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Helen Violin Maker

modern violin maker

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Helen’s Blog

This is where I write about some of the broader ideas and events from the workshop and the world of violin making, including conferences I visit, interactions with other violin makers and musical events. Anything I think might be interesting to read.

Customising a cello neck shape

10th October 2022

A few months ago, I received an email from the owner of one of my slightly smaller cellos, that she bought on resale ten years ago. In Rebecca’s own words, this was the situation: In 2015 I sustained an injury to my left wrist which severely impacted my ability to perform. After taking some time …read more

Lutherie 2022

19th May 2022

In 1999, one of the then tutors at the Newark School of Violin Making had the great idea of setting up an annual one-day conference, open to professionals and students alike. Rob ran this single-handed for 21 years, with speakers from the UK, Europe and North America, until Covid shut it down in 2020. Post-Covid …read more

Two violas to spread some goodwill

17th March 2022

The news at present is grim and we all wonder what we can do to help. Viola players, this is your chance! You can upgrade your instrument and contribute to  humanitarian relief in Ukraine. 100% of the price of the first of these violas to sell will go towards this vital cause. The proceeds of …read more

Resuscitating a violin from 1971

1st December 2021

Over the last months I’ve been involved in a time-consuming but satisfying project. One of my longstanding friends gave me some instruments from the workshop of her late father-in-law, Maurice Bouette. In 1972 Maurice helped set up the Newark School of Violin Making and was its first director; he taught me when I was a …read more

Maurice Bouette cello 1965

1st January 2021

The Newark School of Violin Making has trained many of the best violin makers worldwide over the last 50 years. It was founded by Maurice Bouette, who had himself learnt violin making at evening classes in London run by William Luff; in time he took over the teaching of these classes himself. When the idea …read more

A violin reborn in its centenary year, part 2

21st July 2020

I’ve had an interesting time varnishing this violin, and matching up the new wood and the old. First the violin had some time tanning in the ultra-violet cupboard, which brought the ribs up closer to the old wood. Then the whole instrument had a coat of coloured primer which again helped even the tones. For …read more

Workshop 2.0

14th May 2020

I have a lovely workshop which we had built in the garden in 2006/7. The site is tricky; the clue is in the name of our local area, Brooklands, and probably the house was built where there was once a pond when the area was fields. To comply with planning regulations with regard to the …read more

A violin reborn in its centenary year, part 1

10th May 2020

I grew up in Hampstead, North London, in a flat above my father’s motor repair business. An elderly couple, Mr and Mrs Baker lived next door. Ernie Baker was born in 1902, and had been a cabinet maker. In his youth has worked as a violin maker, but apparently there had been no future in …read more

Violin varnish course in Dinan, France, July 2019

3rd August 2019

I spent an amazing week in mid-July at the studio of François Perego in Dinan, Brittany, refining my ideas about violin varnishing. François has a background as a painter, art restorer, chemist and researcher, and is the compiler of the major work on painting materials in the French language. He has been running courses for …read more

Newark Diploma Day

6th July 2019

For the first time since I was a student myself, I attended the annual Diploma Day at the Newark School of Violin Making. I’m the chair of the RAB Trust which supports student violin makers, and in that role I have come to know many of the students that have benefited from awards from us, …read more

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Contact Helen

1A Grasmere Road
Sale
Manchester
M33 3QU
UK

helen@helenviolinmaker.com
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0161 972 0839
0044 161 972 0839

Latest from Helen

339: Violin based on Antonio Stradivari 1734 ‘Habeneck’ 2023

I've made this violin model regularly over the last few years; it reliably produces a powerful and … Read More...

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