Articles · Lessons and practice
Violin accessories for beginners: what a child needs
Updated 2026-11-14
A beginner violinist needs the violin, the bow, the case, and about six small things. The list is short, and many extras can wait. This page sorts the must-haves from the things that can wait.
The short list
The teacher’s manual for Essential Elements for Strings, a school string method, lists the supplies a beginner needs. It names these items for violin.
| Item | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Rosin | Makes the bow hair grip the string |
| Shoulder rest or pad | Fills the gap between the shoulder and the violin |
| Soft cloth | Wipes rosin dust off the violin and strings |
| Extra strings | Replace a string that breaks |
| Folding music stand | Holds the music at eye level |
| Pencil | Marks fingerings and reminders |
Add one more item to that list: a tuner.
Rosin
Rosin is a small cake of hardened tree sap. Without it, the bow slides over the string and makes almost no sound.
- A new bow needs a good first coat. Ask the teacher or the shop to do it.
- After that, a few strokes before each practice is enough.
- Rosin breaks if it falls on a hard floor. Keep it in its cloth or box.
- One cake lasts a long time.
Shoulder rest
A shoulder rest clips to the back of the violin. It lets the child hold the violin without raising the shoulder.
- Rests come in sizes for small violins. Check that the rest fits your child’s violin.
- Ask the teacher before you buy. Teachers differ on which kind to use.
- For small children, some teachers use a sponge held on with a rubber band.
A soft cloth
Rosin dust falls on the violin each time it is played. Wipe the strings and the top after practice. Any soft, clean cloth works. Keep it in the case.
Spare strings
Strings break. A spare set in the case saves a week of waiting.
- Strings come in sizes too. Buy the size that matches the violin.
- The E string is the thinnest. A spare E is the least to keep.
- Ask the teacher or a shop to put on the first replacement and show you how.
A tuner
A violin has to be tuned before each practice. A clip-on tuner or a tuner app shows whether a string is too high or too low. Essential Elements Interactive, the website that comes free with each Essential Elements book, also has a tuner and a metronome.
Read how to tune a child’s violin. For a steady beat, use the metronome for kids.
A music stand
A stand puts the music at eye level. A child who reads from a book on the bed or the floor bends the neck and drops the violin. A folding wire stand is enough for a beginner. Set the height so your child looks straight ahead.
Suzuki beginners play by ear at first. Ask the teacher when a stand will be needed.
What comes with the violin
A violin outfit includes the bow, the case, and a cake of rosin. Check these before you buy more.
- Fine tuners. These are the small screws on the tailpiece. A beginner’s violin needs one for each string. If yours has one, ask a shop to add the rest.
- Chin rest. It is already on the violin. A teacher may suggest a different shape later.
- Case. Check the latches and the strap. Write your child’s name inside.
What can wait
| Item | Why it can wait |
|---|---|
| Practice mute | Useful in an apartment. Not needed for learning. Read how to practice violin quietly. |
| Better strings | The strings on a well set-up violin are fine for the first year |
| A second bow | One bow is enough |
| Humidifier for the case | Ask the teacher or a shop whether your climate calls for one |
| Finger tapes | The teacher puts these on, if the teacher uses them |
| Electric tuner with many features | A simple one does the job |
Care that costs nothing
- Loosen the bow hair after every practice.
- Wipe off the rosin dust.
- Do not touch the bow hair with fingers. Oil from the skin makes it slip.
- Keep the violin in its case, away from heaters and sunny windows.
- Never leave it in a car.
A checklist for the case
- Rosin
- Cloth
- Spare strings
- Shoulder rest, if it fits in the case
- Pencil
- Tuner
- A name tag
For the violin itself, read best beginner violins for kids: what to look for. For gift ideas, read gifts for violin students.
Related pages
- Violin for kids: how it works and what to hear
- Violin sizes for kids: how to measure and choose
- Essential Elements Book 1 explained
- School band and orchestra: a parent’s guide to year one
- How to rosin a violin bow for the first time
- How to hold a violin bow: games for kids
Sources
Checked in November 2026.
- Hal Leonard. Essential Elements for Strings: teacher manual, Book 1, sample, for the supply list.
- Hal Leonard. Essential Elements Interactive, for the built-in tuner and metronome.
- Zaret, P. Guide to renting a violin. Zaret and Sons Violins, for fine tuners.
- Shar Music. Student violins for sale: a guide.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.