1/8 Size Violins

1/8 size violins are among the smallest violin sizes and are played by children who are just starting out on the instrument, usually at around 4 to 6 years of age. Arm length, however, matters more than age. In this size you will find the Valencia V100, V160, V400 and V400M beginner outfits, Stentor student violins from Student Standard to Conservatoire I, and the Yamaha V5 and V7. Every instrument comes with a bow, and most also include rosin and a gig bag or case, so there is little else to buy before the first lesson.

What age is a 1/8 violin for?

An eighth-size violin fits children with an arm length of roughly 43 to 47 centimetres, which usually corresponds to an age of 4 to 6. Children of the same age vary quite a lot in height and arm length, though, so treat age only as a rough guide. The youngest children with shorter arms need 1/16 violins.

How can you check at home that the size is right?

Have your child stretch their left arm out to the side and measure the distance from the neck to the middle of the palm. Then place the violin on their left shoulder, under the chin. When they extend the left arm along the neck of the violin, they should be able to wrap their fingers comfortably around the scroll at the end, with the elbow staying slightly bent. If they can only reach the scroll with the arm fully straightened, the violin is still too big for them.

When is it time for a 1/4 violin?

The next size up is due when your child has to press the elbow against the body during this test and the fingers of the left hand get in each other's way on the fingerboard. That is the moment for 1/4 violins. Children grow out of the small sizes quickly, so it pays to measure their arm length again every few months.