Renting vs. Buying Your First Violin

Before your first lesson you have to solve one problem: getting a violin. This is where a lot of people either overspend or — more often — buy something that makes learning genuinely harder. Here's how I'd think about it.

The short answer

Rent if you're buying for a child who's still growing, or if you're not yet sure this will stick.

Buy if you're an adult, you're reasonably committed, and you've got a modest budget to work with.

Neither is wrong. They're just answers to different situations.

The one thing that matters more than rent-or-buy

A violin has to be set up to be playable. That means the bridge is carved and standing correctly, the pegs turn smoothly and hold, the sound post is in the right place, the strings are decent, and the fingerboard is properly shaped.

An instrument that isn't set up will fight you constantly. It won't stay in tune, the strings will sit too high to press down comfortably, and it will sound harsh no matter how carefully you play. Beginners almost always assume that's their fault. It usually isn't.

This is why the cheapest instruments online are a false economy. In the trade they get called violin-shaped objects — they look right in photographs and they are nearly unplayable. If a full violin, bow, and case cost less than dinner for two, something has been left out, and it's usually the setup.

Renting

Most local violin shops rent, typically as a monthly fee with some or all of it credited toward a future purchase.

What you get: an instrument that's been set up by someone who knows how, repairs covered when something goes wrong, and — crucially for kids — the ability to trade up a size as they grow.

What it's good for: growing children, and anyone genuinely unsure whether this will last past the spring.

The catch: if you rent for years, you'll pay more than the instrument is worth. That's fine if the flexibility is what you needed. It's less fine if you knew by month three that you were in it for good.

Buying

What to spend: for a first violin that's genuinely playable, budget for a real beginner instrument from a shop rather than a marketplace listing. The gap between the cheapest thing available and something properly playable is smaller than people expect, and it's the best money you'll spend on this whole endeavour.

Buy from a violin shop if you possibly can. Not because shops are charitable, but because a shop sets the instrument up before it goes out the door, will adjust it afterward, and will take it in trade later. That service is most of what you're paying for.

Used is often excellent. Violins don't wear out the way most things do. A well-cared-for used instrument that's been properly set up will beat a brand-new one at the same price nearly every time.

What comes with it

Whether you rent or buy, you'll want a case, a bow, rosin, and a shoulder rest. Bundles usually include the first three. Shoulder rests are personal — what fits my shoulders may be wrong for yours, and it's worth trying a couple.

I've written a shoulder rest guide and a few other printables that cover the setup basics, all free.

For adults specifically

You are not growing, which removes the main argument for renting. If you're reasonably sure you want to do this, buying a decent beginner instrument outright usually costs less over two years than renting, and there's something quietly motivating about the thing being yours.

If you're not sure yet — rent for a few months. There's no shame in it, and it beats an expensive instrument in a closet.

Ask your teacher first

This is the part I'd most like you to take away. Before you spend anything, ask whoever will be teaching you. Most of us have opinions about local shops, know what's worth the money at your budget, and are glad to look at a listing before you buy.

I do this for my own students all the time, and I'm happy to do it for you before you've booked a single lesson. It's a five-minute favour that saves people a great deal of frustration.

Not sure where to start? Book a free trial lesson — we can talk about instruments before you spend a penny.

Related: How Much Do Violin Lessons Cost? · Am I Too Old to Learn Violin?