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5 string instruments to inspire a musical hobby

By ebell

Maybe you’re in need of a hobby, or maybe you need your kids to play with something afterschool that doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi. Maybe it’s time to try music. Learning an instrument like the violin, viola, or cello is something you can work at a little bit each day, or as your schedule allows. It’s a rewarding uphill climb: it’s good for your brain, increases digital dexterity, introduces you to a world of music, and gives your eyes a much-needed break from screens. Here are five instruments, from violin to cello, to launch a strings hobby at home.

This standard violin by Cecilio is for beginners, and available in a variety of sizes. Built for a beginner, this version is made with a combination of maple, spruce, and ebony for a striking finish. Hand-carved at the top, it’s easy to handle and comes with bow, spare strings, rosin, shoulder rest, and a lightweight case, to take your budding hobby on the go.
$0 from Amazon

In the family of stringed, bowed instruments, the viola is a shade deeper and richer in tone than the violin. Think alto versus soprano, capable of hitting lower notes and often called on for beautifully subtle harmony parts. Made with a hand-carved solid spruce top, a maple fingerboard, and maple back and sides, here’s a sturdy beginner’s viola at a reasonable price.
$143 from Amazon $136 from Walmart

Just because classical music can be serious doesn’t mean your new violin can’t be fun. A metallic pink violin for young beginners is finished with a metallic sheen that’ll have your budding musician standing out in the orchestra. Comes with the standards—case, rosin, bow, extra strings—plus the Mendini Violin First Lesson Book (with companion lessons available online).
$100 from Amazon

If you’re looking for deeper tones, the cello is ideal, inviting you to explore a darker soundscape than violin or viola. This student-level cello is an affordable way to get started. Just under five feet high, and 25 pounds, it’s a sturdy instrument: crack-proof spruce top with a maple neck, base, and sides, with both hard and soft cases and a Brazilwood bow, plus the usual stringed instrument basics.
$520 from Amazon

An affordable beginner cello for kids and teenagers, this Mendini has all the classic features: maple back, neck, and sides capped by a sturdy spruce top and four built-in fine tuners. Comes with a lightweight carrying case with padding and a sturdy Brazilwood bow.
$250 from Amazon $274 from Walmart

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Learning a musical instrument can yield all sorts of benefits: beautiful sound, for one, a habit of disciplined practice (as useful in the “real world” as the orchestra), not to mention it’s a great way to keep your brain active without subjecting your eyes to glowing screens. And as these products illustrate, you don’t have to break the bank to get started on a musical hobby. A small investment in the right instrument for you, whether violin, cello, or viola (or all three if you’re ambitious), lets you fill your free time (or your child’s after school hours) meaningfully and beautifully.

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