Q. What are the sizes/lengths of the various sized violins and violas?

A. Here is a listing of violin sizes. Manufacturers may vary. [1" = 25.4mm] 1/16 - 14.5", 1/10 - 16.0, 1/8 - 17.25", 1/4 - 18.75", 1/2 - 20.5", 3/4 - 21.75", 7/8 - 22.5", 4/4 - 23.5".

Viola Sizes. [Manufacturers may vary. [1" = 25.4mm]  12 - 20.5", 13- 21.75", 14- 23.0", 15- 25.0, 15.5- 26.0",  16 - 26.5", 16.5 - 27"

Q. What is the Difference between a violin and fiddle?

A. They are actually the same instrument. The difference is in the  style of music you play on it.

Q. Is this something I can learn on my own or do I have to take lessons?

A. We strongly suggest taking lessons. An alternate choice is buying a good book/CD or Video Course to get started.

Q. Is there a left - handed violin for a child who is left - handed?

A. The larger percentage of violinists learned to play right-handed, that is, they put their instruments on the left shoulder and bow with the right hand.  (The idea for the orchestra is that there is not any clashing of bows when playing with others.)

 * However, there is a very strong case being made for bowing with the dominant hand. Go to http://home.tiac.net/~cfiddle/lefthandedbook.html for more information. There is a company named Gliga violins that make 4/4 size left hand violins but not scale sizes. You may also try to find a violin shop to convert a violin for left handed playing.

Q. I was shipped a violin but the bridge is not on the violin. How do I set the bridge?

If you can, ask your teacher if they will do this for you.

    The bridge will be higher on one side. The higher side will be on the side with the thicker strings. Also, the bridge may be grooved appropriately for the strings. Loosen the strings enough to slide the bridge under and stand up. There are f-slits on the top of the violin with center points. The bridge should stand between them.

Next, tighten the center strings a bit to hold the bridge in place. Then tighten each outer string. Then tighten center strings again and outer strings, following procedure till strings are at pitch. Tuning is GDAE from lowest to highest string. The bridge may appear to be leaning slightly forward and that is permissible.

Q. I was shipped a violin but cannot make the strings sound.  How do I rosin the bow so that it produces sound from the strings?

A. Tighten the bow if necessary [do not over tighten] and try on the strings a bit in front of the bridge. [fingerboard side. If no sound is produced then   rosin the bow. Scratch the rosin a bit to start flow and draw the bow hair back and forth across the rosin cake. Eventually sound will produce when you draw it across the strings. Give this info to recipient also and have their teacher check bridge for intonation at earliest opportunity. In addition, try not to touch the bow hair or the strings in the space between the fingerboard and bridge with your fingers as finger oils negate the rosin.

• CELLO SIZING

Seat the child (or yourself) so that the knees are bent at a ninety degree angle. The instrument should rest such that the upper rim of the cello body rests on the sternum (breast bone), and the left knee contacts the curve below the lower bout corner. The C string (the lowest string) peg should be near the left ear, with the neck a few inches away from the shoulder, and the left hand able to reach both ends of the fingerboard with ease.