Many Suzuki violin teachers use box violins to help students learn how to hold the in instrument before they get the real thing. It’s very nice to be able to learn to hold an instrument on your shoulder without being worried about dropping it. There are some box violins that you can buy from music stores, but I prefer to make my own. Some teachers like to have the students make them, but I prefer to just get it done so the family doesn’t have to round up the supplies.
Items you will need:
- 1 small box (I use fruit snacks from the Dollar Tree)
- 1 paint stick
- wrapping paper
- 1 file rubber band
- scotch tape
- packing tape
- sponge (synthetic ones from the dollar store won’t get hard)
Steps:
- Wrap the box of goodies with wrappong paper. Put the seam in the middle of the box. It will be covered with a paint stick.
- tape the end with packing tape so they are not easily torn.
- Place the paint stick over the seam in the wrapping paper.
- Tape the paint stick to the box with packing tape.
- Attach the rubber band on the box violin and put the sponge on the bottom.
I also choose to make bows for my students. To make the bow, I get an 18 inch piece of dowel rod and tape a clothespin to it with masking tape. These are a very nice way to teach students how to hold bows without having a real bow.