This course is intended as a supplementary course to the nine-day Musical Instrument Making course. It aims to assist:

1. Those preparing to make a new instrument on the nine-day course
2. Those continuing or at the finishing stage of an instrument made on a previous nine-day course at West Dean College. Please note that in general varnishing and polishing will not be covered.

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.

If you play an instrument, please bring it along, as we have many informal music sessions.

Work can include the following aspects:

1. Starting the hurdygurdy

• Discussion of drawings, wood selection and construction techniques
• Using jigs and moulds
• Initial preparation of wood, e.g. soundboard/back gluing and thicknessing and rib-thicknessing
• Making the peg block and making the wheel

2. Finishing the hurdygurdy

• Skimming and preparing the wheel surface
• Cutting bridge and nut grooves
• Fitting and aligning strings
• Setting string/wheel pressure and applying cotton
• Making and fitting the trompette chien
• Tangent fitting and adjusting
• General setting up and tuning

3. Making the clavicytherium keyboard

• General discussion of clavicytherium, methods of construction, action, etc.
• Planing and thicknessing keybed and keyblank
• Marking out and drilling for balance pins and keyguide pins
• Preparing balance rail and keyguide reinforcement, fitting and drilling
• Fitting balance pins and guide pins
• Cutting out individual keys
• Cutting mortices and guide slots in keys

4. Continuing construction of other instruments already started However, please note, varnishing and polishing will not 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, therefore instruments are brought and left in the workshop 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

As soon as you receive confirmation of your place, please indicate which instrument you wish to make without delay.

Email: [email protected] Please also 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 tools/materials required.

Please bring any tools that you already have on the following list; but if not, the College workshop has most tools available to use. Jigs and tools used for specific instruments will be available from your tutor.

• Pencils - white or yellow are useful for marking dark woods
• Metal rulers, 6", 12", flexible, 1 metre straight edge
• Scalpels and knives (e.g. Japanese, violin maker’s)
• Chisels 1/8" to 1"
• Gouges 1/2" and 1"
• Planes, low angle block plane and general purpose smoothing plane
• Wood rasps and needle files
• Cabinet scrapers
• Fine tooth saws - particularly Japanese types
• Fret saw or jeweller’s piercing saw
• Small clamps, up to 6" (as many as you can!)
• Centre punch
• Small brushes for gluing, etc.
• Sharpening stones
• Please ensure you clearly mark your name on all tools you bring with you.
• Study covered footwear is essential in this workshop.

Additionally, for fitting up the hurdygurdy:

• Violin maker's knife or scalpel, plus blades
• ¾" or 1" bladed chisel (sharp!)
• Small flat-bladed screwdriver to fit tangent screws
• Smallest round needle file you can get

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