Violin Making Courses with Derek Roberts
Are you interested in learning to make a violin, or developing your skills
with a professional violin maker? Join one of our violin making courses, held
in Derek Roberts' workshop in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. All tuition is
in small groups with plenty of individual attention.
Dates
Our Spring 2010 courses are now fully booked.
We will be running more courses in summer and autumn.
Please contact us if you would
like to join our mailing list to be notified when we publish new course dates.
| Getting Started in Violin Making | 5 days | £280 |
| Develop your Violin Making | 3 to 5 days | £50 per day |
| Violin Repair and Set Up | 3 to 5 days | £50 per day |
Getting Started in Violin Making
For people who would like to make a start in violin making. No previous experience
is necessary. Learn violin making techniques and skills, and produce a rib
structure and roughly carved scroll. The cost includes a ready-made mould
worth £30 to give you a head start.
You can expect to achieve the following stages. Follow the links to our series
on Making a Violin to find out more and
see photos of Derek at work.
• The
blocks Cut the blocks, glue to the mould and shape
• The ribs
Prepare the ribs and bend them to shape
• Complete
the rib structure Glue the ribs into place
• Prepare
the neck block Start work on the neck block and scroll
• Carve
the scroll Carve the scroll from the neck block
You will need various materials to work on. I can supply these, or you can
obtain them in advance from specialist suppliers. The materials you will need
are a block of maple for the neck and scroll, a set of willow or spruce blocks,
willow linings, a set of maple ribs and maple for the back. My prices for
these items are:
Neck block £20 •
Blocks + linings £15 • Back
+ ribs £40
Develop your Violin Making
For people with some experience in violin making. Develop your skills further,
or work on an instrument you have already started. Some stages require specialist
equipment or difficult techniques, such as inlaying the purfling
or thicknessing the
back and front. The course will be tailored to your requirements.
Violin Repair and Set Up
For people who would like to set up and maintain violins, violas or cellos,
and undertake simple repairs. No experience is needed. You will learn how
to:
• examine an instrument to assess its structural condition
• sharpen tools
• fit a bridge, soundpost and pegs
• correct measurements
• undertake minor glueing repairs
Comments from some course members
"I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the week and how delighted I am
to have achieved so much."
"I was very pleased with the course and the attention you gave us ...
I will want to come again."
"Thank you very much for the time and effort you gave me."
Derek Roberts is a professional violin maker and qualified teacher.
He has been teaching courses in violin making and repair at his workshop
for several years, and he has taught evening classes in violin making
at Warwickshire College.
For more on the different stages in making a violin, please see our popular articles Making a Violin.
Our resources page has recommendations for books and suppliers for violin making.
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