrument itself.

The ruler will again help in the selection, but now the student's measurements have come. The length of the arm from the shoulder to the hand is the correct guide in this matter, but do not forget that this applies only to children, adults play with the bow 4/4:

• 1/32 - less than 35.5 cm;
• 1/16 - 35.5 cm;
• 1/10 - 38 cm;
• 1/8 - 42 cm;
• 1/4 - 45.7-47 cm;
• 1/2 - 50.8 cm;
• 3/4 - 54.6-56 cm;
• 7/8 - 56 cm with small hands;
• 4/4 - 58 cm and more.

In addition, it is possible to determine the appropriate size in practice as accurately as possible. It is necessary to put the bow on the string with the upper end, while the elbow should be unbent unbent. In case the size is small, the right hand will not unbend to the end, and if it is great - the right hand will be wound behind the back, not leading the bow to the end.

Why is it important to choose the right size?

If a thing is small or large, it looks sloppy, but no more. But the right size of a violin is the first step in mastering a difficult art, because if it turns out to be more or less than it's necessary, it will be difficult for the student not only to keep the correct setting of hands, but also to understand it.

All actions in the game should be brought to automaticity and do not cause discomfort, which is impossible with an incorrectly selected instrument.