New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has several Strads that are played occasionally. But should rare instruments be mostly seen and rarely heard?

The stringed instruments made by the famed Cremonese luthier, Antonio Stradivari, have household name recognition, beyond the sphere of classical music fans and musicians. “Perhaps it’s a ...

Rare stringed instruments have a chain of custody known as provenance. Without clear and legal ownership, the instrument is more a liability than asset.

In the world of very valuable things – think art, antiques, Stradivarius violins – there is a mix of beauty and threat that is ever present.

Fine art galleries have their works under 24/7 ...

To understand stringed instruments of the European Middle Ages, it helps to understand medieval music itself.

The Medieval Era, roughly 500 CE to 1400 CE, was the time when the Church of Rome was the dominant ruling body and religion. Musically, the Catholic churches engaged people in the great cathedrals and humbler provincial churches with ...

Musical eras and the instruments that created them are on an historical, evolving continuum. But each era, the Renaissance period included, has its own instruments.

The Renaissance was a period so associated with the new, the creative, the break from the status quo, particularly in the arts, it’s no wonder there was an explosion of new stringed ...

Catherin de’ Medici brought a love of dance from Italy to the French court. In so doing, she drove the enduring standardization of violins, violas, and cellos.

Hard as it may be to imagine, it was a practice in the 18^th and 19^th centuries to reduce the size of bass violins (bassos) to what we now know the cello to be. This was even done with one ...

The Ukranian-American virtuoso played four priceless instruments in his career. But one Strad was his favorite, and he renamed it for his wife.

The virtuoso violinist Nathan Mironovich Milstein (1903-1992) had a remarkable career by many indicators – his training, his colleagues, his interpretations of works from the Romantic period, and his own ...

Stradivari is known for the greatest violins, but the likely inventor of the modern violin was Andreas Amati. French royalty deserves some credit as well.

The story of the Amati family of violin makers is closely intertwined with another, historically prominent clan: that of Catherine de’ Medici (1519-1589), the Italian noblewoman, queen consort ...

Austria’s von Trapps might have a movie made about them, but the musical contributions of the Klotz luthiers are celebrated with a statue and a school.

The Catholic Church, as well as with many other Christian denominations, has a, shall we say, evolving history with the use of instrumental support of liturgical music. The chants and polyphonic a ...

All aspects of orchestral music making – performers, conductors, composers, and instrument makers – have resisted women’s involvement. Until the 20^th century.

The place of women in music and instrument-making history follows a familiar path. The fairer sex has always been there, playing instruments, singing in the higher octaves that few men ...

Patronage of artists has always been essential. But different ways that high priced instruments find young prodigies ensure those strings get bowed.

The arts, music in particular, have always survived due to generosity of the wealthy. Mozart – whose behaviors excluded him from support from the Church – found his support in a certain Baron ...

The smaller of the two parts of stringed instruments, the bow, is remarkably complex and made of several parts, historically derived directly from nature.

To understand the parts of the bow used in stringed instruments – in Western music, the violin family (violin, cello, viola, bass, and the viola da gamba) – it helps to understand what is ...

The violin Joshua Bell can’t let out of his sight has twice, and for many years, been in the hands of thieves. Yet it helped save the lives of 1,000 people.

The French poet, dramatist, novelist, writer, journalist, and critic Theophile Gautier is credited for birthing the phrase, “All passes, art alone endures.” Technically, it was “enduring” ...

There is more time to learn things in the pandemic. So this age of at-home learning is perfect for taking up or refreshing musical skills on an instrument.

When the coronavirus shut down much of the world in mid-March 2020, in-person music instruction failed to meet the criteria for “essential work.” But musical instructors and institutions ...

Great violins last hundreds of years, so perhaps a ten-year wait for wood to age isn’t so bad for violinmakers. But scientists hope to speed things up.

The nature of violinmaking is that the mastery thereof is part science, part art – and lots of patience. Just looking at one aspect of the process, determining if the raw wood has sufficiently ...

Photo courtesy of Tarisio Fine Instruments & Bows Neither a musician nor a maker of musical instruments, this deeply shy writer traversed America to meet luthiers face-to-face and describe their work.

It was published more than 30 years ago, and all copies sit within a fine Moroccan goatskin cover. It’s available through the standard (today) ...

The “Swedish fiddle” is not purely a product of this Scandinavian country. But its biggest fans are probably in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo and Uppsala.

To understand the history of the Nyckelharpa – referred to in some circles as the Swedish fiddle – actually requires digging into the history of all stringed instruments.

The Nyckelharpa has ...

Whether for the violin, cello, viola or string bass, knowing proper string maintenance can reduce the chances of a mid-performance break.

Few violinists consider their music to be a contact sport. Sure, there are competitions when the side eye from one player to the next might involve some mental darts and ocular daggers. But there is a ...

Among the finest violinists of the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, Sarasate had two Stradivariuses with which to create great music. Both live on – differently.

Among the hundreds of surviving fine Italian violins crafted by renowned violin maker Antonio Stradivari, two were once in the hands of 19^th century virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate. One, the ...

While appearing to be less complex than the violin itself, the bow and its evolution since the 17^thcentury illustrate how “the stick” had distinct advantages.

Violins and bows of the Baroque period (early 1600s to the mid 1700s) were physically different from their “modern” counterparts that are largely the standard of today. But when one ...

The interplay of historical events and inventive instrument making – violins providing the best example – led the transition from one period to the next.

The Baroque Period, roughly the 17^thand first half of the 18^thcenturies, was not just about music but also of the visual arts, fashion and architecture. In each of those a bold and elaborate ...

A simple piece of maple wood might look less important than the showier body, strings, scroll or bow of a violin. But the bridge is critical to the sound.

Among the many parts of stringed instruments – violins, cellos, violas, basses – the bridge might appear to be just a simple wedge positioned there to elevate the strings. It is, after all, ...

Despite the difficulty thieves might find reselling famous works of the master luthier, history shows that Stradivariuses hold enduring attraction to thieves.

The story of the stolen Stradivarius violin that is probably most familiar to Americans is that of the Totenberg-Ames Stradivari (circa 1734). This is because the first part of that name, ...

Both rosin and music produced by strings go back thousands of years. When the two came together is uncertain, but it’s easy to understand why.

It’s somewhat challenging to identify when rosin met its first bow to produce music on a stringed instrument. A Google search fails to yield definitive information on where and when that would have ...

His hands may have created the most beautiful music of the 20^th century. But in an instant, Heifetz risked it all to save a timeless, priceless violin.

Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987), considered by many to be the greatest violinist of all time, was recognized for his virtuosity in the concert halls as much as virtue in some of the most important ...

The search for identity and value in fine stringed and other instruments is its own treasure hunt. Several factors matter – including how it sounds.

“Antiques Roadshow” is one of the most-watched programs on the PBS television network, seen by up to 8 million viewers per week. But while appraisers on the show provide their services for free – ...

Rare musical instruments as investments are attractive because a growing wealth market appreciates the finite supply of fine violins and other instruments.

Whether in a strong economy where market-traded securities are performing well, or in economic downturns when such securities aren’t, a perennial topic among the investor class is the wisdom ...

The traditions that gave us the best violins ever made continue in this northern Italian city. This heritage is even recognized by UNESCO.

It might be hard to understand the shared characteristic between traditional violin craftsmanship in Cremona, Italy and the following: polyphonic singing (Georgia), yoga (India), the hopping procession of ...

The prodigy Menuhin had a taste for the best violins in the world, and his virtuosity made him deserving thereof. For all he was given he also gave in kind.

What is the connection between virtuoso violinist Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999) and Fallout video games, devised in the early 2000s? The former is among the foremost violinists of the 20^th ...

The thick neck of this obscure stringed instrument speaks to the double duty it and its players serve to produce its rich tonality. Barytons are quite rare.

The baryton, a member of the viol family, is a rare but still-played instrument in the 21^stcentury. Aficionados of the music of Joseph Haydn understand its beauty and place, particularly ...

Venice stood apart from the other Italian city-states, a blend of culture and art from a bigger world beyond southern Europe. Violins from there reflect this.

When music lovers describe the violinmaking school of Venice, they’re not referring to an educational system per sé, with buildings and faculty and matriculated students and an alumni ...

Instruments like violins and cellos produce harmonic tone vibrations, involuntarily or by intent, from strings other than the string being played.

Students of stringed instruments who also have an affinity for physics are likely delighted with the subject of harmonics. They not only understand how vibrations are at the core of producing sounds, ...

Politics of the Renaissance era ordered northern Italian cities in violinmaking. But bubonic plague hit Brescia a little harder as most of its luthiers perished.

The distance between Brescia and Cremona, Italy, two bastions of fine stringed instrument making in the 16^thcentury forward, is only 29 miles (46 kilometers). But relative to the world ...

The bridge in all stringed instruments is a simple, unheralded part that transfers vibrations from the strings to the instrument body. It’s all physics!

There’s an argument in education theory circles that the 21^stcentury emphasis on STEM – preparing students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math – leaves out something ...

The option to rent an instrument makes sense in a variety of circumstances. Understanding the variables should help players decide what’s right for them. Note: The following article explains how violin rentals “generally” work throughout the industry. The information does not necessarily apply to Benning Violins’ own instrumental rental program ...

The versatility of bows on strings is evident in how musicians over the past century have found ways to swing an instrument that can do bebop as well as Bach.

To understand the history of violins in jazz music, one should understand the history of jazz itself. Violins aren’t typically the first jazz instrument that comes to mind – saxophones, ...

As only humans can craft fine stringed instruments – violins, cellos, violas, basses – some are better than others. Luthier competitions show us who.

While violin performance competitions are well known to students and fans of fine stringed instruments (the cello, bass, and viola also have their competitions), a somewhat more obscure contest type ...

The special resonance of this early music instrument – which has its modern-day fans – is due to sympathetic strings that provide a distinct undertone.

“There is something about the emphasis of the very low, and the very high register of the viola d’amore, that for me is quite profoundly moving.”

So wrote a champion of the somewhat obscure ...

The differences between fine stringed instruments and an assembly line made violin (or cello or viola) are significant. Craftsmanship matters in the end.

In the simplest of terms, there are two kinds of violins in the world. One is made – painstakingly – by a professional luthier (violin maker), and the other is factory made. ...

Violins, cellos, violas, basses and bows are sold at auction all the time. It works for buyers and sellers, but it’s possible to get it wrong.

Buy a fine violin, cello, viola or bass at auction? It may not be for the faint hearted, but auction sales of fine stringed instruments offer certain advantages.

One is that it is possible to purchase an ...

Between your instrument strings and the bow hair is something vital, the rosin. Too much or too little, applied the wrong way, can impair your playing.

The beginner violinist may think a small disk of coniferous tree sap, rosin, plays a minor or even unnecessary role in the creation of music. Au contraire! The right rosin, applied with ...

Bringing music to Los Angeles’ most disenfranchised people isn’t just a do-good project. It’s about summoning the best in all of us, the core of our beings.

What does it mean that accomplished musicians perform for and even work with the most disenfranchised parts of society in Los Angeles? What do the musicians, music directors and educators ...

Now the most highly valued violin on the planet, the iconic instrument was refurbished almost 40 years ago in Carl Becker and Son’s simple Chicago studio.

Today, a non-descript condominium building stands at 1416 W. Belmont Avenue in Chicago. This is in the re-gentrified Lakeview neighborhood of the city’s North Side, an area that not long ago ...

Minor maintenance of violins, violas and cellos can and should be done by the player. Know what you’re doing – including when to call a professional.

All stringed instruments – violins, cellos and violas – are in certain respects alive. The strings, the various components (neck, pegbox, pegs, strings, bow and bow strings, the body and finish, ...

The “planetary geared” peg makes tuning easier on violins, violas, and cellos. There are several additional reasons to favor them.

Geared pegs are a newer innovation when it comes to useful – some may say ingenious – stringed instrument accessories. Widely available both online as well as at the local violin shop, these pegs boil down larger ...

Fine instruments are beautiful works of craftsmanship, and very vulnerable to come what may. Being careful means obtaining an insurance policy.

There are horror stories about fine stringed instruments getting damaged. You’ve heard them. Despite meticulous care and love a musician puts into his or her instrument, it can be destroyed in ...

While not intrinsically great instruments, Jewish-owned violins, cellos and violas that somehow survived the concentration camps live on in concert.

Among the many perverse facts of the Holocaust is there were camp orchestras. Talented instrumentalists from the Jewish and “Gypsy” (Roma) communities involuntarily held by the murderous regime were ...

Violinists are split on if the shoulder rest helps or hurts their play. Medical professionals recommend it for people with sore necks and shoulders.

The sound a violinist produces, as well as the mastery he or she has with the technical aspects of the score, is considered the goal and achievement of the musician. But if the player develops ...

The physics of music matters, particularly when a cello, bass or violin produces an unintended sound. Understand how it works to fix it.

There are many reasons why education policy experts encourage adding an A, for arts, to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), giving us STEAM. The general theory is that the engineer with a ...

Math is intrinsic to music. But what’s truly fascinating is how the designs of fine violins, flowers and huge galaxies connect to Fibonacci’s Golden Ratio.

The Fibonacci Series might sound like a spy thriller, but it’s perhaps more exciting because it draws a direct, mathematical connection between the human perception of beauty and nature ...

The legendary violinmaker didn’t limit his enterprise, producing many other types of stringed instruments. A few survive, are playable, and are highly valued.

In 2018, violin maker Gregg Alf curated a remarkable collection of fine stringed instruments by the iconic Antonio Stradivari. The event, the Tokyo Stradivarius Festival 2018, ...

Synthetic bow hair is unthinkable to most violin players and makers. But given the delicacy of natural horsehair, the synthetic option has some appeal.

Players of fine cellos, violas and violins typically perform on fine cello, viola and violin bows. At some point in rehairing these bows, the question may arise: Should one go natural or ...

Violins and other instruments are like children, needing protection from unkind elements. Extreme temperatures and humidity pose the biggest threats.

For every thing there is a season. Fine violins can perform in all four seasons (as Vivaldi well understood), as do cellos, violas, and string bass. The only thing to remember is that ...

It starts with mature, old growth trees and then requires a long time of natural drying. With stringed instruments such as violins, age is an advantage.

Much is made of the fine violins made long ago. The names Stradivarius, Guarneri, and Amati immediately come to mind. The ages of those 16^th, 17^thand 18^thcentury violins (and violas and ...

An especially knowledgeable violinmaker can identify the origin of a violin. This goes beyond an appraisal – a certificate of authenticity applies to insuring a fine instrument.

The enduringly popular Public Broadcast System program, “Antiques Roadshow,” has multiple episodes in its archives where a violin is appraised at large sums, as much as ...

There are several items the stringed instrument musician should acquire early in his or her training. It enables better play from the start.

The violin is perhaps among the most beautiful of musical instruments in both sound and appearance. A mere picture of violinist playing – or even just the instrument itself – conjures lovely images in the ...

The electric guitar didn’t kill the acoustic ones, and neither have electric violins diminished acoustic violins. They broaden artistic range.

Is it somehow unwholesome for the serious violinist with a firm grounding in classical music to toy with the idea of electric violins? Or for that matter, can players of cellos, violas, and the ...

Atmospheric water – humidity – changes the size and weight of wood in violins, cellos and other stringed instruments. But it can be managed.

Perhaps Vivaldi understood both the beauties and curses of nature. Arguably the composer’s most popular composition, “The Four Seasons” (Le Quattro Stagioni), celebrates the changes from spring through ...

Music study can lead to a rewarding career. But simply learning how to play a violin (or tuba or oboe) can positively affect development in many ways. 

We go to a concert hall and see virtuoso musicians performing some of the most adored musical compositions on some of the finest violins and cellos and pianos ever made. ...

The A note changed over the centuries due to concert hall architecture, instrument innovations, and the globalization of Western music. 

Violin strings are typically tuned by setting the A string to 440 Hz. It’s a scientific metric applied to a tool of art, which in itself might seem odd. But just like pointillism was an optical tool used by ...

It takes several kinds of woods to make fine stringed musical instruments. But the back of the violin, made with maple, has much to do with sound resonance.

Students of the violin and violinmaking are generally aware that a fine violin – as well as cellos and violas – is made up of several types of wood. Maple is used for the body as is ...

Spruce is a vital raw component of violins. A product of nature, there is great variability that skilled violinmakers understand how to control.

There are countless variables that affect the quality of music created by a skilled violinist and his or her violin. It is the talent, skill, and artistry of the violinist that seems most important. ...

Ole Kanestrom A tiny fishing village on Washington’s Puget Sound is the place where fine stringed instruments and instrumentalists find their essential bow.

Violins, violas and cellos mostly get all the attention. They’re the principle instruments in the orchestra; they are played by the most recognized of string musicians (rare exception: Yo-Yo ...

Photo courtesy of Niam Chauhan They don’t make the music but ensure the instrument gets to its audiences. This London violinmaker created some of the most beautiful cases ever made.

When is a package or container almost as valued as its contents? One imagines the Fabergé eggs as an incomparable embodiment and celebration of the exterior. On a ...

Very few fine stringed instrument shops master so much of what musicians need to produce fine music – and what collectors need to establish value.

Some people know W.E. Hill & Sons for their fine violin bows. Others for the cellos and violins the firm made during the late 19th and most of the 20th century. Auctioneers tout the firm for its ...

The 17^th and 18^th centuries produced the Stradivariuses. But the 20^th and 21^st centuries had the Chicago violinmaker Carl Fredrick Becker.

Chicago’s Fine Arts Building, a gem of the Windy City just steps from Symphony Center and the home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is home to Carl Becker & Son. The firm now employs ...

Luthiers practice a craft that derives from the old schools of Italy, Germany and France, but several schools for stringed instrument making are in the US.

Despite the omnipresence of manufactured violins from China, despite the decades of skills development that luthiers must have before becoming a “name” violin maker, and regardless of the ...

Violinmakers do not typically include parts of expired animals in their fine instruments. But nonetheless fiddlers add snake rattles for a variety of reasons.

Only in America.

The place of the violin in the hills of Appalachia and on the plains of Texas, and along many points in between, is one of great cultural richness. Before electronically ...

The discovery of the New World brought prosperous trade in Brazillian Pernambuco wood to Miracourt – establishing a legacy of fine bowmaking

Mirecourt, France is famous for two things: Violin and stringed instrument bow making, and the making of fine lace. That fact is as true today as it was in the 16^thcentury.

But while Mirecourt’s ...

It’s a tiny town with a big claim in fine stringed instruments. The Klotz family started it a long time ago and today’s luthiers still learn their craft there.

When tourists travel to Germany, must-visit cities are Hamburg, Munich, Berlin and Frankfurt. Unless, that is, the tourists are musicians of the string variety, principally violinists, ...

An accomplished Japanese violinist studying in Germany was frustrated that children could learn the language faster than adults. But it birthed an idea.

Children learn to speak before they are able to read. So should beginner violinists learn how to create music before they are able to read music?

That is the premise of the Suzuki Method. Its ...

Whether looking for someone to teach violin, cello or a flugelhorn, the teacher is vitally important to how well your child learns. Here are search tips.

The unfortunate aphorism, “Those who can’t, teach,” is largely untrue and completely misleading where it comes to music instruction. A large number of accomplished musicians – those who play in ...

Not one instrument but a family, this cousin of the violin and cello has a rich history in early music – and a future in contemporary music as well.

It isn’t a simple matter to find a viola da gamba for sale or a violin maker who crafts them. They are rare and fascinating. The stringed instrument family is a matter of arms and legs, and ...

All stringed instrument players know the importance of a good bow. But how do carbon fiber bows stand up to Pernambuco, Brazilwood, fiberglass and composites?

The history of fine violins, violin making – and violas and cellos for that matter – is rich with craftsmanship applied to all-natural materials, varying types of wood, horsehair and ...

Bows of violins, violas, cellos and other stringed instruments can have hair issues: The horsehair bows fray, break and need fixing. It’s the nature of organic material.

Fine violin bows (as well as fine cello bows and viola bows) are a bit of a menagerie. There’s the frog of course, which isn’t at all derived from real amphibians, plus ...

Violinists, violists and cellists know the score: It can be hard to fly with stringed instruments. Savvy musicians know the top tips of air travel.

Traveling on airplanes with musical instruments of any kind can be a challenge, particularly if we’re considering professionals who are carrying fine violins as opposed to a child traveling with an ...

“Outfit” is another word for “set,” as in how the three primary components (violin, bow, and case) are sold in a package. Sometimes it’s a better buy.

The beginning violin student and even someone with a few years of study might choose to purchase what is called a “violin outfit”. This is in contrast to separately purchasing the violin, bow, and ...

Tiny, bow hair-eating bugs really exist and they can wreak costly harm to violin, viola and cello bows. Save yourself aggravation and money by following these preventive steps.

Almost all decomposition is actually the work of small bugs and microorganisms. That includes the unfortunate destruction of the hairs of cello, viola and violin bows, the ...

Studying a stringed instrument like a violin, viola or cello can be pricey. The decision to rent or buy largely depends on the student’s age and commitment.

Adults who enjoy being musicians by and large were enthusiastic about studying their instrument as children. They may not stay with the instrument they started on – how many bassoonists ...

The friction created by rosin is essential for playing all bowed stringed instruments such as violins. But the choices of types and brands are varied and vast.

There are quite a few questions – and unresolved matters of opinion – on the technical matter of rosin use on violin, viola and cello bows. It’s common for beginning, intermediate and ...

Double-blind tests in 2014 found newer violins have a preferred sound, shocking many. But it’s music to the ears of violinists with smaller budgets.

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and taste is on the tongue of the gourmand, is the sound of the sweetest violin only in the ear of a melophile, or “music lover”?

Each of these begs the ...

Being “off pitch” is more often a metaphor for poor communications. But with violins, oboes, and concertmasters, it hits on the science of music.

In a modern world, we expect everything to be standardized. With a few exceptions – the inability one encounters trying to plug American electrical devices into European outlets being one of them – a ...

Legendary violins are made of Bosnian wood grown hundreds of years ago. But can modern luthiers replicate what Stradivari had available to him?

The extraordinary sound of the fine violins, violas and cellos made by the legendary luthiers Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) and Guiseppe Guarneri (1698-1744) is attributed to many factors. Workmanship ...

The supporting role perception of the violinist’s bow underestimates its importance. But a certain 18^th century Frenchman changed everything.

There’s a famous unattributed quote about bowed instruments such as cellos, violins and violas: “The left hand makes the notes, but the right hand makes the music.” This saying illustrates the importance ...

It’s prudent for the budding musician to begin with a student-model instrument. But progress can be stunted if the violin isn’t properly setup by a professional.

There is a great deal of difference between a student violin, an intermediate violin, and a professional violin. It has to do with craftsmanship and the quality of materials, which of ...

It's a task easily taken for granted by stringed instrument enthusiasts, but violinmakers know there's much at stake when merging the neck with the mortise.

When crafting fine violins, as opposed to cheap, mass-produced ones, placing the neck onto the violin body is the most complex procedure, as the exact size, fit and angle will determine the ...

The sound holes on violins, violas and cellos aren't there just to be gorgeous; they serve a vital function in the sound of the instrument.

The sound holes of stringed instruments such as fine cellos, violas and violins, also known as F-holes, are openings in the top plate. The holes allow the plate to resonate more freely and let internal air ...

Every violin, viola and cello has a scroll whose only real function is to be beautiful and to showcase the skill of the maker.

The distinctive scroll found at the top of fine violins, violas and cellos is a purely decorative woodcarving that showcases the violinmaker’s skill as a maker and craftsman. The concept originated in the Baroque era. ...

Ivory is a gorgeous and durable material that enhance stringed instruments and their bows, but as musicians have learned, traveling with ivory can be tricky business.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) director has worked with the Obama Administration to set in place strict rules that coincide with the Endangered Species Act and ...

Violinmakers and archetiers have utilized ivory on fine stringed instruments and bows for centuries because ivory is a strong and lovely material.

Through the years some makers have considered Ivory as an essential choice when it came to building fine musical instruments, from pianos to fine violins. Ivory can be found in an assortment of ...

If a fine, older violin is missing a label, analyzing the patterns of the wood makes it possible to determine the age and quality of the wood and the instrument.

Dendrochronology is the act of analyzing tree ring patterns in wood in order to determine the wood’s age. Dendrochronology has been used for many years in scientific research like ...

In the Internet Age, it's tempting to purchase accessories for violins, violas and cellos online, but there's much to be said for the local violin shop.

Whether you are in need of chin rests, rosin, violin strings, metronomes or tuning devices, shopping for the right violin accessories can be a daunting task. While shopping online may possibly ...

Maintaining your instrument is more than a good idea; it's vital. Professional violin shops can help keep your instrument tuned up and playable.

Good care and maintenance are vital in preserving a violin, whether or not the instrument endures frequent travel or gets handled often. All instruments need regular cleaning and attention, and much of ...

It is possible to cause a lot of damage to a fine instrument. Fortunately, modern luthiers have taken the craft of repairing instruments further than before.

Fine cellos, violas and violins are made of delicate materials and can get damaged, whether through poor storing conditions, exhaustive use, careless handling or unexpected accidents. The ...

A violinmaker's tools are specialized to violinmaking, often individualized to the maker and often handed down over generations.

The craft of violinmaking has changed very little in the 300 years since the time of Antonius Stradivarius and the Cremonese masters. In our current era of factory machinery and mass produced products, the expression ...

Modern luthiers have advanced the craft of restoring violins to their prestine condition, but that doesn't mean expectations shouldn't be tempered.

Performing fine violin restorations is an art form in its own right within the field of violin making. Not all violinmakers perform restorations, preferring to concentrate on new making. With the ...

The varnish a violinmaker uses on fine violins, violas and cellos is usually proprietary, and has much to do with the sound and character of the instrument.

Violinmakers know that even the most subtle of details are crucial in perfecting the sound quality of fine violins, violas and cellos. Varnish, the liquid coating left to dry on the ...

As any string player, from the beginner to the professional, knows, all music-making begins with an in-tune instrument.

For the practicing instrumentalist, tuning a violin, viola or cello is a daily task. Located in the peg box towards the end of the instrument, pegs are adjusted to tune the pitches of each individual string. Fine tuners, ...

A Stradivarius label can be found in new and old violins, violas and cellos that are not "Strads", but typically, the label isn't intended to fool anyone.

Old violins containing an official looking “Stradivarius” label often surface, for instance, while digging through a yard sale or a deceased relative’s attic. The label may mean that Antonio ...

When investing in learning the value of a fine instrument, be certain to take it to a violin shop with a reputation as fine instrument appraisers.

Knowing the value of a fine violin can be difficult without the eye of an expert. Whether you are looking to settle an estate, resell privately or obtain insurance coverage for an instrument, it is ...

From metronomes to electronic tuners and more, smart phones provide vital and convenient tools for violinists, violists and cellists.

Violinists and other instrumentalists will find that tuners, metronomes and other useful and necessary violin accessories are now available as applications, or “apps” on smart phones. While many musical apps come ...