Common Viola Step-up Questions

When does a student need a larger instrument?

When the violist can extend the left arm under a larger size viola, wrap the hand around the scroll and point the middle fingers into the pegbox, he or she is ready for a larger size instrument. If the fingers of the left hand seem cramped when playing, or the elbow is sharply bent, it's time to check for a larger instrument.

Should we choose the same quality of instrument in full-size that we rented in smaller sizes?

Generally not.  Instruments that are available in the smaller sizes are most often designed for beginner use.   An instrument's quality and volume of tone as well as response are important to the advancement of the player’s technique.  A full size instrument chosen at the beginning of the middle school or junior high year should at least have the capacity to support the players best efforts through high school.  

Which is better, old or new?

Most string teachers and players say new is usually better for the junior to senior high school player.  Despite the romance of an old instrument, they're often difficult to maintain because of their tendency to open at the seams and develop cracks.  Professional players often have older instruments, but they're accustomed to the expense of ongoing maintenance.  In general, a student will get more tone for the dollar with a high quality, contemporary instrument.    

I’ve heard that the older the instrument the better the tone.

Actually stringed instruments have been made in many different grades of quality for hundreds of years.  The “cheap” instruments made a hundred years ago are still “cheap” in construction, tone, and appearance today.  It's true, however, that well made fine instruments do improve with age as they season.  Fine instruments today are made of seasoned wood that “plays in” quickly and continues to improve.      

What do I look for to judge the quality of a string instrument?

There are several indicators to help you judge the relative quality of stringed instruments.  Perhaps the easiest to see is the “flame.”  The horizontal bars of contrasting light and dark under the varnish and in the wood itself are called “flame.” Generally, the more densely flamed the back, sides, and neck are, the more expensive the wood.  (Be careful, however, to avoid instruments where the flame has been artificially created in the finish, rather than being in the wood itself.  One can tell the difference by looking at the back and slowly lowering and raising the scroll end, keeping the bottom end still.  The flame should appear iridescent—that is, the dark bars become light and vice versa.  If the dark bars stay dark and the light bars stay light as you move the instrument, the flame is painted).  The fittings (pegs, tailpiece and chinrest) are usually made of ebony.  Better grades of ebony have tighter grain; the very best being so close-grained that it may appear to be perfectly smooth.  Streaks of brown, acceptable on the fittings of less expensive instruments, are not typical of the finest grades of ebony.  The grade of ebony is usually consistent with the quality of the instrument.  Fittings with decorative inlays, or even rarer woods, such as rosewood or boxwood, are often used in higher quality instruments, but they can also be used on lesser instruments to enhance their perceived value.      

What about the bow? I understand there are several bow stick materials and even different kinds of bow hair.

There are three main types of bow stick material: fiberglass, Brazilwood and Pernambuco wood.  Fiberglass bows don’t break easily and are economical, making them terrific for beginners.  In fiberglass bows you have a choice of synthetic hair or genuine horsehair.  Horsehair is the better choice.  Horsehair will enhance the instrument’s tone and help the player learn the feel and response of better bows, which always have genuine horsehair.  Brazilwood is the next step up from fiberglass.  It gives some of the response and tone quality of the more expensive Pernambuco bows, but at somewhat less cost.  Pernambuco is the wood used for the best bows.  It comes from a very small group of species of trees that grow in Brazil.  It’s strength, resilience, liveliness and controllability can't be underrated in importance in contributing to the overall technique and tone of the player.

More questions about violins or stepping up? Reach an instrument specialist by email here or by phone at (901) 323-8888.