Ever wondered how cellists manage to keep their majestic instruments so steady? It's all thanks to the humble endpin! This seemingly simple rod, extending from the cello's bottom, has a fascinating history and a surprising impact on sound and comfort. From its wooden beginnings to modern carbon fiber marvels, the endpin has evolved alongside the cello itself. Let's delve into the world of endpins, exploring their history, materials, and how they can transform your playing.
Vermont Violins Wins Prestigious SBA Exporter Of The Year
Vermont Violins has been awarded the Small Business Exporter of the Year by the SBA Vermont District Office, recognizing their global expansion and commitment to sustainability. This achievement is largely attributed to their innovative GaiaTone material, a revolutionary alternative to traditional ebony, crafted from 100% post-consumer recycled paper.
Building a Home Environment That Nurtures Musical Growth
Your child has a new instrument and is eager to learn. You are not a musician and perhaps have only a limited understanding of the journey s/he is about to begin. How do you create a home environment that really encourages the music, the playing, experimentation.
Parents often express concern about the cost of learning the violin. Lessons, instruments, orchestral fees, and audition fees can quickly add up. But is it truly expensive?
“Isn’t a wood bow the standard, especially for a wooden instrument?”
Whereas wooden bows have been used on strings instruments as early as the Islamic civilization in the 10th century, carbon-fiber bows only began to appear a few decades after high-tensile strength carbon-fiber was invented. CodaBow founder Stan Prosen had developed some of the earliest carbon-fiber parts with inventor Dr. Roger Bacon and had found in his early research a profound resonance in the new material. After years of testing and creating prototypes, early CodaBow bows had entered the market, and other music companies had begun developing their own versions to compete. Today, dozens of companies produce carbon-fiber bows in a large range of styles, price ranges, and instruments. With so many options on the market…
One of the hallmarks of the Vermont Violins Rental Program, is the equity accrual terms. With our rentals, you are not only renting a fine instrument, but actually building an equity pool for yourself with which to purchase one when you are ready to move past rental into ownership.
Vermont Violins is tremendously proud to rent instruments that are beautiful both visually and tonally. Having an instrument that looks good and sounds good will help motivate us to play and will foster better care of our instruments.
Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about glue. However, luthiers think about glue a lot, and it’s a much more interesting topic than you would think! The type of glue one uses on a violin can impact its longevity and our ability to repair the instrument, which means it’s important for us to make sure we’re using the best glue possible. But which glue is the best kind of glue for violin making?
One of the most common questions we get asked about our Made in Vermont violins is; “who is V. Richelieu?” (“How do you spell that?” takes a close second).
Violins come in LOTS of sizes for children... our staff is always available to help determine which size instrument makes sense for your child. Schools and Suzuki programs, however, frequently size differently. Below are two general options. It is important to check in with your teacher to find out their specific preferences. The shop will defer to the teacher’s preferences.
Vermont Violins is almost always looking for more luthiers to join our team – we thought we might offer a few thoughts on what we look for in new team members and how you can launch a career in violin making, repair and restoration.
Whether you are new to music or have a lifetime of playing behind you, the Celtic Harp is one of the most immediately rewarding instruments you can play. We’re often asked: “is the Harp difficult to learn?” and the answer is no.
The weather in New England can fluctuate very rapidly. Both temperature and humidity can change on a dime. As bad as these changes can sometimes be for us, it can be even worse for stringed instruments. Violins, violas, ‘celli and basses are incredibly sensitive to humidity changes, more so than temperature. You know how the doors of your house swell in the summer and creak and crack in the winter? The same thing is happening to your instrument. Since your instrument is constantly under tension from the strings, getting too dry can lead to extreme (and expensive) damage.
Sonowood is a wonderful alternative to the rare ebony in use on fingerboards, nuts and saddles. We are proud to be the North American importer of this fine material. It is at least as strong as ebony, visually beautiful and easy to work with. Ebony is a rare natural resource that needs to be protected. Finding natural alternatives, like Sonowood, should be a priority for violin makers and luthiers.
5 Things to Consider When Buying a Violin or Viola Case
Looking for a new case for your instrument can be overwhelming. There are so many styles, brands, accessories, protection levels, and color choices that you might not know what you’re looking for. Gone are the days of the standard thermoplastic cases. Today’s string instrument cases are stylish, protective, and more affordable than ever!
When looking for a new case, we recommend planning ahead and deciding exactly what you need based on the following 5 factors.
I was surprised to read (The Economist, 12/21) that it was Chile's short-lived President, Salvador Allende, that first tried in 1973 to implement a computer-driven HQ for managing a complex economy. He brought in a Super-Computer (probably similar in superness to today's calculator), built a command center to house it (apparently borrowing features from the Brig of the Starship Enterprise, but adding a minibar) and got to work planning and controlling the newly nationalized economy. His regime was overthrown by the brutal Pinochet regime before he could make much of a start on it...and Pinochet preferred the tried and true old fashioned ways of rule: torture, suppression and fear.
