Learning an instrument as a child can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and the violin is a great choice for many reasons. Not only is it a beautiful and versatile instrument, but it can also help with hand-eye coordination, focus, and discipline.
It’s important to consider factors such as size, quality, and price. You want to make sure you’re getting a violin that is comfortable for your child to hold and play, but also one that will produce a good sound and last for years to come.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about finding the best violin for kids. We’ll provide tips for choosing the right size, explain the different types of violins available, and offer our top recommendations for the best violins for kids at different levels of experience.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Antonio Giuliani Primo Violin
- Best Affordable: Cecilio CVN-300
- Best Beginner Violin: Bunnel Pupil Violin
- Best For Small Hands: Cecilio Electric Violin
- Best Complete Set: Mendini By Cecilio Violin For Kids
- Best Violin For 1-3 Years Old: SKY Brand New Children’s Violin
- Best Sound Quality: Paititi Student Violin Kit
- Most Unique Colors: Mendini By Cecilio Violin For Beginners
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Violins For Kids Picks
Antonio Giuliani Primo Violin – Best Overall
- The instrument is already set-up and nearly ready to play
- The case is very nice with a built-in hygrometer
- The violin is tuned
- The bow already has rosin applied
- Have a bit of a nasal tone, but if you play it right, it’s hardly noticeable.
The Antonio Giuliani Primo Violin is an exceptional student-level violin available in sizes from 1/8 through 4/4. Much more well-rounded than other student violins, the warm tone, and beautifully full resonance make the Primo a top choice violin for the advancing violinist.
Handcrafted with quality solid maple and spruce tonewoods, 100% genuine ebony fittings, then completed with an oil finish. Primo’s clear tone is helpful for young violinists to begin learning proper totalization. The ringing sound is sure to inspire and motivate.
Cecilio CVN-300 – Best Affordable
- Very nice case with a handle and straps for a backpack
- 2 Bows for practicing
- Comes with a bridge and strings already in place
- Comes with a decent tuner
- The instruction book does not have a cd/dvd attached, you must go online for them
With an ebony fingerboard and fittings, antique varnish finish, and excellent tone and resonance, this violin is a dependable and rugged choice that will help your child develop their skills with ease.
The CVN-300 is beloved for its crystal-clear sound, exceptional responsiveness, and warm, bright tone, all qualities that will help your child make beautiful music. And with its sturdy spruce top, this violin is built to last, making it the perfect investment in your child’s future as a musician. Best of all, the package includes everything your child needs to get started, so they can begin exploring the joys of music right away!
Bunnel Pupil Violin – Best Beginner Violin
- The violin itself looks very nice and is of obviously good quality
- The top lid of the case, which houses the hygrometer, has slots to hold two bows
- The back is a solid piece
- Lightweight
- The sound is a tad scratchy
The Bunnel Pupil Violin Outfit is the perfect choice for beginners. With a focus on quality, the makers of the Bunnel Pupil Violin understand that the first instrument you play can greatly impact your learning experience, especially for younger students.
Rest assured, the Bunnel Pupil Violin is crafted to be a joy to play with accurate string height for beginners. They guarantee that the sound and playability of the Bunnel Pupil Violin will exceed that of any other beginner violin at a similarly fantastic price. Don’t settle for less when you or your child are just starting out.
Cecilio Electric Violin – Best For Small Hands
- It more or less feels like a regular violin when you are playing it
- The construction feels solid enough
- Sounds decent
- The price makes it a great place to start
- The strings are pretty cheap
The Cecilio electric violin outfit provides exceptional utility and flair for all playing situations, including practicing, recording in a studio, and performing live. The width of this violin makes it great for small hands as well.
The set includes a 1/4″ to 1/8″ cable, a 1/8″ output connector for connecting to most guitar amps or PA systems, a volume control for setting the mood you want, a headphone jack for practicing alone, and a line-in port for practicing along to the music. This violin bundle comes with a bow, rosin, bridge, pickup, aux cord, and a lightweight protective case that is well-padded.
Mendini By Cecilio Violin For Kids – Best Complete Set
- Beautiful looking
- High quality
- Made by a professional brand
- Built to last you
- No instructions for basic assembly
This stunning stringed instrument is a true work of art, featuring a hand-carved spruce top and maple back and sides, glossy varnish finish, and elegant details like a maple fingerboard, chin rest, and alloy tailpiece with 4 fine tuners.
This package includes everything your kid needs to start playing music right away. Along with the exquisite violin, your kid will receive a single bow, an extra set of strings, two bridges, high-quality rosin, an adjustable shoulder rest with padding and soft rubber feet, a clip-on tuner, and a lightweight hard case with pockets, a backpack, and shoulder straps.
Plus, the Mendini Violin First Lesson book will guide your kid through fundamental techniques and music reading, and they’ll have access to recorded exercises and musical compositions with solo violin and piano accompaniment.
SKY Brand New Children’s Violin – Best Violin For 1-3 Years Old
- The case is very well made
- Can be carried “backpack” style
- A lot of colors are available
- The violin is very cute
- Does not come with instructions
Introducing the perfect violin for toddlers aged 1-3 years old! This cute and colorful instrument comes with a high-quality Brazilwood bow, complete with real Mongolian horsehair and a double pearl eye. Plus, it includes a lightweight case and rosin to get your little musician started on their musical journey.
Crafted from real wood and finished with a glossy shine, this violin boasts a solid wood top, sides, neck, and scroll, along with a fingerboard made from hardwood and a comfortable chin rest. The four excellent tuners ensure a decent sound, while the lightweight case comes with shoulder straps and a waterproof canvas covering.
When tuning, be sure to push the pegs inward to keep them in place, and don’t worry if you need a little extra pressure to prevent peg slippage. For first-time bow users, apply rosin for five minutes (or 30 to 50 complete passes), and reapply every four to six hours of practice.
Paititi Student Violin Kit – Best Sound Quality
- The tuner and the shoulder rest are pretty good
- The case seems solid
- Good value for the price
- Great for beginners
- Can be a bit hard to tune
This astonishing violin kit for beginners comes with an assortment of accessories, including a top-quality lightweight bag, a stunning Brazilwood bow, and more! The violin was crafted using the finest natural wood and boasts a lovely, smooth satin finish that’s sure to impress. It’s ready to be played right out of the box!
The bow included in this set features not one, but two authentic pearl eyes, each with unbleached Mongolian horsehair, straight and evenly weighted for optimal performance. In addition, this kit comes with a lightweight triangular case complete with two bow holders and a matching blanket, along with shoulder straps that include sheet music pockets and extra accessory compartments.
Mendini By Cecilio Violin For Beginners – Most Unique Colors
- The bridge is easy to put on
- Everything all packed up together inside the case is very light
- The bow is actually fairly decent
- The case is pretty decent
- The fine tuners are crap
This ebony beauty is just as delightful as the instruments in your child’s school band or orchestra, with a top made of hand-carved spruce and sides, back, and neck made of maple. The alloy tailpiece also features four built-in fine tuners, so your budding musician can fine-tune their instrument with ease.
In addition to the lovely violin, this set also includes quality rosin, spare strings, a single bow, an adjustable shoulder rest with cushioning and rubber feet, and a small hard bag with straps. You can choose from eight different sizes to find the perfect fit for both children and adults.
Related: Best Musical Toys
How To Choose A Violin For Kids?
- Size: There are eight distinct fractional sizes for violins. The largest violin is a 4/4, often known as full size, which is suitable for bigger kids or even any adult seeking a starter violin. The sizes then progress from bigger to smaller: 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, and 1/32. It’s critical to select the appropriate size violin for your child’s arm length since the violin’s size corresponds to its length.
- 4/4: 23 inches long and ideal for adults
- 3/4: 22 inches long and ideal for kids aged 9-11
- 1/2: 20 inches long and ideal for kids aged 7-9
- 1/4: 19 inches long and ideal for kids aged 6-7
- 1/8: 17 inches long and ideal for kids aged 5-6
- 1/10: 15 inches long and ideal for kids aged 4-5
- 1/16: 15 inches long and ideal for kids under the age of 5
- 1/32: 13 inches long and ideal for kids under the age of 5
- Bow: To play with minimum effort, a bow needs to be robust and flexible. A fine bow is often crafted from one of these three materials, and for many violinists, the bow serves as an extension of their arm.
- Brazilwood: A popular material for starter bows because it is adaptable and enduring.
- Pernambuco: A solid wood with ideal flexibility for use in professional bows.
- Carbon fiber: A more stable and less costly material than the rest.
- Hair: The hair used to make them typically comes from horses. There are two main types of horsehair used in making violin bows:
- Mongolian: The most widely used type of hair and is generally less expensive.
- Siberian: Thicker and has more elasticity, making it the preferred choice for high-end bows (1).
- Weight: When looking for the best beginner violin for your child, weight might be a crucial factor. Your child can become exhausted before the session is over if the instrument is excessively heavy, or they might decide not to practice. They will treat the violin like a toy if it is too light and cannot generate deep tones.
- Acoustic Vs Electric: You can pick between an electric or acoustic violin, just like with so many other instruments. However, the best place to start for beginners is with an acoustic. They are more cost-effective, simple to set up, and appropriate for use at home. Due to the additional electronics and wires, electric violins are heavier. Additionally, your child could need additional help, which can be upsetting for keen learners.
- Age-Appropriate: It’s crucial to take your child’s age, skill level, and commitment level into account when choosing a violin. You don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a violin that your child will only play sometimes because violins can be rather expensive.
How Can My Child Learn To Tune The Violin?
There are a few different ways that your child can learn to tune the violin. One way is to use an electronic tuner. These devices can be found at most music stores. Another way is to use a pitch pipe. This is a small device that emits a tone that can be used to tune the violin. Finally, your child can also learn to tune the violin by ear. This takes a bit more practice, but eventually, your child will be able to tune the violin without any help.
Should A Beginner Buy An Expensive Violin?
Spending a bit more on your next violin has several advantages, whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, including quality, tone, comfort, playability, and more. Violins of higher quality are simpler to play. The ideal setup is one of the main causes. A solid setup will allow you to practice for longer periods of time since it will need less strain and tension on your hand. For a beginning violinist, this implies that learning your instrument will go much more quickly than if you were practicing on a less expensive model.
How Much Time Should My Kid Spend On Practicing The Violin?
Young beginners should practice for around 15-20 minutes per day, while more experienced players can practice for up to an hour or more. It is important to make sure that your child is practicing regularly in order to make the most progress.
How Often Should I Change The Strings On My Violin?
It is generally recommended to change the strings on your violin every 3-6 months, depending on how frequently you play and how often you clean them (2). Over time, strings can lose their tone quality and responsiveness, and they can also develop wear and tear from use.
