10 Most Impressive Violins for Kids – Master Music Skills in No Time!

By
reviewed
Reviewed by
Last updatedLast updated: January 16, 2024
Prime Sound is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here

Learning a musical instrument can take a lot of time, which is why so many people start as children. One of the most popular instruments for a child to learn is the violin, but there are a variety of different violins that may be better suited for your kid and their needs. The right violin can increase the music learning rate of your child, but it’s difficult to know how much money you should invest. In this review, we’ve collected a variety of options to find the best violin for kids.

When reviewing the best starter violin for kids, it’s important to look at the different features and understand why they’re essential so you can decide what’s right for you and your home. The size depends on the children,s age, the material will tell you if the violin will have a long life and good sounding, the weight affects your child ability to play it for longer periods, and the warranty is also a key factor for any musical instrument.

We spent many hours going over the specifications of various violins, comparing the product features and reading every customer review to help you pick the one which will best fit you and your child’s needs. We’ll break down our findings in a table with quick-to-find details as well as a more detailed review for those who are looking for the nitty-gritty, followed by a buying guide for anyone ready to purchase their own best violin for kids.

Top 10 Violin for Kids Review 2024

1.

Cecilio CVN-300Editor's Choice

Features
  • Size: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
  • Material: spruce wood top, maple back, ebony fingerboard, pegs, chinrest, and tailpiece
  • Weight: 4lb
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: comes with Cecilio chromatic tuner, lesson book, lightweight hard case, two brazilwood bows with unbleached Mongolian horsehair, quality rosin, adjustable shoulder rest, and an extra bridge

The Cecilio CVN-300 is a spruce wood top violin, with an ebony fingerboard, and maple back. It comes with D’Addario strings and 4 nickel-plated fine tuners, which are detachable for later when your child has grown in their skills and no longer needs to rely on them, making this a perfect long-term instrument for the fully committed, musically minded child. Though some users had difficulty keeping their instrument in tune.

This product is our Editor’s Choice because it’s a great value for a brand new student violin. The bundle contains two bows, in case one breaks, and a spare bridge, something that every violin player will need to replace at some point in its life. It also includes a lesson booklet, a hard case to keep the violin protected, rosin for the bow, and a Cecilio turner, so your child can make sure their instrument always has the right pitch. Unfortunately, it does not ship with extra strings so that may be something you want to buy later.

What are our favorite features?

  • Comes with extra bow, bridge and tuner
  • Hard case
  • Detachable tuners

What could be better?

  • Does not ship with extra strings
RELATED: 10 Astonishing Violins for Beginners – Explore Wonderful World of Music!
2.

Mendini MV500Customer’s choice

Features
  • Size: 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
  • Material: maple back, neck and side, hand-carved spruce top, ebony fingerboard, pegs, chin rest, and tailpiece
  • Weight: 4.95lb
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: comes with hard case, adjustable shoulder rest, two bridges, rosin, extra set of violin strings, Cecilio 92D chromatic / string tuner with metronome, two brazilwood bows with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair

The Mendini MV500 is an absolutely beautiful violin and is our Customer’s Choice for best beginner violin for kids. It’s a spruce wood top violin, with an ebony fingerboard, and maple back and sides. It comes with four detachable fine tuners, a lightweight hard case, extra bridge, high-quality rosin, an extra bow, and a set of extra strings since sooner or later a string will snap and need to be replaced. This violin also comes with a shoulder rest which is a tool all violinists will need to make playing more comfortable and a tuner that can also be a metronome, great for any level violinist to help keep time. Also, many users stated the violin was really pretty.

It has a deep, rich, and powerful tone which makes it an astonishing violin for beginners or for more advanced students. This would be a perfect violin for the beginner student who plans to stick with the same instrument as long as possible.

What are our favorite features?

  • Great design
  • Comes with shoulder rest, extra strings
  • Rich tones

What could be better?

  • Fingerboard quality is low
3.

Cremona SV-175Best Customer Service

Features
  • Size: 1/16, 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
  • Material: Ebony fittings and fingerboard, hand carved solid spruce and solid maple body
  • Weight: 1.05lb
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: comes with TL-33 durable case, brazilwood bow with unbleached white horsehair, Premium Prelude strings by D’Addario

The Cremona SV-175 comes with a set of Premium Prelude strings by D’Addario which are great, especially for someone looking to improve their musical skills. This violin was designed to meet the needs of beginner violinists to more advanced students. This violin is hand-carved to create rich tones, which is important for beginner students to feel the sound. This violin ships with a TL-33 durable case, which many users said was very beautiful, but it’s essential to note this violin does not come with extra strings, bows, or anything else that some of the other beginner kits include, though there may be an optional violin bundle, which comes with some of the extra tools, for an additional cost. Unfortunately, some users had troubles with the slipping pegs, so the violin was harder to tune. Finally, many users stated that when they had to rely on the warranty, the customer service was exceptional.

What are its best features?

  • D’Addario strings
  • Beautiful case
  • Fantastic customer service
  • Perfect tone

What could be improved?

  • Does not come with other beginner kit items
  • Pegs may slip
4.

Paititi Artist-100Best Sounding Violin for Kids

Features
  • Size: 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
  • Material: maple fingerboard, chinrest and fittings, wooden body
  • Weight: 2.8lb
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: comes with lightweight triangular case, shoulder rest, extra strings and rosin, bow with genuine unbleached Mongolian horsehair

The Paititi Artist-100 is designed to be a beginner violin with fantastic sounding at a low price point, which makes it an outstanding option for kids, especially ones who don’t know if they will want to stick with the instrument long term. This could be the best violin for kids with a desire to try the instrument out first, without the parent having to spend a lot of money. The Paititi violin comes with a shoulder rest, lightweight, rainproof case, bow, clip-on tuner, and a set of extra strings. The tuner has a one-button operation and a high-sensitivity vibration sensor. It is easy to attach to the instrument, and the colored light changes to green when you’ve tuned the string correctly. The brazilwood bow comes with a double pearl eye and unbleached Mongolian horsehair. Some users stated that the pegs were too loose so the instrument would not stay in tune. So it may take some time to get used to tuning it. All in all, you will get the brightest tones with this instrument.

Why did it make our list?

  • Low price point
  • Clip-on turner for easy tuning
  • Rainproof case
  • Extra set of strings

What is not ideal about it?

  • Pegs might slip
RELATED: 10 Astonishing Violins for Beginners – Explore Wonderful World of Music!
5.

SKY(Paititi) SKYVN102Best Starter Violin for Kids

Features
  • Size: 1/4
  • Material: maple back and sides with solid spruce top
  • Weight: 3.34lb
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: complete with 1 Brazil wood bow, 1 lightweight triangular violin case and 1 high quality shoulder rest, steel strings, rosin, rubber practice mute

Sky SKYVN102 Violin is a violin designed for beginners, kids, and for those who are just starting to learn the instrument. It is a SKY 1/4 Full Size and has solid maple wood. The violin is a good quality instrument at a low price.

The Sky SKYVN102 violin is professionally set up so you can start playing as soon as you get it. No configuration is required. It is a good instrument with an excellent value for money. The student violin package includes all the important and necessary accessories with the violin. This way you don’t have to spend money-gathering accessories.

It comes with a lightweight triangular violin case, a high-quality shoulder rest, and a rubber practice mute. The rosin is a high-quality Austrian rosin cake and the shoulder support is made of high-quality plastic and foam. The violin case also has a rain-proof exterior to protect your instrument in case you get stuck in the rain. It also has pockets for storing sheet music and accessories. The violin also comes with a new adjusted bridge.

The Sky SKYVN102 violin is a size 1/4 violin that is most suitable for children up to 12 years. It has a solid spruce top. The rest of the body, including the back, sides, neck, and parchment is made from highly flamed solid maple. For the finish, it has a coat of oil varnish that gives the violin a beautiful color and shine.

This violin has high-quality strings on the neck of the violin. The pegs, chin, and fingerboard are made from solid maple wood. The tail is also made of maple wood and has four high-quality fine tuners made of metal. The violin bow has a double pearl eye and is made of Brazilian wood. It has Mongolian horsehair that helps to play the violin strings.

Why are we impressed?

  • It is a good choice as a beginner violin
  • Built-in tuners.
  • A sturdy bow that is made from decent quality materials
  • No assembly required before playing

What negatives must you be aware of?

  • The bridge is too thick and too high.
  • Low-quality parts, including pegs, strings, and bridges.
6.

Cremona SV-200Most Elegant Violin for Kids

Features
  • Size: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
  • Material: ebony fittings and fingerboard, hand carved spruce and maple body
  • Weight: 1.05lb
  • Warranty: : 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: comes with TL-33 case, brazilwood bow with unbleached white horsehair, Premium Prelude strings by D’Addario

The Cremona SV-200 is crafted with a traditional elegant look, with flamed maple in a light red finish. Like the other Cremona brand violins, this one comes with Premium Prelude strings by D’Addario, which is a brilliant set for student violinists, meaning you won’t have to replace them immediately like you may have to with other, cheaper strings. It also comes with an ultralight, extremely durable TL-33 case to make carrying your instrument from classes or recitals easy and safe.

It has a higher price point, though, than other beginner violins and does not come with a beginner kit, meaning you will have to pay for extras such as a shoulder rest. But that means that the money charged for this violin are for the violin itself and not the extras, which often means the instrument is of a higher quality and maybe the best beginner violin for kids who plan to stick with the instrument.

What do we love it for?

  • Premium strings
  • Elegant look
  • Carry case included
  • High quality

What were we disappointed with?

  • No beginner kit
  • High price point
7.

Mendini Pink Metallic ViolinMost Unique Violin Colors

Features
  • Size: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4
  • Material: spruce top with maple back and sides, maple fingerboard, pegs, and chin rest
  • Weight: 4lb
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: comes with lightweight hard case, a brazilwood bow with unbleached genuine Mongolian horsehair, rosin, adjustable shoulder rest, two bridges, and an extra set of strings

The Mendini Pink Metallic Violin is, as the name states, a pink violin. This Mendini line actually comes in a variety of colors, allowing the beginning violinist to appeal to their own unique preferences. This is a magnificent addition for beginning students who may be reluctant to pick the instrument with classical colors.

However, we have to point out that this violin may have difficulties staying in tune because of the slipping pegs. Sometimes peg compound can fix this issue, though. On the other hand, Mendini violins are very easy to tune, so this is a perfect starting point for your kid.

To sum up, this violin has a low price point and comes with a hard case, shoulder rest, an extra bridge, and an extra set of strings making it a good choice for those beginners who want everything in one cheap, easy package.

What makes it special?

  • Beginner kit
  • Multiple colors to choose from
  • Easy to tune
  • Low price point

What cons did we find?

  • May have troubles staying in tune
Features
  • Size: 4/4
  • Material: maple back and sides with solid spruce top
  • Weight: 4.74lb
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: comes with multiple accessories

Cecilio is a brand that has been around for several years and has been providing reliable bowed instruments since its inception. This violin kit is the ideal entry-level product for anyone looking to start their musical journey with the violin.

Cecilio believes there is a perfect instrument for every beginner, which is why the solid wood violins are made from is gaining so much popularity. Cecilio’s student violins have a great sound and all strings are well balanced. If you are a beginner, this should be an easy violin to play!

Thanks to the shoulder rest included in the set, you will be able to easily play this musical instrument right from the start. Many entry-level violins do not include shoulder rests and provide an extra set of strings, as does Cecilio. The icing on the cake is that this shoulder rest is padded for comfort.

This set is ideal for students and beginners who are not decided on whether a 3/4 or 4/4 will be ideal for them. The violin comes with a case, rosin, two bows, a tuner, and a first lesson book for starters.

The violin is ideal for a beginner student. The body is made from solid maple and the sides are solid spruce top. An antique varnish spray gives this instrument a soft and unique sound.

Why is it special?

  • Ideal for student beginners
  • Finished with an antique-looking varnish
  • Comes with a lot of accessories for the beginner

What are the flaws?

  • Problem with the tubing peg
9.

Sky VN202Best Violin for Young or Small Children

Features
  • Size: 1/16, 1/10
  • Material: maple top, ebony fingerboard
  • Weight: 2.25lb
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: comes with brazilwood bow with unbleached Mongolian horsehair, lightweight case, rosin, new bridge and high-quality strings

The Sky VN202 is the best starter violin for kids who are very small and need small instruments. There are 1/16 and 1/10 sizes that are great for three years old kids or so. It comes in a blue or pink color which can be quite interesting for them to pick. This also helps them to express their own personal uniqueness.

It ships with a bow with double pearl eyes, and lightweight, rainproof case. Users state that the painted color is very lovely, though some of them say it may be harder to keep the instrument in tune. The sound of the instrument is nice, despite the facts that it has a small size and is meant for very young children.

What are our favorite features?

  • Comes in pink or blue colors
  • Great for very small kids
  • Nice sound

What could be better?

  • No beginner kit
  • Can be hard to keep in tune
10.

Stentor II 1500Best Violin for Kids with Sturdy Carry Case

Features
  • Size: 3/4
  • Material: maple back, spruce top, ebony fittings
  • Weight: 1.01lb
  • Warranty: 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects

More features: comes with horsehair bow, carry case with straps, rosin, shoulder rest pocket

Stentor violins have good reputation, so if you’re looking for a beginner violin for a kid who’s likely to stay with the instrument for a long time, then the Stentor II 1500 would be an excellent choice. It has a beautiful classic design and ships with bow, durable case with straps which allow you to carry it like a backpack, shoulder rest pocket, and rosin. This one has a high price point, but this means that you invest all the money directly into the quality of the sound and the richness of tones. Unfortunately, some users stated that the pegs may slip. Overall, this is a perfect pick for your kid because you will not have to pay more as your child’s music skills improve, since this violin offers everything.

What stands out?

  • Good brand name
  • Case can be carried like a backpack
  • High quality of sound

What cons did we manage to find?

  • Pegs may slip
  • Higher price point
RELATED: 10 Astonishing Violins for Beginners – Explore Wonderful World of Music!

Things to Consider

Beginner violin is a wonderful instrument to own if you have a child who would like to learn the basics and more but isn’t sure if he or she will stick with it for a long period of time or if the violin is the best choice for them. But there are a lot of different options when it comes to starter violin models so if you’re considering the best violin for kids the following guide can help you make your decision.

Things to consider before buying the best violin for kids

10 Most Impressive Violins for Kids - Master Music Skills in No Time!The best violin for kids is one that meets all your needs and preferences, including violin size, the materials of the instrument, weight, warranty, shoulder and chin rests, bow, learning kits, and any additional accessories. Prices can vary widely for violins for kids, and the high price tag doesn’t necessarily mean that this is the best product on the market. Sometimes you can find high-quality instruments at affordable prices. Check the parameters below to help you choose the best starter violin for a child.

Violin size

Violins come in eight different sizes, measured as a fraction. 4/4, also called full size, is the largest available and works for large children, or even any adult who’s looking for a beginner violin. After that, the sizes go from larger to smallest: 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, 1/32. The size of the violin represents the length of the instrument so it’s important to choose the right size for the arm length of your child.

You can figure this out by measuring the length between the neck and the middle part of the palm and comparing it to the chart. Or simply asking a violin teacher.
If the violin is too big, it can be hard for a kid to play the instrument, but too small and the child will quickly outgrow the violin. If you have a very young child, then look at the Sky VN202 which is made for very young violin students.

Materials

10 Most Impressive Violins for Kids - Master Music Skills in No Time!There are many materials that are used to craft a violin. Some instrument parts like body, neck and scroll are usually made of different types of wood, fine tuners can be made from metals such as nickel, and the bow can be made from wood or plastic and strung with horsehair. The choice of wood influences the sound of the instrument.

A good sounding instrument may convince a beginner student to keep up their studies, and so buying a beginner violin for your child with high-quality wood can be an important consideration.
All of the violins in our list are made from a maple body and spruce top, but the fingerboards materials are ebony, maple, and even rosewood in the case of the SKY(Paititi) SKYVN102 .

Weight

Weight can be an important consideration when shopping for the best starter violin for your child. If the instrument is too heavy, it may tire the child out before they’ve finished the lesson, or make the child not want to practice. As well as too light violins can’t produce rich tones, so the child will treat it as a toy. For a violin with a mid-size weight, check out the Paititi Artist-100, which weighs less than 3 pounds.

Warranty

It’s understandable that you hope never to have to use the warranty on your best beginner violin for your kids, but sometimes accidents happen, especially when the instruments are delicate. If your violin comes broken, has some parts missing, or the quality of the materials is very poor, then a warranty can save your money and nerves. Almost all of the violins on this list come with a 1-year limited warranty against manufacturer’s defects.

Shoulder and chin rests

10 Most Impressive Violins for Kids - Master Music Skills in No Time!Shoulder and chin rests are essential parts of any violin. Chin rests will always come attached to the violin, since the instrument cannot be played without one. Usually, the chin rest that comes with the violin fits perfectly and never needs to be changed. Shoulder rests, however, are a separate accessory that most students will need to play their instrument comfortably. The violin, however, can be played without one, so not every violin comes with a shoulder rest. If having a shoulder rest from the start is important to you or your child, check out our editor’s choice – the Cecilio CVN-300 with the included shoulder rest.

Bow

Every violin player needs a bow to play their instrument. Many violins come with a bow, and sometimes even more than one in case a bow breaks. The bow is usually made from either plastic or a higher-class wood, and it’s strung with horsehair. The bow requires rosin to be rubbed on the horsehair, in order to make a sound when the bow touches the string.

The right bow can provide you with great sound, so picking a beginner violin for your child with a worthy bow is a must.
For example, the Mendini MV500 comes with two amazing brazilwood bows.

Learning kits

For beginner students, picking a violin with a learning kit can be the way to go. That way, you don’t have to search for and buy a bunch of books, guides, and accessories separately, so your child will be ready to learn as soon as the instrument arrives. We recommend the Cecilio CVN-300, which is the only violin on this list that comes with a lesson book.

Additional accessories

10 Most Impressive Violins for Kids - Master Music Skills in No Time!Many of these instruments ship with additional accessories, from extra strings and bridges to tuners and fancy cases. Some of the additions, while not necessary to learn how to play the violin, can come in handy or help your child get started sooner. A tuner can assist your child in getting the right sound from their violin, and extra strings on hand are always great to have when an inevitable string snap happens. Polishing cloths can keep the violin clean, and fingerboard stickers can help your child learn their patterns. For a beginner violin that comes with it almost everything, look at our Customer Choice the Mendini MV500 which comes with two bows, extra bridge and strings, tuner and metronome, rosin, and shoulder rest, all accessories that can get your child learning the violin as soon as possible.

Violins for beginners vs. violins for intermediate players

The violin is a beautiful instrument for your child. It can lead to a career in music, increase learning rates, and improve memory. But the violin can also be a difficult instrument for some children to learn. And because professional violins can cost thousands of dollars, it can be a huge financial burden to undertake, especially if you’re not sure that your child will stick with the instrument long enough to justify the expense. Buying a starter or beginner violin can be a great financial decision compared to violins for intermediate players. Many of them come with wonderful beginner kits, such as the Mendini MV500, and many of them can be purchased for less than even 100 dollars, like the Paititi Artist-100.

It’s important to note, though, that with many musical instruments you get what you pay for, so beginner violins, while a great option for many, are not meant to last for the lifetime of the violinist.
Your child will be expected to trade up to a better-quality violin over time if they want to grow as a musician. But if your kid is young when they start, they’ll need to change to a larger size instrument at some point anyway.

FAQ

Tuning the violin is a skill that takes time to master. If your child sticks with the instrument long enough, they’ll be able to tune the violin by ear on their own at some point. But before then, picking a violin with a digital tuner can really help. The tuner will ensure that the violin strings are tuned correctly. A digital tuner often attaches to the violin scroll, has a display with notes or LED-light that changes the color when the child has tuned the string correctly. Remember to check the tuning every time your kid plays.

Children who have private lessons from teachers or tutors often learn how to play violins faster, and perhaps even better, than children who don’t take lessons from a professional, it’s true. But lesson books are certainly a way for any child to start. If a kid is dedicated enough, he or she can learn through books and at home and reach the same level as a child who has a teacher. Once you understand that your kid is interested in learning the violin, then it is time to hire a private tutor or try group music lessons.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, and that is especially true for learning the violin. Like any instrument, practicing every day for at least an hour can help your child achieve the success in learning. There’s a balance to be maintained, though. If you force your child to practice beyond their interest, or what their age range can handle, you may turn your kid from someone who is interested in the violin and music into someone who hates playing their instrument and would rather do anything else. But, the more they practice, the better they’ll get, and some good results can increase their involvement.

Our Verdict

Our best violin for kids is our editor’s choice, Cecilio CVN-300. It is the only violin on this list to come with an instructional booklet, making it a perfect violin for kids who want to get started as soon as the instrument arrives. It’s got a maple body, spruce scroll, and ebony fingerboard and pegs provide the high quality of this instrument and the affordable price.

Our customer choice for the best beginner violin for a child is the Mendini MV500. It comes with an extra bow and tuner, but also extra strings, shoulder rest, and a lightweight carry case with straps. On top of that, many customers stated that this was a beautiful violin to purchase.

Finally, we have the Cremona SV-175. This violin is lightweight, at slightly over one pound, making it a great choice for younger or smaller children. It has a higher-end case which will keep the violin safe during travels to and from lessons, school, or recitals. And it ships with Premium D’Addario strings, a brand that really can’t be beat for beginner violins.

2 Comments
  1. This post is clearly sponsored by Cecilio. These are terribly made instruments. Cheap, poor quality wood makes them impossible to tune and break easily.

    • Thank you for your comment. We appreciate your feedback and understand your concerns. However, we would like to clarify that this post is not sponsored by Cecilio or any other brand. We aim to provide unbiased information and reviews on various musical instruments, including those from different manufacturers.

      Regarding the quality of Cecilio instruments, it is important to note that opinions may vary among musicians. While some individuals may have had negative experiences with certain instruments, others may have had positive experiences. It is always recommended to thoroughly research and try out different instruments before making a purchase decision.

      If you have any specific suggestions for alternative instrument brands or any other topics you would like us to cover, please let us know. We value the input of our readers and strive to provide helpful and informative content.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *