Join me Oct 19th, for a day long overview of violin making including a review of techniques, tools and supply sources. The session will be held as a Lee Valley Seminar (class room setting, not hands on) at the Lee Valley Vancouver location at 1180 SE Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC, Tuesday Nov 19 from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Registration is required and the cost is $70. View the seminar on the Lee Valley website here.
A Violin Maker Podcast!
I’m thrilled to find out about this new PodCast by Rozie DeLoach & Chris Jacoby!
Just in its infancy, very approachable and showing promise. Their description of the podcast is: “We cover the lives of violin makers, their best parts and worst parts, yesterday and today. Historical stories, interviews with experts and makers in the field. Omobono Stradivari was the least liked son of his father, Antonio, he was remembered in Antonio’s will as a screw-up. He is our north star. We are all part of this. We all belong exactly here. “
You can find their website and podcast here.
British Violin Makers Association “Makers’ Day” 2019
The BVMA will hold a Makers’ Day on Sunday, 3 February 2019, 10.30am – 5.30pm. Check it out here.
Location:
Kings Place
90 York Way
London
N1 9AG
“Learning Trade Secrets”
A new company is offering a series of seminars on a variety of topics including varnish, bow making and repair, violin and cello setup, and aspects of restoration. These 5-day courses are offered periodically over the year.
“Learning Trade Secrets” is operated by Bowmaker Rodney D. Mohr and offers a selection of high profile instructors from the making and restoring community. They are based in Ashland which is located about 1 hour SW of Cleveland, Ohio.
Check out their current list of workshops here and I’ve added “Learning Trade Secrets” to my list of North American violin making schools and programs here.
Violin Making Workshop a Success!
Thanks to everyone who made the Lee Valley Violin Making Workshop a success!
Lee Valley Seminar: Violin Making
I’ll be hosting a Lee Valley Seminar on Violin Making on November 2nd (Friday) at their Vancouver Location (Marine Drive) from 9:30am to 4:30pm. While not a hands-on session, I will be going over violin making history and steps. I’ll also demonstrate some of the tools and basic violin making techniques.
You can read more about the seminar here.
Australian Luthier and Archetier Congress
Check out this inaugural Violin Making conference in Australia, titled the “Australian Luthier and Archetier Congress 2019” which will be held in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia from July 13th- 20th, 2019. Bathurst is about a 2-3 hour drive from Sydney.
“Held from July 13th – 20th 2019 at The Scots School in Bathurst, NSW, Australia, this is promising to be a illustrious gathering of some remarkably talented and internationally renowned minds. The congress is the first international Luthier and Archetier gathering in the southern hemisphere. It is hoped that the congress will inspire, inform, connect and maintain the creativity and professionalism of all participants.”
An Affordable Brass Bridge Stamp
I recently decided to try out a customizable leather punch for sale on ebay. I’m thrilled with the results. Wuta Leather offers a customized leather punch at quite an affordable price. I ordered mine and provided the specifications after they contacted me. It took about three weeks to arrive. I added a walnut handle and gave it a test run. I’m very satisfied with the results.
A bridge stamp is a great addition for a violin maker, particularly if you take care in the setup of your instruments. The stamp goes on the side of the bridge facing the fingerboard, on the waist of the bridge. It’s typically done is an easy to read font, and sized so the text is 1.5mm high.
For best results, hold the stamp in the flame of a tallow candle. The purpose of the candle is to coat the stamp with soot, not to heat the stamp. Press with firm against the bridge adjusting the angle slightly without removing to ensure complete contact. The stamped name will not smudge. Comment if you’d like to order a stamp through me, or if you’d like more information.
Violin Making Best Practises: Rib Planing Video
Check out my first instructional video. This one goes over the relatively simple process of rib planing. Visit the page here for a summary and tips.
Schools and Courses in Violin Making
I’ve added a
new addition to the resources section. There you’ll find an updated list of North American Violin Making Schools and workshops. You’ll also find a link to a comprehensive list of international programs.
Check it out here.
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