Establishing a foundation for expertise is a lifelong endeavor that requires seeing quality violins on a regular basis for many years. Because of the scarcity of original instruments in the world today, only a few dedicated individuals acquire the broad-based experience that expertise demands. Mr. Reuning constantly strives to examine instruments from all schools of making and to consult with the world's few acknowledged masters in this highly specialized field. As a result, he continues to deepen his understanding of the unique characteristics of makers from different regions and the characteristics of individual workers.