I was tuning my violin today, and my D String snapped. *sigh* Now I can't play. Does anyone know a good, inexpensive brand of string I should buy? Does it REALLY make a difference?

It does make a difference, and a really cheap string wont last very long.

I buy the Dominant Strings..

Its always handy to keep an extra set of strings so that when one breaks you have a backup and don't have a time when you can't play

How long had it been since you changed that string?

This is the first time a string had broken. I've had this violin for only 2 months, and it was new when I got it.

So...I haven't changed the strings before.

Maybe the company that made your violin sells strings as well.
If I were you, ask your violin teacher (if you have one) to help you put the new string on. If you don't- http://www.expertvillage.com/interviews/string-violin.htm

umm.. i would ask your teacher how to put on a string, seeing how it is rather difficult to explain. as for strings, they really is a sound a difference. I have used both evah piarzzi's by or obligatos by pirastro. Evahs have a more silvery and brassy tone, and obligattos have a darker warm tone. I prefer obligattos myself. You can get both these realtively chep compared to other places on www.swstrings.com. For a the whole set, (with gold-coated e, alum. coated a, and silver coted d and g, (what i prefer)) it should cost you between american dollars for the whole strings. sw strings is much cheaper than other places, too.
hope this helps!

55-58 american dollars is what i meant. cheaper if not coated with stuff. plus, these are synthetic, not steel core or gut strings, so they hold tune longer.