I know this is a weird question, but I do need some help finding a solution. My son is going to play the viola at school in the fall. He will need to bring it back and forth twice a week. He typically rides his bike to school. Does anyone have a child that rides their bike carrying both a backpack and a musical instrument (especially a viola or violin)? How do you do it? I know we could get a basket for his bike, but am wondering if there is a solution that allows him to wear the viola along with his backpack.
Thanks for all of the ideas - I will definitely look into racks, panniers, bungees and various backpacks.
4th graders are only allowed to play violin, viola, or cello. The nice, small flute isn't available until 5th grade.
The bike ride is a little over half a mile and, with the exception of crossing two small streets (one with a crossing guard), it is entirely down a smooth, mostly flat, paved greenbelt (sidewalk) so there isn't a lot of extra bumping and jostling due to road conditions. As for rain... I think we only had two or three days this year where we needed to drive because of rain. Can't beat the weather in SoCal.
He is not allowed to keep a second instrument at school. Believe me, I'd pay that extra money in a second if it was an option! We don't have any lockers and there isn't anywhere to keep them, so the school doesn't allow it. If we could, I would encourage him to play the cello instead, but there's no way I'm going to bring a cello back and forth twice a week!
I certainly can drive him whenever I need to. He just prefers to ride his bike or scooter - I do too. Much easier than dealing with all the cars at dropoff time, plus good exercise, fresh air, and a chance to catch up with friends along the way. Walking is always an option too - he could easily wear the backpack and carry the viola, or I could carry it for him. We will most likely walk (rather than drive) if we can't find a good solution on the bike. I'll usually be with him in the morning since I also have a kindergartener, but he'll usually come home alone because I'll pick up my younger one earlier. I can always walk back to meet him after school to carry it home if I need to.
I'd get two instruments -- one for school and one for home -- or I'd drive him on music days. A viola isn't particularly small, nor is it resilient... It's a delicate stringed instrument.
I have to admit that I wouldn't do it. I'd have two instruments - one left at school in a locked locker and one at home. I know that's more money, but not nearly as much as having to purchase a replacement, or having an accident on the bike.
Backpack in the front with straps going over his shoulders and viola on his back would solve of allowing him to wear both things at once. The only problem would be that he'll have a lot of weight on his upper body and that could make him lose his balance if something happens and he needs to make a quick course adjustment while riding.
ETA: If it's a half a mile...he can walk on those days. :) Honestly, I wouldn't spend any money on outfitting my boys' bike for a twice a week half-mile ride.
Original: Carry the viola in a soft case with backpack straps on his back, put a platform/carrier (not a basket) on the back of the bike and use bungee cords to attach the school backpack to it. Easy breezy. :)
Diane D makes a really good point about balance with too many bags.
My sister lost her balance on her bike and was hit by a truck as a teenager. It was because she was trying to transport too much - swim gear and school gear.
Whatever you go with, I would not have it on your son - if there's a rack to put it in and strap it down would be only way I'd consider it.
ETA - My sister I should add recovered :)
You can get straps on Amazon to make case into a backpack:
https://www.amazon.com/Instrument-Case-Strap-Bam-France/d...
This one is specific for viola:
https://www.amazon.com/Gewa-Straps-Violin-Viola-Case/dp/B...
Or better yet - here's a backpack version of a case
https://www.amazon.com/Mooradian-Shaped-Viola-Backpack-St...
You could attach the viola to his backpack, but I think that would be too much weight on his back. They make bike racks for the back of the bike and you buy side panniers to hold things inside. My husband is a major biking junkie and rides his bike 15 miles each day to work summer and winter. Or you can just bungee cord the instrument to the rack itself.
My daughter's violin came with an extra case, like a softside, that had straps like a backpack. I would imagine he would look like he was going on an expedition with both that and a backpack but it could work.
I have saddlebags on my bike, that could work too.
Thanks for asking this. I have been trying to figure out a solution to the same problem. I was thinking of a rack behind the seat.
If it was a flute or clarinet or trumpet or something smaller I would probably look into the basket or carrying option but a viola is a bit....longer and awkwardly shaped.
If you can't arrange a ride for him on days he needs to transport it then I agree with Lady Bug. Besides, he needs to practice half an hour each day at home minimum. When I was in band we had so many pieces we were learning for different concerts and competitions that we had to practice each day.
Overall you are talking about putting a child/kid on a bike weighted down by backpacks full on homework and more. He would have a hard time focusing on his environment and watching for issues. I'd either transport or have one for school and one for home.
I think you could rent one or do payments for a few dollars per month.
Your "from" by your name says Irvine CA so I googled places to "rent" violas.
$15 per month
http://irvineartandmusic.com/product/viola/
$20 per month in Tustin CA
http://www.jimsmusic.com/instrumentrental/instrumentrenta...
This article might spark some ideas too.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/irvine-527434-music-di...
I don't have any ideas, but just wanted to sort of commiserate/vent along with you. Around here, the school busses have strict rules about what kinds of items can be brought on board (for safety reasons, which make sense). Anything that cannot sit on their lap is not supposed to be brought on board. Same with posters (blocks view), etc.
So, what is a kid to do when their director expects them to take the instrument home daily to practice? I mean, a flute, fine. Fits easily. But the larger instruments not so much. A saxophone does not fit anywhere but in the aisle, really.
My own daughter plays clarinet, but has a very nice, large case for it, and it doesn't fit easily on her lap--especially with an overloaded backpack for her books. And at her age, sometimes a small purse. She somehow has managed, thus far, but what are the other kids with larger instruments supposed to do??
Not all parents have the luxury of being able to drive their kids to school each morning and pick them up in the afternoon as well.
Good luck finding a solution for the viola. What does your son do when it rains? I always wonder that about kids who can bike to school. Can't really hold an umbrella and bike safely at the same time. :/
Not my kids, but I see others biking with instruments. Some of them are worn in a backpack-like case. Other kids carry a typical case in one hand while steering with the other. That doesn't look very safe.
I read your SWH. A half mile is such a short distance that I'd stick with walking on days when he needs to carry his instrument.
If he does ride his bike with his viola, make sure that you have insurance for it, so if he does crash or drop it in transit, you don't go broke making repairs. Stringed instruments and the repair of stringed instruments is expensive, and the insurance, often available through music stores, is relatively cheap.
How long/bumpy is his bike ride?
Is this viola yours or is it a rental?
How big/heavy is his backpack?
This is where playing a clarinet or flute comes in handy - they are much smaller and easier to carry.
Some will say that a viola is too delicate to be bumped around on a bike ride.
If this is a rental, they might tell you "No, you can't do that with our instrument".
That being said, people carry all sorts of things while riding a bike.
This bike might work:
http://www.bikecommuters.com/2009/06/09/review-torker-car...
You need to look for a cargo bike within your budget that he'll be able to use bungy cords to strap the viola case to while he wears his backpack (or wear his viola in a backpack case while he straps the backpack to the bike).
A cargo trike would really work well.
OR he could attach a child carrier trailer to the back of his bike and just strap everything into that.
That might be the safest way to get all his stuff to where ever he needs to take it.
we purchased a "gig bag" for my daughter, it was much more lightweight and had backpack like straps for carrying it
