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Musical Equipment Places to Buy Things |
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For equipment, my first recommendation is always the online ordering companies, Shar and Concord Music Supply, because they carry everything a musician could need and can have it to your house in a matter of days. I’m not a big fan of online ordering in general, but for musical equipment needs it makes a lot of sense because music stores are so hard to find, and in general the people who work at the stores don’t know the first or second thing about violins. They’re there to sell electric guitars and amplifiers. It can be very frustrating to drive half an hour to a music store only to find that they don’t know the difference between the G string and the D string, let alone how much a string should cost. I advise going to Concord Music Supply first, because they're based in New Jersey and will ship things much faster. Everything that Concord doesn't have will probably be carried by Shar, which is sort of a Library of Congress when it comes to musical equipment. Products from both companies are first-rate.
Shar Products Company
Concord Music Supply
Other places to get musical equipment (but NOT violins or bows):
Theodore Presser
Music Store (world-class
music library!)
Ithaca Talent Education Store
(mail-order)
Southwest Strings
Jaworski's Music Center
George's Music
Sam Ash
I recommend Dominant strings for student instruments, because they give you the best sound for the money. They last longer and sound better than other strings in their range. For older students who do more performing, the Obligato label, made by Pirastro, is very good. I use Obligato strings myself. Many sets of strings will be offered with the option of a gold-plated E string. While the gold strings have a more brilliant sound, they can squawk unexpectedly while you’re playing, and they don’t last very long. I find them kind of shrill, and I don’t use them anymore. When you buy strings, make sure: ● The strings are the right size for your instrument. ● The E string is made to fit your E tuner. Check to see whether your E tuner uses a ball end or a loop end. (Ask me if you don't know what this means.)
Equipment
These are not necessarily things that every student will need, only things that I think are worth buying. There is a large amount of merchandise on the market that is actually not useful at all, and if it's not on this list, chances are good that you don't need to buy it.
Digital Chromatic Tuner This is something that has a needle to show you how far away you are from the pitch. It’s usually under $15.
Tuning Fork, Pitch Pipe These will play an A for you that is always in tune, but they won't show you how far away from it you are. This is a better method for older students who are learning to use their ears, but older students generally have metronomes that will play an A anyway. Tuning forks are fun to play with, though! Don't pay more than $4 for these items.
Metronome This is a device that clicks at regular intervals to help you stay in tempo while you’re playing. They also usually give you a 440 A to tune to. They’re priced from $10 to the ridiculous. The cheapest ones are fine.
Shoulder Rest Most violinists use some sort of shoulder rest underneath the instrument. For small violins, a simple dish sponge is usually better than anything fancy, especially since the student is going to grow out of it soon. The two options I like for a shoulder rest are: ● The Kun, around $20 ● The Playonair (inflatable), around $20 ● Contoured Sponge from ITE store (best for young students), $2.25 or $3.75 Talk to me about these before you buy one. Sometimes the student is holding the violin just fine, and a new shoulder rest can be more of a problem than a help.
Rosin Generally, any rosin you buy will be good enough for student use. I use the A-B dark rosin and the Pirastro Gold. Both are under $10.
Violin Cleaning Cloth You can buy an official cleaning cloth if you like; any clean piece of fabric will do.
Music Stand Students who are ready to read music should have something at their eye level. The cheapest stands are somewhere between $20 and $30.
© 2008 Neil Bakshi |