There's 5 times in a fathers life when he really gets anxious.

1. When his daughter reaches puberty.
2. When his daughter goes on a date.
3. When his daughter requests a musical instrument.
4. When his daughter gets her L plates
5. When his daughter goes out drinking.

Not necessarily in that order and I'm ignoring the possibility of pregnancy. In this house, we're up to #3. Every kid in year 8 music must take up a particular instrument. In this case she happens to have chosen violin. I sidestepped #1, heavily restricted #2, have some idea about #4 and #5, but all I know about violins is that they go under your chin.

Does anyone know anything about violins? I'm looking on ebay and of course there are violins and then there are VIOLIN$.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LIVINGSTONE-4-4-VIOLIN-SOLID-SPRUCE-BOW-ROSIN-CARRYCAS...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Violin-4-4-Suzuki-Brand-/180622616779?pt=AU_Musical_In...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Entry-Level-Violin-model-4-4-Bow-and-Carry-Case-/40019...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Perfect-4-4-Beginners-Violin-/230579386158?pt=AU_Music...

and then you go up a bit in price
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/4-4-size-SUZUKI-violin-/300522171381?pt=AU_Musical_Ins...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Violin-4-4-Hermann-full-size-/120679694335?pt=AU_Music...

and up from there too.

Is it possible to get a half decent sound out of the basement price ones? I'm going to have to listn to this thing at least until December, and while I understand that it will be painful at best I want to give myself as good a fighting chance as I can. Do violins get matched with people size or talent? If you're adult sized do you start of with a full size one or a smaller one?

Why couldnt she just take my suggestion and play the triangle

I can help(maybe) my daughter plays, has been tutored for six years and plays well but still gets tuition, has completed AMEB 7. When she began as she was smaller her first violin was a 3/4, 4/4 is full size so you need to physically see which size suits her, if she begins with a smaller size you can trade it in later for a full size, we did this at our local music shop, a beginner will sound bad on a student violin and also on a stradivarius too so great differences in quality initially aren't too important! A student violin, say a stentor, will be fine so your initial outlay will be about $200 for a student violin. I looked at those links you gave and all of those could be OK but if you can view it first it would be good. If you have doubts whether she will continue seriously then probably not wise to buy an expensive one to start with . So answers to your questions: person size does count, depends on arm length to reach the fingerboard, so she may need a 2/4 (half size) or 3/4 or 4/4 (full size) So as an adult you would begin with a 4-4, full-size. As far as sound, to start with it will not matter too much the quality of the violin so you will only need a cheaper student one. My daughters latest one is an eastman and it cost $2,500.00 but is not the best you can buy but has a great sound. hope this helps and good luck, they get better with time and will be a great help to her in the future

Violas are better than violins because they burn longer.

hth

Funny you should say that. Viola was 2nd choice followed by flute.

How about double bass???

I have one for sale

great more things to worry about as an expectant father!

I'm sure there must be a war somewhere that you can get your self conscripted for. Dont let these women tell you childbirth is hard. For the woman its too easy. They have natural adrenalin flowing, they get the gas, they get pethidene, they get epidural. I'm surprised they even know they are having a baby. Dude, you are going to have to go through that cold, with nothing. That stuff is worse than crack with the mood you're going to have to put up with for possibly 24 hours. You wont be allowed a toilet break, you wont be allowed food or drink. All the time you're staring down there looking at the trauma that is happening down at your amusement park. Thats just day 1!!! Best form of contraception ever = childbirth. I dunno how most people do it over and over again. I do love my "baby" though.

Barry, If we go double bass it will mean I have even more taxi roles to perform. no thanks. Its probably a more pleasant on the ears though than a screeching violin.

Why cant schools just stick to the three R's? Reading = good. No noise there!