Opinion: Avoid cheap instruments for beginners

One of the least happy memories of my university days was showing a potential new cello to my teacher and being told that it had to be returned immediately. I had not had any guidance in my search and at that time no one in my family knew anyone in the profession to go to for advice. But I was extremely pleased with it and thought it sounded great. My teacher’s reaction was instant and categorical; it was a kind of allergic reaction in cello-speak, and I was horrified and upset, unaware as I was at the time that buying an instrument is fraught with potential pitfalls for the uninitiated…