modern violin maker
Sharing information with players and other makers is an important part of my work. I’ve been invited to give talks at conferences, and written articles for specialised publications. In 2015 I published a book of the writings of the late Koen Padding, whose expertise about violin varnish was recognised worldwide. For details of the book, visit the Violin Varnish book page of this site.
1st March 2016
A feature of a number of classical cellos is that the fronts are wider than the backs, and the ribs flare outwards. The article examines this and suggests a way of achieving this when making a new instrument. Published in Issue 83 of the BVMA newsletter, spring 2016
20th September 2015
From the stable to the workshop: investigating the use of saltpetre in violin primers. Talk given at the 20th anniversary conference of the British Violin Making Association, September 2015
Read here: Saltpetre-BVMA_10.10
11th September 2011
Article written for the Autumn 2011 issue of the Newsletter of the British Violin Making Association describing a project to make cello modelled after Gasparo da Salo with a team of colleagues.
Read here: Glasgow Gasparo Cello Project 2011
10th October 2010
Article written for the Autumn 2010 issue of the Newsletter of the British Violin Making Association with my colleague William Castle, describing a day working together on different models of scroll.
Read here: A Tale of Two Scrolls
1st August 2010
Decorative patterns on the back. Article reproduced by permission from the Strad Magazine, August 2010
10th June 2010
Purfling the edges. Article reproduced by permission from the Strad Magazine, June 2010
9th September 2008
Transcript of lecture/demonstration given to the conference of the British Violin Making Association at Dartington, Devon in September 2008. It gives a detailed description of the theory and practice of steam-bending the spruce to make fronts for instruments.
8th October 2007
Article reproduced by permission from The Strad Magazine, October 2007
9th May 2006
Talk given at Lutherie 2006, an annual conference for violin makers held under the auspices of the Newark School of Violin Making. It covers aspects of making violas, with particular reference to the possibilities as regards size, string length and proportions, and some ideas about approaches to making good-sounding violas.
9th January 2004
Talk given at Viola Day for Teachers at Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester in January 2004. It includes a discussion of the issues of size and string length for viola players and includes a chart of sizes and suitable strings for child-sized violas.
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helen@helenviolinmaker.com
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0161 972 0839
0044 161 972 0839
In 1999, one of the then tutors at the Newark School of Violin Making had the great idea of setting … Read More...