After about eight years of violin education, I sold the violin I owned on 2016 because I started composing and I haven't touched the violin for 6 years.
Before giving up the violin, I would like to mention a few pieces that I have managed to play competently so that you have an idea of my violin playing level:
Bach Partita No: 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 (including Chaconne)
Bach Sonata Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005
Several Vivaldi and Telemann concertos
Some Rode Caprices
etc.
Those who have played the violin know that when these pieces start playing, it is time to buy a better violin. However, getting a good violin in your teens may be impossible if you don't have the support of a wealthy family. As your musical expectations increase, a bad violin will take all your energy and you realize that you cannot play the music that is difficult to play even with a good violin; and if you have big career dreams, the severity of the situation will break your heart.
I, at just such a time; As soon as I realized that the end result of my violin career would not be among the best, I discovered my talent for composition and give up the violin.
However, after my longing to play the violin increased over the last few weeks, I started looking for an affordable violin that would satisfy me with its sound and playability and I ordered this violin from Yamaha, without seeing the instrument and knowing its sound. (I had the opportunity to touch a few cheap Yamaha guitars and was amazed by the richness of its sound. I was hoping that maybe the level of their violins would be well above the price you paid.)
My comment is for people who know how to play the violin and quit for some reason but still want to play it again:
- Nasal, closed, and damped sound, as with other factory-made violins. (Even with the relatively good Pirastro strings and an expensive tailbone with no micro-tuners.) Don't even dream about the open, rich, and quality sound here. Not even a tiny bit. I really cannot hear the dramatic difference between a 100-euro violin and a 400-euro violin.
- The intended pitch (intonation) changes dramatically when bow pressure is applied.
- Difficult to play hard pieces. Double-stops don't ring well, string transitions squeak; it reminds you of your old memories about your "inability to play because your violin is bad" and gives you sad moments.
For beginners:
- Bridge sits relatively well on the body, but is still too high and needs trimming.
-Change the bow and rosin immediately. Don't use it, never say "I will change it later." You'll get the same feel and sound even if you use bow-shaped cardboard.
In summary, I'm sorry to realize that playing a "good violin" is quite difficult to afford, and even though we are on the cusp of any technological advancement in the 21st century, we still have to pay a fortune for a well-sounding violin.
Is it really that hard to find a good-sounding violin, even if it's factory-made? For example, can't we pay 1000 euros and play the violin with pleasure?
It looks like I should probably make my own violin!
