Violin Teachers' Tips: Accessories for Your Violin

It is typical for violin schools to require their students to have their own violins during class. Having your own instrument will not only help you follow the teacher's instructions during class with ease; you can also use it during your own practice sessions. If you are serious in learning and mastering the violin, you have to buy your own instrument right before the start of your violin classes. Later on, as you use your violin more and more, you may need to accessorize your instrument too.


Violin Bows
When you buy your first-ever violin set, it will normally have a bow and case as part of the kit. But your original bow may not be the only one you use all throughout the guitar's life. You can upgrade it and buy a spare or two in case the one you use breaks. Violin bows come in different sizes and materials. The size of your bow will depend on the dimension of your violin. You can't buy a very small one for an adult size violin.
As you improve in playing the violin, you'd want to buy bows with better quality. Check the carving of the bow, particularly around the tip to tell if the bow is superior or not—the finer the carving, the better the quality of the bow.
Tuning Aids
At times, a violin may go out of tune, especially when you just replaced your strings with new ones. Typically, you can use a tuning fork or pitch pipe to adjust the tune of your musical instrument. A tuning fork is always reliable because it does not run on batteries, but you can use it only for one note. Many violin teachers recommend buying an "A" tuning fork for the violin. If you want a more advanced way to tune your violin, you can buy a digital tuner. This is easier to use because the screen will tell you if you hit the right note. You can also use a pitch pipe to set your violin in tune. These tuning aids are helpful for beginners, but advanced violinists who have trained ears have little use for these accessories.

Shoulder and Chin Rests
Not all students who attend violin schools may be aware or drawn to using a shoulder or chin rest when they play the violin. A shoulder rest holds the instrument horizontally, keeping it firm and comfortable on your shoulder while playing. A chin rest on the other hand helps your chin rest firmly on the body of your musical instrument. You can buy a chin rest that fits your jaw well and attach it carefully on your instrument. Chin rests can be replaced, but only skilled persons should do the job in replacing this accessory.

Strings
You will learn from attending violin schools that the strings need to be kept in good condition always for superior playing. Continuous playing can wear out your strings and you need replacement from time to time. To avoid frequent changing of your strings, you have to take good care of your violin.