Is violin a good instrument for college? also is it expensive for lessons and the instrument itself?

Question

im looking for an instrument that will help me to get in to a good college so i thought of violin. is it expensive to get a good violin? also does it cost alot to take lessons?

Answer 1

If you're majoring in music and don't have much knowledge of music yet, start off with piano. I don't know why an instrument would help you get into a good college... but piano would probably start you off nicely since it is nice and simple. If you're looking for something portable, go with a guitar. Violins don't have bars on them, so the learning curve for getting the right notes is quite steep.

Answer 2

I'm a violist and the comment above was quite ...wrong. There is a high demand for viola in MOST orchestras. However, that doesn't mean that you automatically get in. They need violists that can actually play in TUNE. To get into a university with the violin or any instrument, even the piano, takes skill. You would've had to have played for years. You need to be the best, not just some begginner who wants to get into school. Just try a different route, maybe writing? math? something your good at already

Answer 3

The violin is a very beautiful instrument (I play it myself. have been for 4 years) IF you can play it. It is a VERY challenging instrument. So if you expect to get into a good college just cause you can play a few notes, sorry, but that reality doesnt exist. Some say, it takes a special talent to play the violin, some people are just not born to play it. YOU HAVE TO BE DEDICATED! do NOT expect to sound good right away. expect to sound HORRIBLE! because all people do when they start.

Hey, I did and now Im the best in my school

This is not a "free ride" instrument. You have to be VERY good to get into college and, trust me. It is VERY hard to get VERY good. If you are, like a junior, or even a freshman in high school. Do Not expect do get a scholorship or anything.

just to let you know

soo anyway..to answer some of your other questions

Violins can be VERY expensive. IF you buy them new

Best bet is to start searching on ebay. Thats where my mom got my first violin. If you search enough then you should be able to find a pretty good one for not too much money.

I think my first violin was about $200 from ebay. And trust me THAT IS VERY CHEAP!

Then I had to get a better one (from beginner to professional) and my newest one cost $2,700, and that one i bought new, and That was cheap!!!

Best tip....shop around

now...to lessons

If there is an orchestra at your school, then there probably are lessons avalible. Those are probably cheap, but not the best lessons. If you want better lessons, I would suggest private ones. Do you have a college in your town? If you do, then there probably private lessons avalible from people there. I get my lessons from a college teacher. They cost $18 a lesson, one lesson a week

This may be a lot, but if you want to get better fast and be a better violinist, I would suggest this option. That would probably be the best if you want violin to get you into college.  

I actually went to a teacher from my school, but I succeeded her teaching capibilities. So I started going to a private teacher.

So...

here are the bullet points

-Violin is a hard instrument that takes dedication

-They are not cheap, unless you shop around (ebay!)

-Private lessons are cheap either, but they are the best way to get better

HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!!

Answer 4

I don't know how old you are.  To get into a university music program, majoing in violin, you need to have at least five years of private lessons.  To get into a top-notch program you will have had to developed at a fairly high level.

Lesson fees are usually at least $60-$100/month.   Good student violins can't be had for less than $200, and that is the rock bottom.  

BTW, I disagree with the poster who says start with piano.  It is infinitely harder to get a scholarship, or get accepted into, a music program on a piano scholarship.  Most schools need violins to fill the orchestra.  You should have keyboard skills, but if you want a scholarship, I'd study violin, not piano, as your main instrument.

Answer 5

of the stringed orchestral instruments, the violin is going to be the cheapest.

however, its not cheap.

i think we pay 117 a month for 45 minute lessons.

i have a $4,500 (USA) violin.

and 2 bows, totalling 900 dollars.

violin is the smallest. and thinnest strings. so its the cheapest.

if your in high school looking to get a violin scholarship, your gonna have to work your tail off to be able to compete with people that have been playing for 10+ years.

Answer 6

First of all, the violin and every other orchestral string is a great instrument. The only down side is that the violin isn't for everyone, but each string instrument is basically the same, so if you don't like one, you can easily switch.

One of the best stringed instruments you can choose is the viola. There are so few violists that orchestras are always desperate for more. But, some people really prefer the deeper tones of the cello and bass, so it's best to try them all out.

To answer your first question, the violin can cost anywhere from $100 to $10,000, and the cheapest ones are always good enough. They are never terrible, but not great.

About lessons: I take cello lessons. My teacher charges $20 for half of an hour and $35 for one hour, but different teachers means different prices. The good thing is that you can decide how often you want to take lessons, and that depends on how dedicated you will be to your instrument.