New childs Violin please help

Puzzle35

I purchased a childs violin today as a Christmas gift. The guy in the shop tuned it for me so knowing nothing about Violins I tried to play it. I managed to break a few of the hairs on the bow before using Google to find out the it needed rosin...................... Can anyone tell me if I now need to bring it back to the shop to be fixed or is there a step by step guide for Dummies as to what to do with the Violin, so she can make some noise with it on Christmas day? Many thanks. Puzzle

Owen

You haven't broken anything, don't worry. Hairs break off the bows regularly, it's part of the playing process. There's so many hairs on there that it'll take a few years to go throguh them all, then it's new bow time. Even with the Rosin on, it'll still break hairs. I get usually around 3-4 years from my bows before I either need to re-string them, or buy a new bow.

Puzzle35

Ah thats good news paint doctor. I take it the rosin is the small box of hard glue like substance in the case? I rubbed it on the bow but still no music, could it have been too hard?. I know she will want some sort of sound to come off it on Christmas morning. I know its a bit of a thick question but what do you do other than rubbing the bow off the strings to make the music happen, even very bad music for starters.

Owen

You need to be firm - you have to push simultaneously down, and across with the bow on the individual string. Otherwise it'll just make piddly little noises.

God bless your enthusiasm getting a child something that makes so much screeching on Christmas Day How old is she? If she's young enough, get her into the Suzuki Method of Violin Teaching. I started at 3, and they make it as fun as possible for kids to learn the important things like feet position, how to hold a bow, how to hold the violin, but they play games to get the kids to do that.

Puzzle35

PaintDoctor, my very grateful thanks for helping me out with this one. Thanks to your advice the Violin is playing some sort of music..............probably a lot worse than what I will be listening to on Christmas morning . She will need lessons so I will try to find some that use the Suzuki method, sounds perfect. She is eight by the way so not sure if she is too old for that one. Thanks again and a Very Merry Christmas to you.

Owen

8's fine, friend of mine learned through Suzuki with me, and she's tourinng the world with Shakira