Cecilio and Mendini have carved out a niche for themselves within the student instrument industry, offering cheap, usually workable instruments on places like Amazon, eBay, and other online retailers. Their lineup has changed over the years, and so have the people that recommend them. Those that once applauded their efforts have either moved on to …
I know Cecilio from their violins, but of course, they don’t stop at the smallest member of the orchestral string family. They cover the three smallest members, Violin, Viola, and Cello. The viola is a beautiful instrument and one that has been catching my eye lately. I love how much power you can get out …
Cecilio Viola Review and Guide: 3 Violas, Which is the Best? Read More »
Acoustic violins, much like an acoustic guitar, are pretty versatile; they can play about any music you throw at them. Still, a new world opens up when you add electronics into the mix. Electronics allow a musician to distort, amplify, manipulate and loop sounds and music to create various effects and complete tracks. This is …
Cecilio Electric Violin Review and Guide: A Silent Practice Violin! Read More »
When I first picked up the violin, I chose Cecilio for my first instrument. At the time, they were the only decent cheap student violins on the market. It’s been nearly a decade since I bought my first violin, and now it’s a fair assessment to say that Cecilio has a decent bit of competition. …
Cecilio CVN 400 Review and Guide: We Have Better! Read More »
Cecilio has become known for its inexpensive and often poor-quality student instrument. While their lower-level violins leave quite a bit to be desired, how does their intermediate violin compare? Will it take a student to the top of their class or leave them in the dust? Let’s find out! Pros, Cons, and Bottomline This is …
When I hear the name Cecilio or Mendini, I automatically think of cheap student violins found on Amazon. When I learned that they attempted to create a violin that could compete on the professional market, I was floored. At one point, Cecilio really did try to break into every level of playing with inexpensive but …
Cecilio CVN 800 Review and Guide: Intermediate or Professional Violin? Read More »
I grew up learning to play the clarinet on my faithful Selmer CL300. My mom purchased this lovely clarinet from my school principal when I decided to play clarinet, and I quote, “have an actual instrument instead of drum sticks.” I’m not sure what I was thinking because I love percussion, but I picked up …
How to Find the Best BB Clarient: Which One Did I Buy? Read More »
Playing an instrument is an excellent investment in your happiness. The clarinet is a versatile woodwind instrument capable of a jazzy solo or blending in with an orchestra. There are many things to consider when purchasing a new clarinet. Still, for a student, the most important is the overall build. Does the clarinet leak, is …
Mendini B Flat Clarinet Review and Guide – Why I Think You Could Do Better Read More »
Cecilio is a large manufacturer of inexpensive student-quality instruments made in China. While they don’t produce top-of-the-line instruments, they produce basic student-quality instruments that get students started and some that can become faithful companions for years of learning. The CVN 500 is considered their step-up instrument for advancing students. Still, I put this violin firmly …
Cecilio CVN 500 Review & Guide: Quality Serious Student Violin in a Cheap Package Read More »
Finding a quality violin in a cheap package is a serious struggle. While there are a lot of cheap violins out there, there are not a lot of cheap quality violins out there. Furthermore, even if you do find a quality cheap violin, it is likely an instrument that doesn’t give a student enough room …
Cecilio CVN-600 Review and Guide – Why I Love It! Read More »
