The best classic set for kids, enthusiastic and professionals is going to be the Thomastick Infeld by Dominate. Buy 'the set' with an aluminum wound E as opposed to the cheaper steel wound E (steel strings sound very twangy and should be avoided). Also, if you have a choice, select the silver D for a slightly richer sound. I use these just for good basic, even sound, however I often pair it with the Pirasto Gold Wound E which is sweeter than that comes with the set. I save the Dominate E as a back up.
The next set of strings I'd recommend are the Alliance Vivace by Corelli. I was give a free set of these strings and didn't have very high expectation, but guess what-- I liked them! And they are about $10 a set than the Dominate. It was my experience they were a bit softer than the Dominate and maybe didn't last as long.
Strings to avoid-- Red Label Strings and PRIM Strings. I really dislike these strings and they show up all the time on student instruments. They're cheap and I think that's why parents buy them. They just make bad or average players sound worse and they make a good player sound bad. I wouldn't waste my money on either of these steel wound strings.
STRING TIPS: 1) Change your strings completely two to three times a year because strings go bad or 'false' from excessive playing. This is a major deal and I'll eventually post a video on how to change all your strings at once, but I suggest letting your teacher or a violin shop do this as you can cause major damage to your instrument if done incorrectly.
2) Save your old strings for back ups. If you're just doing an annual change and your strings are not unwinding or broken-- keep them for emergency back ups! I put them back into the new packages and them label them with a sharpy 'USED'.
3) Don't let your child unwrap the strings and put them in the string tube. If they do this, how will you know which string is which? Each company uses different color wrappings. It's really annoying when I go to help a kid change a string and they've unwrapped all the strings and have no idea which string is which. I don't either! An A looks a lot like a D. Just keep it wrapped in the package.
4) Keep an extra set of strings in their package and in their case AT ALL TIMES!!! Back up strings are not helpful if you don't have them on hand when a string breaks.
---That's all for now. Happy playing!
Katherine
*I am not a paid sponsor for any materials I review.
