From beginners to intermediate

Please read our Setting up for success article.

At Cardiff Violins, we believe that the careful selection of student violins and beginner violins is crucial for the future enjoyment of music making. It has always been our policy to supply student violins and beginner violins that work very well, at affordable prices.  For these reasons, we upgrade inexpensive Chinese instruments to a standard that work better than many non-upgraded instruments, such as Primavera, Westbury, Loreato, Piacenza, Conservatoire, Messina, Andreas Zeller, Antoni, Carlo Giordano and Stentor violins.

All the following instruments are very suitable as student violins or beginner violins, and as they go up in price, the violins also get better to meet the child’s increasing abilities. Rather than rigidly say “you need to change your violin by grade 3”, we prefer to leave the decision to the players, so that whenever the time or circumstances feel right for them, their teacher or their parents, they can come back and enjoy selecting their next instrument.

Please do not forget that we will take your first instrument in part-exchange (if you have bought it from us and it is in good condition), so do bring it along!  If your first instrument was purchased somewhere else, we will try to help you by part-exchanging it, but cannot promise to do so, as it depends on the make and condition.

Andantino Complete with a brazilwood violin bow and shaped violin case with blanket and 2 shoulder straps, it looks and sounds beautiful, and we feel it is definitely worth the minimal £25 difference with the Minuet! This upgraded violin surpasses the comparable violins in its class.  Subject to condition, this violin can be part-exchanged when you need the next size or quality up. SIZE 1/8 | 1/4 | 1/2 | 3/4 | 4/4     PRICE £ 250

Vivace Complete with a better quality brazilwood bow and a plywood shaped case, it produces a very commanding sound, with clear projection. This violin has been partly upgraded, as the manufacturer's initial set-up was already quite advanced. Again a better value compared to Stentor Student violins.  This violin is part exchangeable when you need the next size or quality up! SIZE 1/2 | 1/4 | 3/4 | 4/4     PRICE £ 330

Con Amore This is an up-graded version of the Vivace with a red-brown antique finish. Again, as the manufacturer's specifications are quite high, we only needed to partially upgrade it. This violin sounds as good as it looks, and comes with a brazil-wood bow and a plywood violin case.  Superior to many other violins in the same category.  This violin is part exchangeable subject to condition when the time to change comes. SIZE 1/2 | 3/4 | 4/4     PRICE £ 430

 FOR ALL INSTRUMENTS : If you order online, one of our violinists will select the best violin available on the day of your order. Please do not buy online if you can take advantage of the Assisted Purchase Scheme to save the VAT!