This is an unabashed plug for a string-oriented music camp if your child plays a bowed, string instrument. Here is why:
1) Maintaining fine motor skills.
2) Expanding the student’s peer group
3) Having fun with music
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You’ve decided to play the violin or your child has announced his or her intention to play the cello and you are faced with the perplexing situation of trying to find one to rent. A quick search of the internet and you’ve discovered that there are plenty of shops around that offer rental programs for these instruments. Your challenge is to figure out which program makes the most sense for you! Which program will optimize your experience!
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All About Glue
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?
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How did V. Richelieu get its name?
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).
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HOW TO SIZE YOUR CHILD FOR AN INSTRUMENT
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.
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So…You Want To Be a Luthier?
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.
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Getting Started With Harps!
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.
How To Choose a Harp? Getting Started…
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Instrument Humidification
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.
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Sonowood and the Search for Ebony Alternatives!
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.
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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.
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Can Music Ever Be Centrally Controlled?
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.
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How Can I Safely Ship a Stringed Instrument?
Can Violins or Cellos be shipped safely? Absolutely. At Vermont Violins, we receive and ship instruments almost daily and in the many years we have been doing this, we have only seen damage twice and both times the damage was the fault of the packing. While twice is a very, very, very low number, we know how tragic this event can be so we wanted to share some instructions on how to pack an instrument safely so that it can land at its destination in the same condition as it left.
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What Should I Do If I am Travelling with My Instrument? Tips for Safe Travels!
Are you moving across country? Going on a long-distance vacation? Can’t bear to be without your trusted violin or cello? Taking your instrument to a new place can be fraught and nerve-wracking, but with some care and precaution, travelling can be perfectly safe.
We travel routinely with our instruments: we rarely step onto an airplane without a violin or cello. But we take care to make sure that our precious cargo arrives safely. Here are some carefully considered tips.
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El Sistema in Vermont – Supporting Community Music for Kids!
As part of our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve, and to foster a love for music among all our children, Vermont Violins has been an active supporter and partner to many string programs serving under-served and financially challenged communities in our region. From Winooski to St. Johnsbury, we have been providing low-cost instruments to help sustain programs that bring violin instruction to schools that are dedicated to enriching the lives of even our states least privileged individuals.
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Do Violins Make Good Investments?
The short answer is yes, absolutely. According the British newspaper, the Telegraph, when it comes to a safe haven for your money, little can beat a rare old violin. While gold, property, and other investment commodities often show short term rewards, the ups and downs of a mercurial marketplace can offset gains with sudden and often surprising losses. Witness the property crash in 2007 which precipitously shattered the notion that property, as investments, were “safe as houses.”
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What is Fiddleheads?
Fiddleheads is a program of Young Tradition Vermont, hosted by Vermont Violins and the Burlington Violin Shop. It is dedicated to bringing kids together to learn and enjoy traditional music in all its forms in a low-key, non-competitive, session. Kids of all levels are invited to join a monthly play-together, led by a master fiddler or musician recruited from the professional traditional music community of Vermont and her neighbors.
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A Brief History of Baroque Bows
Although the modern conception of the violin has been pretty firmly in place for over a century, there was a significant era of innovation in violin and bow making in the early 19th century. During this period, music was changing dramatically, moving out of the early Baroque era into newer forms of music which put new demands on the instruments and the bows. A need for more power and response, eliciting fuller voices became essential, and violins were evolving to meet this need. Bows were now being charged with more legato, long-note playing, and the music was written to accommodate the larger opera houses being built throughout Europe.
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Yamaha Electric Violin Demonstration
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The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Going Electric
Electric instruments are everywhere in today’s music scene. You don’t have to look far to see an Indie band with an electric cellist, a punk rock band with an electric violinist, or even hip-hop using electric violins (looking at you, Black Violin!) Electric string instruments are being used in concerts by the Wu-Tang Clan, Kanye West, Katy Perry and more surprising artists. Going electric is a portal for a string musician into the entire world of genres outside of classical and traditional music. Electric instruments give string players flexibility to change not only their volume but their entire sound by adding filters, effects, and more to their set up.
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