epe913 Posted December 1, 2016 Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 Quick question --- As many of you know from other threads, I'm interested in learning basic luthier skills. It'd be as a hobby, so attending school full time is not a possibility for my situation right now. I learn best by seeing in person, asking questions, and doing with someone available if I need help. So I am wondering... are there any short camps or intensives that would teach basic skills to get me started? Something say two weeks or less time? I've done some preliminary looking online without much luck as I don't know where to begin. I added myself to an interest list for a potential VMSA camp this summer but that's the only solid lead I found. I could always shadow someone for a bit, but there is no one within three hours of my home and I'd ideally like a crash course crammed into short time to be my first step. Any leads appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epe913 Posted December 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 PS visited one of said luthiers this past weekend for a few tiny fixes on the new to me violin from the other thread. He thinks it is German as well and thought early 1800s. Purfling is original and got colored differently when it was redone with new varnish. He felt that if it was not redone it'd have a higher value for being in such good condition and so old based on physicality alone without sound considerations. But who knows what the condition was really like before it was redone... A chicken or the egg type of thing. He said it was very carefully and skillfully redone so that's good news! Guess I won't be practicing any skills on it for the time being Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pate Bliss Posted December 1, 2016 Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 ^What are you doing right now? What kind of bills do you have? Find the best repairman in the USA and offer to sweep the floors if you can look over his shoulder and ask questions. Get out of there before he decides to marry you. You'll have mad skilz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Dorsey Posted December 1, 2016 Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 ...there is no one within three hours of my home and I'd ideally like a crash course crammed into short time to be my first step. Any leads appreciated... There are summer programs that offer week-long classes in violin/bow making/repair in Durham, New Hampshire, and North Adams, Massachusetts. Are either of those within three hours of your home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bress Posted December 1, 2016 Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 Hard to say if there are any near you when we don't where you are. In addition to the workshops that Brad mentioned, Michael Darnton does a workshop in California, and Joe thrift did a workshop in Virginia last year and will probably repeat. I think he also teaches out of a community college in North Carolina. -Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epe913 Posted December 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 ^What are you doing right now? What kind of bills do you have? Find the best repairman in the USA and offer to sweep the floors if you can look over his shoulder and ask questions. Get out of there before he decides to marry you. You'll have mad skilz. I have been artistic and liked working with my hands my entire life, making jewelry, doing crafts, refurbishing antique furniture, etc. I have zero woodworking experience and not much experience using tools. I consider myself a complete beginner. Even straightening my bridge makes me nervous right now!!! However, my "day job" and career path is an analyst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epe913 Posted December 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 Hard to say if there are any near you when we don't where you are. In addition to the workshops that Brad mentioned, Michael Darnton does a workshop in California, and Joe thrift did a workshop in Virginia last year and will probably repeat. I think he also teaches out of a community college in North Carolina. -Jim I live in rural Iowa. 3.5 hours to Minneapolis, 3 to Madison, 3.5 to DesMoines, 3 to Iowa City, 5.5 to Chicago. But I am more than willing (and would find it fun) to fly and travel somewhere else if need be! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Bean Posted December 1, 2016 Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 I have done several classes at UNH Durham, I learned a lot and had a great time. The classes are by the week and you can pick which week that covers what you want. Steve http:/learn.unh.edu/violin/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pate Bliss Posted December 1, 2016 Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 Jim mentioned MD's workshop in California. Have you come across this book in progress yet? http://violinmag.com/ If you mean data analyst, California is a good place to live. Also if you mean psychological analyst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bress Posted December 1, 2016 Report Share Posted December 1, 2016 BTW epe913 (just rolls of the tongue), welcome to MN. I didn't see your other posts where you may have already explained things. I gather your flirting with repairs and restoration. I think the best way to understand the beast is to make one. I think you have two choices. Run away and recover from the infection or dive in head first where violin making/restoration will become a full blown incurable disease. You can start your wood working skills by making a bench. Minimum tools, but you will have to learn skills such as how to sharpen your tools. That's the path I took. Good luck, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epe913 Posted December 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 Jim mentioned MD's workshop in California. Have you come across this book in progress yet? http://violinmag.com/ If you mean data analyst, California is a good place to live. Also if you mean psychological analyst. I have not come across the book... the link gave me an Internal Server Error? What could I try Googling to find it? I am a data analyst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epe913 Posted December 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 BTW epe913 (just rolls of the tongue), welcome to MN. I didn't see your other posts where you may have already explained things. I gather your flirting with repairs and restoration. I think the best way to understand the beast is to make one. I think you have two choices. Run away and recover from the infection or dive in head first where violin making/restoration will become a full blown incurable disease. You can start your wood working skills by making a bench. Minimum tools, but you will have to learn skills such as how to sharpen your tools. That's the path I took. Good luck, Jim Haha, yes it is the username I default to on sites that require a username that is not my email. Something that started in the early ages of the internet when I was a teenager and has stuck with me into adult life. Hey, at least I'll never forget my login username! I would love to make a violin! That seems scary... I am a very careful, risk-averse person, so I would feel a lot better prepared learning some basic skills first before I dive in head first. I've been toying and flirting with this for a decade now, so there's no use running away. I need to maintain my professional career, which I love, but it is definitely something I wish to begin as a free time hobby. It would also be a convenience for me to be able to work on my own instruments. That is great advice to start the woodworking skillset on non-instrument items! There are not any luthiers to me, but there ARE many wood workers, furniture restorers, carvers, etc. I hadn't thought that way, but I would imagine the skills are the same and readily transferable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscus Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 I have not come across the book... the link gave me an Internal Server Error? What could I try Googling to find it? I am a data analyst As an data analyst, you had to find http://violinmag.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bress Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 Haha, yes it is the username I default to on sites that require a username that is not my email. Something that started in the early ages of the internet when I was a teenager and has stuck with me into adult life. Hey, at least I'll never forget my login username! I would love to make a violin! That seems scary... I am a very careful, risk-averse person, so I would feel a lot better prepared learning some basic skills first before I dive in head first. I've been toying and flirting with this for a decade now, so there's no use running away. I need to maintain my professional career, which I love, but it is definitely something I wish to begin as a free time hobby. It would also be a convenience for me to be able to work on my own instruments. That is great advice to start the woodworking skillset on non-instrument items! There are not any luthiers to me, but there ARE many wood workers, furniture restorers, carvers, etc. I hadn't thought that way, but I would imagine the skills are the same and readily transferable. Just giving you a hard time. Nobody cares about user names unless you start making assertions that you are an expert and everyone is wrong unless they do it your way. Then people start asking who you are. There are also quite a few respected posters with anonymous names that are valued based on the quality of the content they post. Yes, building a violin is scary! I'm working on #2 so I'm a beginner as well. I only maintain sanity by having two projects running at the same time. The violin, and some less complicated woodworking project. When I get to a spot that I need time to think about, I switch to my back up project. I usually figure how to move to the next step while working on my back up project. If you're to take the dive you should probably get the "Art of Violin Making" by Johnson and Courtnall. https://www.amazon.com/Art-Violin-Making-Chris-Johnson/dp/0709058764/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480959074&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Art+of+Violin+Making Cheers, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epe913 Posted December 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 As an data analyst, you had to find http://violinmag.com/ Anticipation is killing me! The strict filtering at my work's internet must be blocking it. I will have to try the website at my house later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epe913 Posted December 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 If you're to take the dive you should probably get the "Art of Violin Making" by Johnson and Courtnall. Just giving you a hard time. Nobody cares about user names unless you start making assertions that you are an expert and everyone is wrong unless they do it your way. Then people start asking who you are. There are also quite a few respected posters with anonymous names that are valued based on the quality of the content they post. Yes, building a violin is scary! I'm working on #2 so I'm a beginner as well. I only maintain sanity by having two projects running at the same time. The violin, and some less complicated woodworking project. When I get to a spot that I need time to think about, I switch to my back up project. I usually figure how to move to the next step while working on my back up project. If you're to take the dive you should probably get the "Art of Violin Making" by Johnson and Courtnall. No worries. On some other threads, my authenticity has been questioned when I have been simply and authentically trying to learn and be helpful. Oh wow, that book looks beautiful. I'm taking the dive. With Amazon Prime it'll be here Wednesday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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