Materials - Musgrave Violins

Here there is a list of common materials, and links to them.

We suggest sharmusic.com for most of what you will need, and you should know strings are on a 20% sale about once per month, and their Black Friday sale is 25% off almost everything. It’s a great time to buy an instrument.

These are the Suzuki and Step by Step books. Make sure you know which book 1 you need before ordering.

You will also need the recordings, found here. Make sure you get the top recordings, they are the newest (Hilary Hahn for books 1-3).

Violin:
Suzuki Book 1
Suzuki Book 2
Suzuki Book 3
Suzuki Book 4
Suzuki Book 5
Suzuki Book 6
Suzuki Book 7
Suzuki Book 8

Step By Step Book 1A w/CD
Step By Step Book 1B w/CD

Viola:
Suzuki Book 1
Suzuki Book 2
Suzuki Book 3
Suzuki Book 4

Humidity Control- preventing cracks in the winter

There are several options. One good option is a damp-it, or its generic equivalent. They are small sponges inside rubber. You put it in water for a minute or 2, dry it off, and let it sit as the water on the outside dries. 15-30 minutes, normally. Then you put it into the violin. It goes without saying that you never put it in when it’s wet on the outside; that will cause water damage to the inside of the violin.

A newer and better option is Boveda humidity control. These are packets that last a long time. They can be refreshed by soaking them in water once they become stiff, and they are extremely accurate to their stated humidity. Their downside is you cannot put it into the violin, so you put it in the case, so it only works when the violin is closed in the case. Still, it is adequate for most violins in most homes, most winters. We aim for 50% humidity for violins and bows.

Sponge Type
Generic Sponge Type

Boveda Humidity Control

Buying/Renting a Violin

On the subject of violins, please consult us before purchasing or renting. We want to make sure the size is proper. Violins are not like clothes; you do not get them too big and grow into them. You get a violin when it’s just right, and it gets smaller, until the next size is just right. It is difficult enough without having an instrument that is too big.

It is also difficult enough when you have a great instrument. You will not be getting that in fractional sizes, unless you spend a significant amount of money. However, we can guide you towards acceptable student level violins through your 3/4 purchase, and if you get the violins at a good price, you can resell the violin once the student has moved on, losing hardly any money in the process.

For example, a decent violin setup, $175 new, can be resold around $100-130. If you can buy it used for the same $100-130, better yet.

Your other option is to rent, and you will pay $25+/month for this, and not be able to regain almost any of it. The stores in Memphis will “apply 1 years’ rent” towards the purchase of a violin, however they will present you with a $700 base level violin that you can find for $200 elsewhere. We are all for supporting local businesses, but we are also all for violin being accessible to as many as possible. Being able to move through the sizes with minimal monetary loss is a huge plus in our eyes. Note that for every “acceptable” used $120 violin on ebay, there are 10 pieces of trash, or as the trade refers to them, VSOs (violin shaped objects).

Once you need a 4/4 violin (the size almost all adults play), things become different, and spending a good amount of money comes with tangible benefits. There are plenty of violins in the $1,500-$5,000 range that have a lot to offer a student or even professional, if you know what to look for. At that level, a proper bow is also a must. Brazilwood bows can be had for $500 or so, from good makers.

This is just a starter on the subject, and it may be overwhelming. There is a lot to know, and reputable violin shops are the best source of knowledge. There are good shops in Little Rock, Nashville and St. Louis, if you can drive the 2-4 hours. Beyond that, traveling to major cities can yield good results. If you purchase quality instruments at a fair price, you will not lose all that money, it will be an investment. Most newer violins (full size) will retain 50-75% of their value, once you go to resell. Plan on a 50% loss. Older violins will usually hold their value and slowly appreciate, but remember that they will also require greater maintenance at a good shop. Desirable violins can be considered good investments, and their return can be significant over time.

Bows can often be considered safer investments. A good bow from a known French maker (French bow makers have always dominated the market) will typically hold its value pretty well. Bow makers were simply able to make many more bows, than violin makers violins, so there are many more good bows in the world than violins. In the student level you should be looking at used bows, or new brazilwood bows. Good bows are typically made of pernambucco, and brazilwood is the same type of tree, but often just not the heartwood. Bows will be nickel, silver, or gold mounted, which refers to the metal on the frog. A good bow should simply make playing easier. The great bows make it very easy to get many types of sounds out of the instrument.

These next books are ones we often use.

Rosin

Violin Strings (you need to get the correct size!)

Viola Strings

Humidity Control- preventing cracks in the winter

Buying/Renting a Violin