This course is supplementary to the nine-day Musical Instrument Making course as most instruments take more than one course to complete an instrument, some take several depending on the complexity of the instrument selected and your woodworking experience. This course will be led by Geoff Bowers.

It aims to assist:

1. Those preparing to make a new instrument on the nine-day course
2. Those continuing or at the finishing (fitting up) stage of an instrument made on a previous nine-day course at West Dean.

Teaching is generally on a one-to-one basis, catering for your individual needs and dictated by ability, previous experience and knowledge. There will be group demonstrations where appropriate.

As the course takes place in the main workshop, adjacent to the other courses in this series, you will also gain knowledge by interaction with fellow students and other tutors.

Those starting certain instruments have information provided by the tutors. Most instruments require attendance on several courses to complete. This may depend on your skill base and opportunity to continue work at home.

We recommend you discuss this with your tutor prior to the course when they contact you. Health and safety is discussed as an integral part of the course.

Work can include the following aspects:

1. Starting a violin, viola or cello This preparatory course will enable you to make and prepare all the necessary moulds, jigs and templates for the instrument you are making on the nine-day course.

Also, if time, you may prepare the timber for the instrument and look at the plans you will be working from. The tutor can provide the materials for the course, if arranged in advance with him, and the cost of these must be paid to him before you leave.

2. Finishing your instrument The course will focus around general discussion and demonstrations of varnishing instruments and final polishing. Fitting bridges, pegs and nuts, setting up the action of the strings and setting the sound-post will also be covered.

Please note: Humidity levels in the workshop are variable to dry; whilst the College has addressed this, some factors are beyond our control and instruments are brought at your own risk.

Included

A comprehensive range of materials and consumables is included within the course fee, allowing students to focus on developing their skills rather than sourcing specialist supplies. This includes abrasives, glues, finishing materials, tracing and transfer papers, blades, MDF, and other workshop essentials.

A selection of shared tools, jigs, sharpening equipment, and specialist workshop machinery will also be available throughout the course.

What students need to bring

The instrument you wish to complete Any hand tools you may have or think you may need (marked with your name) Appropriate workshop clothes and stout covered footwear (not sandals) are essential in this workshop.

As soon as you receive confirmation of your place, please tell us which instrument you wish to work on by emailing: [email protected]

If you are new to the course, please give details of your past experience in instrument making and fine woodworking. We will pass this information to the tutor, who will contact you to discuss this and the materials required, and will advise you of the cost of these.

Alternatively, if you are bringing a part-made instrument, please bring materials and information relating to this or inform the tutor what you need.

Available to buy:

From the College Craft Shop: Please refer to relevant list for 1) or 2)

1. Materials/equipment for starting a violin, viola or cello

These items will be available at the College for students' use:

• Spoke-shave
• File (large half round) and any other files and rasps that you have
• Fret saw and blades
• Scraper
• G-clamp

Please bring any of the above, if you already have them.

2. Materials/equipment for finishing your instrument

The following are usually available from the Shop:

• Needle files – round tapering, half round and flat
• 1/2 round file
• Scalpel knife and blades
• Fine mm ruler
• Pair of dividers
• Jeweller’s piercing saw
• Artist’s brushes – fine nylon flat 1" and 1/2"

Available to buy

Timber and materials will be purchased for your instrument on your behalf by the tutor, and the cost must be refunded to the tutor directly. Please ask the tutor for an estimated cost prior to them ordering the materials, so you can budget for this.

Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration  
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm  
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break  
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)  
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break  
Teaching finishes: 5pm    
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)  
Teaching finishes: 3pm  

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

Terms & Conditions