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Summer 2012
Violin Craftsmanship Institute
Workshops

Workshop Descriptions

Offered twice:
Sunday, June 24, 6-9 p.m.
Sunday, July 1, 6-9 p.m.

Instructors: Morris and Kellogg

This year there will be a free, pre-institute session on tool sharpening techniques. The 3-hour session will be offered to students registered in the violin repair and violin building workshops. The workshop will be offered two times from 6-9 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, and on Sunday, July 1, in Putnam Hall, Room 5, on the University campus. The workshop will include lecture, demonstrations and hands-on practice with knives, scrapers, planes, chisels and gouges. Topics covered include: shop safety; grinding, honing, and evaluating the sharpness of your tools. Francis Morris will teach the session on June 24. Randy Kellogg will teach the session on July 1st. No pre-registration is required for this workshop.

June 25-29
Monday through Friday
8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
Tuition: $850—CRN: 100
3.2 CEUs

Distinguished Craftsperson:
Hannings

Assistant: Kempskie

What You'll Learn

The most common repair needed by string players is the rehairing of the bow. This workshop will consist of a week of intense study on bow rehairing. Ample time will be allotted for hands-on experience and practice. The workshop focuses on the rehairing process. Only student bows in good repair should be brought to this workshop. This workshop is recommended for all students interested in the study of bowmaking.

Materials and Tools Needed

You will need a number of student-level bows. Many student-level bows in need of rehairing would be very useful. A complete list of tools, materials, and suppliers will be sent to you upon
acceptance.

July 2-6
Monday through Friday
8-11:30 am. and 1-4 p.m.
Tuition: $850—CRN: 101
3.2 CEUs per week

Distinguished Craftsperson:
Hannings

Assistant: Kempskie

Take Bow Repair I and II
for a discounted price:
7/2-7/13
$1550; CRN: 103

What You'll Learn

Rather than replacing a bow that needs repair, repair it! This workshop will cover routine bow repairs that will keep bows in good working order. Often bows that come in for rehairing also need some repair work. Instruction will include: screw and eyelet repairs; tip replacement; windings; leather grips; cambering and straightening; as well as replacing pearl slides and dots. How these repairs affect the playability of the bow will be emphasized. This workshop, in addition to Bow Rehairing, will best prepare students for commonly needed repairs.

Materials and Tools Needed

You will need a number of student-level bows. Many student-level bows in need of repair would be very useful (any condition). A complete list of tools, materials, and suppliers will be sent to you upon acceptance.

July 9-13
Monday through Friday
8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
Tuition: $850—CRN: 102
3.2 CEUs per week

Distinguished Craftsperson:
Rubino

Assistant: Curry

Take Bow Repair I and II
for a discounted price:
7/2-7/13
$1550; CRN: 103

What You'll Learn

(Note: You DO NOT need to take Bow Repair I to take this workshop.)
This workshop covers some common bow repairs and is highly recommended for the individual who repairs bows, makes bows, or is interested in learning bow repair. This workshop is for all levels of experience, whether you're already repairing bows, making bows or just starting out. A broken stick or damaged frog can be repaired restoring the bow so it can be played again. Mr. Rubino will discuss and demonstrate; then you will practice the repair or technique under his supervision.
Several repairs and techniques including: broken stick repairs; damaged frogs; broken bow heads; frog eyelet bushing; stick bushing; bow repair tool making; bow repair tool sharpening; and more. Bow repair, and bow repair tool making techniques using a band saw, bench grinder, drill press, metal lathe, and other small power tools will be presented. Students should bring bows in need of repair to work on under Mr. Rubino’s guidance. If you do not have any bows of your own there will be bows available for you to work on. Advanced students may work on an independent study project after consulting with Mr. Rubino.

Materials and Tools Needed

You will need bows in need of repair (any condition). A complete list of tools, materials, and suppliers will be sent to you upon acceptance.

Offered twice:
July 16-20 and July 23-27
Monday through Friday
8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
3.2 CEUs per week
Tuition:
7/16-20 $850—CRN: 104
7/23-27 $850—CRN: 105

Distinguished Craftsperson: Hannings

Assistant: Kempskie

Take both weeks of
Bowmaking for a
discounted price:
7/16-7/27
$1550; CRN: 106

There will be two weeks of bow making in which all students will be working on an independent study basis. You can choose to attend one to two weeks of this workshop. By working on a one-on-one basis with each student, the instructor hopes to maximize the students’ time and talents. Students of all skill levels are welcome.

What You'll Learn

Whether restoring a bow or making a new one, it is essential that one learn the time-honored techniques used for centuries in France to create beautiful works of art. Lynn Hannings brings to this workshop her understanding and respect of this fine tradition of handwork. She will demonstrate and teach techniques that are both practical and fundamental. Each year this hands-on workshop focuses on the French bowmakers who created bows renowned for their playability as well as artistic beauty.

Materials and Tools Needed

A complete list of tools, materials, and suppliers will be sent to you upon acceptance.

Note: Because of the recent CITES Appendix II endangered species listing on pernambuco, raw wood cannot be transported internationally without proper CITES documentation. Further information will be provided with your registration confirmation. Alternative woods will be available for purchase at a moderate price.

Basic Violin Setup, Maintenance, and
Repair I

June 25-June 29
Monday through Friday
8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
3.2 CEUs per week
Tuition: $850—CRN: 107

Distinguished Craftsperson: Morris

Assistant: Daddona

Take Basic Violin Repair I
and Basic Violin Repair II
for a discounted price:
6/26-7/6
$1550; CRN: 109

What You'll Learn

This hands-on introductory workshop addresses the basics of 4/4 violin set-up. It is highly recommended for music teachers, musicians, shop owners, and others interested in string instrument repair. You do not need to have previous experience working on violins. You will learn some of the basic bench skills required for repair and maintenance of a full-size violin. Topics will include; proper use of bench grinders and band-saws; sharpening knives, plane blades and chisels; gluing seams; cleaning and polishing; fitting pegs; setting and making sound-posts; making bridges and adjusting string heights. The workshop includes discussion on string selection and sound-post adjustments.

Materials and Tools Needed

One or two brand new never before set-up full size violins with ebony fingerboards. (Inexpensive violins costing less than $100 are appropriate.) Other items needed include pegs, bridges, sound post material, strings. A complete list of suggested tools and materials will be sent to you upon acceptance.

Basic Violin & Stringed Instrument Repair II

July 2-6
Monday through Friday
8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
3.2 CEUs per week
Tuition: $850—CRN: 108

Distinguished Craftsperson:
Wiessmeyer

Assistant: Kellogg

Take Basic Violin Repair I
and Basic Violin Repair II
for a discounted price:
6/26-7/6
$1550; CRN: 109

What You'll Learn

This hands-on workshop is recommended for individuals who took Basic Violin Repair I and for those with some previous repair experience. It will reinforce and continue Basic Repair I lessons and also cover: finger board dressing and upper nut finishing, set-up and adjustment of cello and viola, fractional size instruments, and five strings violins, planing a fingerboard, adjusting a nut and saddle, set-up of all bowed string instrument except bass, tool sharpening, and sound adjustments. You'll receive one-on-one guidance.

Materials and Tools Needed

One or two of the following instruments (with ebony finger boards): 4/4 violins, fractional size violin, viola (any size), cello (full or 3/4 size), five-string violin (preferably never before set-up). Two sets of fittings per instrument. A complete list of suggested tools and materials will be sent to you upon acceptance.

Intermediate
Violin Repair &
Sound Adjustments

July 9-13
Monday through Friday
8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
3.2 CEUs
Tuition: $850—CRN: 110

Distinguished Craftsperson:
Wiessmeyer

Assistant: Kellogg

What You'll Learn

This hands-on workshop is for individuals with some past experience with violin repair as well as students who took Basic Repair I and II. You will gain experience in the most common types of repairs including: gluing of new cracks in instruments, cleating, taking off and re-gluing the top, neck projections, replacing fingerboards, bushing pegs, neck resetting, simple edge replacement, and basic retouching principles. Custom sound adjustments for musicians as well as cello wolf adjustments will be discussed. Each student’s repair project will be discussed as a class theme and you will receive personalized instructions at the bench to guide you through your project.

Materials and Tools Needed

Two or three stringed instruments needing any of aforementioned repairs. Please do not bring violins with integral bass bars or integral neck or upper block. You should have a good collection of cutting tools and already be proficient in tool sharpening. Some brushes and clamps will also be required. A complete list of suggested tools and materials will be sent to you upon acceptance.

Advanced
Violin Repair
& Acoustics

July 16-20
Monday through Friday
8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.
3.2 CEUs
Tuition: $850—CRN: 111

Distinguished Craftsperson:
Wiessmeyer

Assistant: Kellogg

What You'll Learn

This hands-on workshop is for individuals with substantial repair experience and students who took Basic and Intermediate Repair. Projects started in Intermediate Repair can be continued and/or a new repair can be started. Each individual’s repair project will be discussed as a class theme, and you will receive personalized instructions at the bench to guide you through your project. Topics covered in Intermediate Repair will be reviewed as well as: gluing and retouching old cracks, upper/lower block replacement, bass bar replacement, neck resets, plate and bass bar thicknesses, replacing edges and corners, reshaping necks, neck grafts, gluing and pinning broken cello necks, and acoustics.

Materials and Tools Needed

Two or three instruments, or parts thereof, needing any of the above mentioned repairs. You should have a comprehensive collection of tools, including clamps, brushes and cutting tools. A complete list of suggested tools and materials will be sent to you upon acceptance. Important Note: This workshop is not designed for work on fine Old Italian violins!

June 25-July 20
(4 weeklong sessions;
attend one or more weeks)

(New Students at the Beginning Stage must register for at least two weeks.)

Monday through Friday
8 a.m.-Noon and 1-3:30 p.m.

3.2 CEUs per week

Tuition:
one week      $850    CRN: 112
two weeks    $1550   CRN: 113
three weeks  $2250   CRN: 114
four weeks    $3000   CRN: 115

Geigenbaumaster: Kloss

Assistant: Owen

Take more than
one week of
Violin Building
for a discounted price.

What You'll Learn

You will work in groups according to your level. Your instructor, Geigenbaumeister Horst Kloss, recommends that you work on two instruments simultaneously—one under his direct guidance, and the second during your free time. You may enroll in any number of weeks of Violin Building, unless you are a new student at the beginning stage of building your violin, and then you must enroll for at least two weeks.

New Students at the Beginning Stage
of Building Their Violin
A limited number of new students who are at the beginning stage of building a violin are accepted into this workshop each year. However, in order to maximize learning, you must register for at least two weeks of Violin Building. You will focus on evaluating and studying the Classical Italian Violin Makers. With that knowledge you will design, draw and make templates for the body, F-hole and scroll outlines for your chosen instrument. (You are welcome to bring your own model of choice if you prefer.) This exercise will enable you to select the appropriate wood for your level and choose what is acoustically sound and historically correct. At this point the violin making begins with sharpening, planning linings and ribs, followed by making an inside mold, setting blocks, bending and fitting ribs and linings. You will then join top and back, cut the outline, and begin to create the arching with an appropriate chisel in the rough. In two weeks it is possible to complete two sets of rib structures with top and back. Success depends on the skill level with tools, woodworking skills, and dedication.

Returning and New Students at
the Intermediate Stage
At this level you will learn about tap tones and graduating the plates and bass bar. You will develop a plan of action and continue working on your instrument arching with chisel; thumb plane and scraper, purfling work and graduation of thicknesses. Next is cutting F-holes, choosing a bass bar, planning, fitting and graduating the bass bar. The inside of your violin will be sealed and finally glued together. The number of tasks completed depends on your dedication, skill level and the number of weeks you are at the Institute.

Students at the Advanced Stage
Advanced students will learn about designing the appropriate scroll for your violin, carving your designed scroll, preparing a finger board, setting the pound post before you reset a neck, setting the neck at the proper angle to facilitate ease of playing, downward pressure of strings and bridge height, volume, tone color, and projection. At this time the instrument is cleaned and receives the final scraping.

How the Sessions Meet

You will meet Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day, and work under the guidance of Horst Kloss. In the evening you will have an opportunity to work in the shop on your own. Be sure to indicate the number of weeks and dates of the weeks you wish to attend Violin Building. Space is limited, so early registration is advised.

Note: Because of the individualized nature of this workshop, each student will progress at his/her own pace. Generally it takes about 10 weeks to complete a violin.

Materials and Tools Needed

A list of required tools and materials will be sent to you upon acceptance. You will also be sent the instructor's contact information so you may contact him for advice in the purchase of the necessary tools and materials.