Buying Your First Violin
As a teacher and an instrument sales professional, one of my favorite things to experience is the happiness and pride of someone purchasing their first instrument. It doesn’t happen every day, but whether it’s a student graduating from the rental pool or an adult beginner who finally has the time and/or resources to pursue a lifelong dream, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience. That being said, there are a few things that, as a sales professional and teacher, I feel students should know going into this transaction.
The first thing to remember when buying a violin family instrument is that the purchase itself should be treated like an investment. While most of the time this means spending a little bit more money, it will be worth it in the end. Remember this when you become tempted to purchase a factory-made violin because of the price, because there is a strong likelihood that the money you spend will not ever be recouped. However, suppose you instead seek out a nice and gently used workshop violin or an unlabelled bespoke violin. In that case, you stand a better chance of being able to recoup your investment or have something that can be parlayed into an upgrade purchase later on. And while these cost more than a factory-made violin, the financial health of the transaction is worth it. Trust me.
The second thing to try and do is avoid the thinking that the grass will always be greener on the other side. Yes, to a degree, you can always find something that is a marginally better value or performs marginally better than what you’ve found already, but at a certain point, you will do more harm than good. Instead, focus on building a relationship with the person with whom you wish to do business and allow them to get to know you as well. With this approach, you will always get the very best of that sales professional, meaning that you, as the customer, will always come out slightly ahead.
Finally, try not to go down the rabbit hole of online information. The adage of “it’s true just because it’s on the internet” is there for a reason, and the sheer volume of misinformation available on the internet is staggering. Instead, speak to your teacher, a friend who plays seriously, or, worst case, as a teacher who knows a thing or two to go with you. The likelihood that you’ll have a positive experience is much greater.
With these three things in mind, remember that buying a violin isn’t rocket science, nor should it be. So if you find yourself getting confused, don’t be scared to take a step back, take a breath, and remind yourself why you’re buying a violin: for the love of listening to and playing beautiful music.
-Written by Amos Fayette, Director of Sales
