Instruments:

Please be wary of instrument deals that sound too good to be true.  There are many excellent values on good quality instruments available, but there are also many cheaply and poorly made instruments out there that will not hold up, stay in tune, or meet a student's needs.  Mrs. Francis is always happy to work with students and parents to help them find an instrument that is the best value for their price range.  Also, please be sure that you know your correct instrument size before you make plans to rent or purchase.  In general, look for an instrument with ebony fittings, inlaid purfling, correctly adjusted bridge and string height,  and a bow with real horsehair (not synthetic.)

Southwest Strings is a great company in Tuscon, AZ that offers an excellent student line called Klaus Mueller Etude, appropriate for beginning and intermediate level middle school students.  They also run many excellent sales throughout the school year. 

Shar Music is another company that specializes in string instruments and accessories.  They offer a wide variety of student instruments and instruments for advancing players.  They have outstanding customer service and will aid you in selecting the instrument that is right for you. 

Both Southwest Strings and Shar offer rental programs for instruments if you are not yet ready to purchase.  Hurst Music is our nearest local instrument dealer, and they offer a rent to own program as well.  They are located at the corner of Richmond and Mt. Tabor Roads. You can reach them at 335-0500. 

Strings and Accessories:

A good set of strings make a huge difference in how an instrument plays and sounds. Strings have a lifespan of about 6 months (longer for bass).  They will eventually go false, meaning that they no longer resonate properly and will not stay in tune, or will fray or unravel.  They may also break unexpectedly, although if this happens repeatedly with the same string, there may be an instrument problem.

 The best low-end, affordable string set to by is the D'Addario Prelude.  The price range is around $13.00-$20.00 a set.  The best step-up string to buy is Thomastik Dominant for violin and viola, Larsen for cello. 

The most important instrument accessory for violinists and violists is a good quality shoulder rest.  Shoulder rests place the instrument in the correct position and greatly reduce muscle and tendon strain.  There are not many people who have a short enough neck to play without one.  The Kun and the Willy Wolf detachable kind are the best.  They are available through the companies listed above, but are sold at a deep discount through the International Violin Company.  Discounted strings are available through this company as well. 

Cellists and bassists will need a good end pin anchor, unless they are playing on an instrument with a carbon-tipped endpin.  However, most student instruments do not come equipped with this type of endpin and will slip around on the floor without some type of anchor.  A variety of end pin anchors are sold at local music stores and the companies listed above.