So you’ve made the brave decision to purchase a violin for your child. Congratulations!
If you can survive those early days of screeching and howling sounds, you may eventually find your home filled with peaceful, calming violin music. But this is only possible if you purchase a quality instrument!
That’s why we’re here. We’ve done all the research necessary to help you narrow down your search for the best kids violins.
We’ll answer all your questions about starting out with this beautiful instrument. We’ll also review the top products on the market to help you make the perfect choice for your budding musician.
- Classic look
- High-quality wood and materials
- Nickel-plated fine tuners
- Features notes and songs
- Comes in two shades
- Durable material
- Fully wooden construction
- High-quality and beautiful sound
- Complete kit and accessories
- Quality materials
- Comes with essentials & extras
- High-quality bow
- Convenient case included
- Made with durable materials
- Built-in fine tuners
- Unique design
- Strong battery
- Headphone jack for quieter practice sessions
Product Reviews
Here are nine great violins for kids.
Mendini 1/2 MV500 Solid Wood Violin
Best Craftsmanship
This Mendini MV500 1/2 acoustic violin has a beautifully contoured body that will help your child get a good feel for the instrument. It’s made from maple wood with a spruce top, giving it a warm, bright acoustic sound. Two larger sizes are also available.
Your child can make quick adjustments to the tuning, and the tailpiece allows for much finer adjustments. Your budding violinist will also receive a “92D” chromatic string tuner to help get the notes just right.
This beautiful violin comes with a lightweight hard case to keep the instrument safe when not in use. This package includes a rosin cake (a block of resin rubbed on bow strings to facilitate grip), extra strings, two bridges, a shoulder rest, and a bow.
The bows are made of brazilwood and Mongolian horsehair. The shoulder rest will help your child maintain good posture while playing. This will also make long hours of practice more comfortable.
Pros
- Everything you need in one purchase.
- High-quality violin with a beautiful sound.
- Padded shoulder rest.
Cons
- The strings are not the best quality.
Our Ratings
Kennedy Violins Pupil Violin
Best Complete Set
If you want to give your child a head start in the art of violin, you should ensure they have a high-quality instrument.
Kennedy violins are finished by professional “luthiers,” or violin builders, in Washington. They’re made of maple and spruce woods, providing a smooth sound. The sides of the violin are also carved rather than machine pressed.
The fingerboard and pegs are made of polished ebony. And the whole violin has a satin finish instead of an oily lacquer, which can alter the sound.
This violin is 1/8 size, which is the smallest size available from this producer, but you can also choose between three other sizes. The bow is made of brazilwood and fitted with 100% Mongolian horsehair. It also has a leather grip for comfortable play.
The violin case is big enough to hold everything you need. It has velour lining and large accessory compartments. The Velcro closings keep it securely fastened, and it includes a hygrometer so you can check the humidity.
Pros
- Made from high-quality wood.
- Comes with accessories, including a hygrometer.
- Good bow.
Cons
- Some parents found cosmetic flaws on the body.
Our Ratings
Cecilio with Ebony Fittings Electric Violin
Most Attractive
As your child advances and begins to discover “their sound,” it might be a good time to step away from the acoustics and try something different. This hand-carved electric violin is made from durable maple wood. It has ebony pegs, a chin rest, a tailpiece, and a fingerboard.
The body design is very unusual and slightly avant-garde looking. This violin is powered by a rechargeable alkaline battery. Your child can also plug in headphones for personal practices and to spare everyone else the screeching sounds of a beginner violinist!
It comes with a lightweight case, rosin cake, and brazilwood bow with Mongolian horsehair. There’s also a bridge to help keep the strings extra tight and an AUX cable.
Pros
- Unique design.
- You can hook it up to a computer, speaker, or guitar amplifier.
- Strong battery.
- Headphone jack for quieter practice sessions.
Cons
- It can be a bit heavy for younger users to carry around.
Our Ratings
LilPals Amazing Child Prodigy Violin Toy
Best for Fun Play
Colors are essential to a child’s life, so why not find a colorful toy violin? Giving your toddler a violin toy to play around with could encourage them to learn later on.
The one we found here comes in two colors: blue and pink. It’s highly durable and should be able to take a few hits without breaking into pieces.
It’s also easy to figure out for developing minds. All your child has to do is move the bow across the pad on the violin. This violin also plays several notes and songs. However, as it does require a little skill to maneuver the bow and is a little fragile, we don’t recommend it for children under 3 years of age.
Pros
- Features notes and songs.
- Realistic size.
- Durable material.
Cons
- The bow is a little too fragile.
Our Ratings
ADM Acoustic Violin Set
Most Realistic Toy Violin
If your little one is serious about the violin, this is a fantastic option to transition from playing with a toy violin to trying out the real thing. This full-size violin is made with a spruce top and maple body and finished with an antique varnish, making it very fancy indeed.
It makes a great stepping stone to an adult violin in the future since it has the technical fingerboard, chin rest, aluminum alloy strain plate, and other authentic features.
Because it’s a full-size instrument, it’s best suited for kids 11 years and up. It has an adult arm length of 23.5 inches, so make sure this will fit your child.
Pros
- Fully wooden construction.
- High-quality instrument with beautiful sound.
- Complete kit includes a case, bow, music stand, tuner, and more.
Cons
- Not suitable for left-handed users.
- The craftsmanship could be better.
Our Ratings
Vangoa 1/4 Violin
Easy to Play
For young beginners who are serious about their music, it’s worth it to invest in a violin package. These typically include a case, one or two bows, rosin cake, and maybe extra strings.
If you purchase this Vangoa violin set, your child will receive an acoustic 1/4 violin (you can also select bigger sizes if desired). It’s made from a combination of durable woods such as spruce and maple.
The bright, open, and very smooth sound makes it suitable for beginners getting used to the violin. The ebony fingerboard, pegs, and chin rest make it nice and comfortable for young hands.
This violin comes with digital tuner, note sticker and manual. You’ll also get an adjustable shoulder rest, extra strings, a rosin cake, and two bridges.
However, the violin strings are not the best quality and may need to be replaced shortly.
Pros
- Crafted with quality materials.
- Comes with essentials and extras.
- High-quality bows.
Cons
- Low-quality strings will likely need replacing.
- Some users complained the rosin cake was dried out.
Our Ratings
Kennedy Violins Louis Carpini
Best for Sound Quality
For this piece, we must revisit Kennedy violins. There’s a good reason for that as they offer high quality for the price range. This Louis Carpini has a warm tone with good resonance.
It’s an acoustic 4/4 hand-carved violin made from maple wood with an ebony chin rest, pegs, and fingerboard.
The violin has four built-in tuners at the tailpiece. These will enable your child to make even finer tunings. Your child will get one brazilwood bow, a hand-carved French Aubert maple bridge, and D’Addario Prelude strings.
Both Kennedy violins on our list come with the same case type. It has room for four bows with extra pockets for sheet music. It also has a sturdy zipper and a latch to keep everything in place.
Pros
- Convenient case included.
- High quality instrument made with durable materials.
- Enables fine-tuning.
Cons
- It has to be re-tuned often in the early stages of use.
Our Ratings
Cecilio CVN-300 Solid Wood Violin
Best Traditional Style
This acoustic 1/4 violin is made from maple wood with a spruce top. It has purfling lining, or decorative edge, to give it that classic look. It also has an antique varnish to help keep the instrument safe from environmental damage.
The fingerboard, pegs, and chin rest are made of ebony. The tailpiece is fitted with four nickel-plated tuners, which can help your child tune the instrument. It comes with D’Addario Prelude strings.
This is a highly responsive violin, meaning it’s easy to play without too much pressure. The sound is smooth and warm.
Your aspiring violinist will also get a lightweight hard case to store the instrument when it’s not in use. The package includes two bows with Mongolian horsehair, a rosin cake, an adjustable shoulder rest, and an additional bridge.
Pros
- A good varnish.
- Classic violin look.
- Made with high-quality wood and materials.
- Nickel-plated fine tuners.
Cons
- Although the quality of the violin is excellent, the accessories aren’t so great.
Our Ratings
Eastar EVA-2 4/4 Violin Set
Best for Learning
If your little one wants to play the violin but you don’t know where to start, check out this Eastar violin set.
This violin was designed to work with primary learners and has handy fingerboard points to help with learning.
The fingerboard uses the Muscovite fingerboard point, which is great for students since many teachers use this method. It also helps them learn about the handle position quickly to assist their learning.
Before you know it, your child will be a master violinist, and you’ll have lovely music to enjoy throughout the house. Plus, these learning tools mean you won’t need to buy expensive fingerboard stickers or try to figure out where to put them.
This is a very comfortable and realistic violin setup. It has a maple wood neck with a pearwood fingerboard, wooden chin rest, tail nail, strain plate, and four fine-tuning tuners.
Pros
- It comes with a natural horsehair bow which is what older players use.
- It’s a beautiful handmade violin that is lovely to hold.
- It comes with a built-in tuning knob for quick and easy tuning.
Cons
- It’s hard to tune it yourself. Once it is in tune, it comes out of tune quite easily.
- The bow feels cheap.
Our Ratings
How to Choose a Violin for Kids
Consider Age
When buying a violin, it’s essential to consider your child’s age and abilities and how serious they are about playing the instrument. Violins can get pricey, and you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on something your child only picks up a few times.
Let’s look at age-appropriate features and other specifics to keep an eye out for when making this special purchase.
Toddlers
For the youngest aspiring violinist, simplicity is everything. You want your child to have a fun sensory experience by feeling, hearing, and mimicking the movements.
You don’t have to use a real violin if you just want to introduce them to the instrument. Some toy violins have fun features like music, lights, and sounds.
The important thing to keep in mind is your child’s abilities. Some toddlers might love a realistic-looking toy violin, while others will enjoy the fun features of an electronic toy.
Beginners
If your child shows a genuine interest in taking up this instrument, they need a real violin to help them along. A student violin is usually made from good-quality wood, but components like the pegs and chin rest may be plastic.
It might be wise to look for an intermediate violin if your child is advancing quickly. These are of better quality than the student types. The pegs and chin rest are often made of ebony or similar materials.
Here are some additional elements to consider:
- Synthetic core strings: These are easier to play than steel.
- The correct size: A violin that’s too big can’t be played comfortably.
- A good tonewood: Spruce or maple, for example.
Big kids
For bigger kids, a student violin won’t cut it, which means it could be time for a professional instrument. If your child is playing on a more serious level, they might have upcoming performances or other great milestones in their sights.
Keep the following in mind when looking for a quality violin:
- High-quality strings: Such as D’Addario Prelude.
- Good volume and projection: Important for performances.
- Craftsmanship: Select quality material (like maple) and varnish (antique).
Find the Right Size
Did you know there are nine violin sizes? The standard size is “adult” or “4/4” and is generally suitable for those aged 11 and up with an arm length of 23 inches or more. Here are the other sizes and arm lengths:
- 3/4: 22 inches.
- 1/2: 20 inches.
- 1/4: 18.5 inches.
- 1/8: 16.5 inches.
- 1/10: 15 inches.
- 1/16: 14 inches.
- 1/32: 13 inches.
How To Measure
To measure, ask your child to extend their arm. It’s important to extend it the same way you would when holding a violin. Measure from the base of the neck to the center of the palm. This gives you an indication of which violin size is best for your child.
For those in-between sizes, ask yourself if your child will be hitting a growth spurt anytime soon. If you’re still unsure about sizing, it’s good to seek advice from a tutor or a violin shop.
It’s easier to play a smaller violin than one that’s too large. If it’s difficult for your child to hold, it could be frustrating for them to learn.
Acoustic or Electric?
As with so many other instruments, you can choose between acoustic or electric violins. However, for beginners, an acoustic is the best place to start.
Here’s why:
- They’re more budget-friendly.
- They’re easy to set up and get started.
- They’re suitable for home use and lessons.
Electric violins are heavier because of the added electronics and cables. Your child might also require more assistance, which can be discouraging for eager learners.
However, electric violins have their benefits as well:
- Good for performances.
- More sound options and features, like lights or a foot pedal.
- A brighter sound that’s good for playing rock or jazz.
The Bow
Sometimes this vital tool is overlooked. A bow has to be strong and flexible, allowing you to play with less effort. Many violinists see the bow as an extension of their arm, and a quality bow is typically made from one of these three materials:
- Brazilwood: Commonly used for beginner bows. It’s durable and flexible.
- Pernambuco: For professional bows, a dense wood with perfect elasticity.
- Carbon fiber: A stable but less-expensive material than pernambuco wood.
The hair used to make bows usually comes from horses, two kinds in particular:
- Mongolian horsehair: The most common type; it’s inexpensive with average elasticity.
- Siberian horsehair: For high-end bows, this hair is thicker and has more elasticity (1).
Care and Maintenance
A violin won’t play well for long if it’s left out to collect dust and moisture. It’s essential to care for the violin the best you can. Here are a few things you might need:
- A case: It’s crucial to store the violin away when not in use. Instruments don’t always come with cases; you might have to purchase this separately.
- Cleaning: Accessories include string cleaners and a polishing cloth. Consider buying a kit to get all the essentials.
- A humidifier: Violins are the best stored at 45% to 60%humidity.
- Extra strings: Expect to change them every three to six months (2).
FAQs
How Much Does the Average Child Violin Cost?
The cost of a child’s violin can vary, but on average, a decent beginner violin can range from $100 to $500. Try to balance quality with budget because a well-made instrument can significantly enhance the learning experience.
Are Cheap Violins Any Good?
Some cheap violins are acceptable for beginners, but extremely low-priced instruments may lack quality in sound and construction, potentially making learning more difficult. It’s often worth investing a bit more in a decent violin to ensure a good playing experience.
Should a Child Learn Piano Before Violin?
It’s not a requirement, but learning piano before violin can provide a solid foundation in music theory and rhythm, which can be advantageous when transitioning to violin. If your child shows a strong interest in the violin, starting directly with it is perfectly fine.
Which Violin Brand Is the Best?
Brands like Stentor, Cecilio, and Yamaha are reputable for beginner violins and give kids all the features they need to get started. They offer quality instruments that are suitable for young learners, balancing affordability with good craftsmanship.
