Violinmaker-in-Residence #11 If my blog posts have become rather technical and a bit theoretical in describing my making process, it is perhaps a reflection of the early stages of making a violin, which are more repetitive and predictable. It is…
Shaping the Arch
Violinmaker-in-Residence #10 When the purfling is in place the arch can be finished. The arch serves to add stiffness and strength to the top and to the back, which helps them to support the force of the strings on the…
Shaping the Edge and Purfling
Violinmaker-in-Residence #9 With the rough plates – the top and back – spot-glued onto the finished ribcage, I carve the outline of the body to its final shape using finger planes, knife, and files. The general shape of the body…
Being Stradivari
Violinmaker-in-Residence #8 When someone asked me recently what I was doing in the shop I said I was working on entering into Stradivari’s mind. Similarly, when I was studying the “Harrison” Strad at the National Music Museum as part of…
First Residency October 29
Violinmaker-in-Residence #7 Last Saturday, October 29, was the first of four opportunities for me to meet with the VSO audience and give them a taste of the reality of violin making in Vermont today. I set up in the lobby…
Roughing the Arch
Violinmaker-in-Residence #6 The top and the back of the violin – referred to as “plates” – are carved into an arched form. The arch is a classic way to get maximum strength in a structure with minimum weight: think the…
Building the Ribcage
Violinmaker-in-Residence #5 The ribs, or sides, of the violin are built around a form-board (link for more on this). The rough blocks (4 corners and 2 ends) are spot-glued onto the form-board and the shape of the ribcage scribed on…
Choosing the Wood
Violinmaker-in-Residence #4 The violin evolved with the use of woods that were readily at hand to instrument makers of their day: curly maple for the back, sides and neck, and spruce for the top. Although one can make good instruments…
Choosing the Model
Violinmaker-in-Residence #3 Choosing the model for the VSO violin was quite easy. I have known Jaime Laredo, violinist and Music Director of the VSO, for many years and have made copies of two of his violins. The Strad he used…
What is a violin? What does it do?
Violinmaker-in-Residence #2 The violin is designed to fit the human body, and allows the player to control pitch by stopping strings with the left hand, and control volume and tone color by using a bow with the right hand. The…