Violin lessons

[Chloe O'brien]

Hi all I have a question to ask you all. Marley (my 7 year old) has just been picked to learn how to play the violin at school. the lessons will begin in August after the summer term. I was wondering if any members played musical instruments at primary school and what the procedures were. Do parents have to cover some of the costs to pay for an instrument for the child, or do the school pay for the costs.

I don't really know the price of violins and doubt I would be able to afford a new one so I would welcome any advice on the best place to buy a 2nd hand one if I have to buy one for her.

[Katy]

I started to play the Cornet in Year 3 at my Primary school. When i did them my mum paid for lessons as a teacher from the music servicecame in to the school. As for the instruments we could pay to rent them from the music service or from local music shops. If your child really likes it and sticks to it then you can buy good second hand ones and eventually a new instrument but thats in the future if your child continues.

[Kim]

I did recorder lessons for a year in my primary school. I didn't have to pay for the lessons, but had to supply my own recorder.

[shannisrules]

my friend plays the violin and she has private lessons which are £11 per session but if its in school then it will be cheaper i think you can borrow schools violins but its better if you have your own they encourage you at school to buy your own

[Kim]

If she takes music GCSE when the time comes and still has violin lessons at that time, the lesson prices are halved.

[Tori]

at our school if you do GCSE music you don;t have to pay for lessons

[Abi]

I learnt the Keyboard at primary school. I think the parents have to pay towards the cost of the lessons, but if he had been picked, then it might be part of their lessons more. I dont think it cost very much for me.

If you need to get a violin, then have you thought about eBay? You might be able to find a good one on there, if you look at the right times.

[Pixie]

at our school if you do GCSE music you don;t have to pay for lessons


wish my school had done that. I did GCSE music but my lessons were the same price as normal.

I learnt the flute at primary school and my parents had to pay for the lessons and instrument. Tecnically though it wasn't actually the school that gave the lessons but an utside music company that came to the school. I also learnt the recorder and that was taught by the school so was free (as far as i can remember) but still had to buy the recorder my self

[Rain_]

It's been a few...umm...days since i was at school, but i did play the clarinet in the school band. In my day if you were in the band you could rent the equipment yearly and the school provided tuition

[Chloe O'brien]

Thanks for the advice everyone. She did two tests over monday and tuesday at school and she was one of 8 kids from her class chosen to learn how to play the violin, because the school tested her and her lessons will be held there I am asuming that I wont have to pay for the lessons but I don't know if I will have to supply her own violin or not. I have put in a request to the music department at the college where I work asking lecturers if they know any students who may be selling one or perhaps I may be able to get one cheaper from the college.

[pookie1968uk]

in my daughters school you pay so much for the lessons per month and a small amount is added to hire an instrument, we pay direct debit to the local council.
then when the child is good enough they suggest you buy your own instrument. i think you can carry on hiring the instrument if you want.
my daughter plays the clarinet and we bought it off ebay, it was much cheaper than the shops.