A couple of weeks ago, I posted some thoughts on my
relationship with D’Addario and giving away some strings sets to a few
students. There was a comment on that
post that asked me to give some remarks about the importance of strings and
other accessories for parents that aren’t string players so that they can make
more informed choices with making purchasing decisions. This is a response to that request.
Strings
The question started with strings. So, here are some thoughts on strings. First, families have to start from the
perspective of budget. I know, I am the
father of three string players. Also, in
the interest of full disclosure, I am affiliated with D’Addario Strings as an
Educational Specialist. That said, I am
affiliated with them because I love their product and play their product. For almost all of my remarks in the post, you
will see one recurring thought: You get
what you pay for! So, with that said,
here are some more thoughts on strings.
First, they all sound different.
And, in the end, sound and tone is what really matters when playing an
instrument. Tone is what keeps you
coming back for more. If a player doesn’t like the tone of their instrument,
they are less likely to practice, less likely to play for others, and less
likely to continue. You get the
idea. Tone is everything. Even among the D’Addario products, there are
a broad range of price points on strings and a broad range of tonal
offerings. Some strings are brighter,
others are sweeter. Strings also come in
a variety of compositions and tensions.
These all impact the tone. My
advice is to try out several types of strings over a period of months and see
what you like. When you find one you
really like, stick with it. Strings do wear
out after a period of time. So a great
sounding string today may not sound so great in 6 or 8 months. For students, I would recommend changing
strings every 6 months to one year. Many
professionals change strings much more frequently. The strings may not even look worn out. It is the tone of the string that wears out more
quickly. Listen to the instrument when
they put on new strings. It should sound
more resonant, and “live.”
Here is my “cut to the chase” advice: If your student is in
their 3rd or 4th year of instruction, playing on a “step
up” full size instrument, playing in a competitive youth orchestra, competing
for regional or all-state opportunities, or performing in solo recitals, they
should be playing D’Addario Helicore or Zyex strings or strings of another
brand of a similar quality. They should
also be changing strings every 6 months or so. Plan for $50.00-$60.00 each time
they change strings. D’Addario sets
range from around $20.00 for their Pro Arte sets to around $50.00 for the
Helicore or Zyex sets. I play D’Addario
Helicore strings on my acoustic violin and D’Addario Zyex or NS Design Electric
Strings on my electric violins.
Bows
Many folks also don’t understand the importance of a good
bow to the string players’ tone. Bows
also come in a wide variety of compositions, qualities, and price ranges. A bow can greatly impact the tone of a violin
and a sub-par bow can really hinder a young player’s development. Again, in the interest of full disclosure, I
play Coda carbon fiber bows exclusively and have a relationship with the company. I find that in the price range up to
$1000.00, Carbon fiber really gives the player the best “band for the buck.” There will be others that disagree with me
and really advocate for wooden bows at all price points. Pernambuco bows are certainly the most
sought-after, particularly in the over $1000.00 price range. You will also find bows made of Brazilwood in
the lower price range. Many folks go
right to the bounce strokes when trying out new bows, but there really is more
to the bow decision. I am always
thinking about an even tone from frog to tip when trying bows. I play long tones and listen for power and
evenness at the tip and lightness and control toward the frog. Of course, balance and lightness are also
very important when it comes to spiccato or sautillé strokes. In the end, a better bow allows for a broader
range of subtleties on the instrument. I do not advocate for the under $50.00
fiberglass bow, even for beginning students.
Spending a couple hundred dollars on a carbon fiber bow, even for younger
students, should pay huge dividends. The
bow will impact the tone and ultimately, students will want to play/practice
more! The Coda Bow Company is on the forefront of research and design in all categories. I recommend them highly and play their sticks. In the end, like everything, it
comes down to budget and getting the best product for your hard-earned
money. Your local luthier can probably
really enlighten you on this subject. I use a Coda Joule Carbon Fiber bow for my improvisatory work and a Coda Custom carbon fiber bow for my classical
work. I also have a Richter Pernambuco
stick in my case that I have had for many years and still use it quite often
for classical performances.
Rosin
Yes – even the rosin they use makes a difference. Rosin is the material that affects the feel of
contact and friction of the bow to strings. I did a quick bit of web research and, wow,
there is a bunch of information out there!
I tend to like darker rosin. I am
not sure why. It just feels better to me. I started using it when I was 12 years old or
so and have loved the feel of it ever since.
Rosin comes in two basic colors, amber or light and dark. There are many brands and manufacturing
processes associated with rosin. But,
again, it has a huge impact on the way the bow feels against the string. So, I recommend trying several out over a
period of time. Amber rosin, for me,
just doesn’t give me the same touch that dark rosin gives. The good news is that rosin isn’t that
expensive. It ranges from $2.00-$10.00
or more at the top end. I use D’Addario Kaplan
Dark Rosin exclusively. I recommend giving your child a new /different
rosin for every birthday and Christmas (or other gift-giving holiday) until
they find one that really makes them happy.
Then “stick” with that brand. (Please excuse my pun.)
I am sure that there are other accessories that will come up
as a result of this post so don’t hesitate to ask me to add to this if you have
further or related questions. I hope
that all of this is helpful at some level.
Peace.
Scott
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