Ref: SMI37702
Learn the principles of making, assembling and setting up your instrument - a violin, viola or cello - or complete one of these instruments already in progress. During the course, you should increase your knowledge and extend your skills in the making of musical instruments by traditional methods. The outcome is guided by individual projects and goals.
Teaching is generally on a one-to-one basis, catering for individual needs and dictated by previous experience, knowledge and ability. There are group demonstrations, where appropriate. As the course takes place in a large workshop, adjacent to the other courses in this series, interaction with fellow students and other tutors also plays a valuable role in the learning process.
To complete an instrument in this area will take attendance on several courses, depending on the instrument selected and your experience in fine woodworking and skills. It is recommended that you discuss this with your tutor when you are contacted about materials.
West Dean College has run musical instrument making courses for more than 40 years. This nine-day course and supplementary five-day courses run in the Short Course Programme for amateur makers. It can provide an insight for those considering applying for full-time study on the Colleges Foundation Degree in Arts Musical Instruments.
TIMETABLE VARIATION: teaching ends at 12.30pm on the final day and the workshop is to be cleared by 3.30pm. On other days workshops are available to students from 8.30am-9pm each day.
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 woodworking. We will pass this information to the tutor who will contact you to discuss this and the materials required. Alternatively, if you are bringing a part-made instrument, please bring the materials and information relating to this or inform the tutor of what you need.
If you play a musical instrument, please bring it with you for informal music making in the evenings.
Tools: Some woodworking tools are provided by the College, including a variety of planes, gouges, mallets, face sander, lathes, drills, etc. However, numbers are limited, so you should ideally bring your own if you have them. Diamond sharpening stones are also available for use throughout the course. Certain specialised tools may be borrowed from tutors, together with all necessary jigs, moulds and patterns.
Please bring as many tools as you think you will need, and discuss with your tutor if you are unsure which to bring. The list below is not a definitive one:
Please remember that all personal tools should be clearly marked with your name.
(* The College Shop may have a few of these items, but please don't rely on it. If you have queries on which tools you need, please ask the tutor.)
Please remember to bring clothing which is safe and suitable for the workshop. It is also essential that you wear stout covered footwear (not sandals).
Available from tutor: On this course, the tutor can obtain most of the materials for those beginning an instrument. This charge should be paid to him directly before the end of the course, by cash or bank transfer, in addition to any materials that you may have purchased individually.
The approximate timber costs listed are to give a guide only, and final costs will depend on individual choice of timber and increases in timber costs. Costs of strings, pegs, reeds and other accessories are not included. Please discuss this when the tutor contacts you about your requirements.
You should be aware that it is not possible to complete any of this group of instruments in one nine-day course. You will to need to participate in more than two nine-day courses to complete your instrument.
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.
Each tutor will take a half-day break, in rotation with the other tutors, to be decided during the week. They will discuss suitable work for that session with you, if you wish to continue working.
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals, and safety boots, if specified.
Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 7.15pm for registration. Students arriving earlier are welcome to purchase dinner in the College Dining Room from 6pm.
First Teaching session: 7.30pm - 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*
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
Course teaching: 9.15am - 12.30pm
Workshops must be cleared by 3.30pm
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.
*Lunch can be purchased on campus, view options
Colin Cross has over thirty years’ experience as a violin maker. He trained at Newark under Wilfred Saunders and Patrick Jowett. In recent years, he has been head of workshop at Stringer’s in London and run his own violin-making business in Kent. He has made and sold over 150 instruments.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
