Ref: SMI37703
Increase your knowledge and extend your skills in the making of musical instruments by traditional methods. The outcome of this course is guided by your individual projects and goals.
For those making a viol for the first time, this course offers the opportunity to experience the sense of satisfaction of making a musical instrument from scratch. Instruction is given in the principles of making, assembling and setting up your chosen instrument either a medieval bowed rebec or renaissance treble viol. The model you make is decided on with the tutor. However, please note that you should expect to attend at least one nine-day course and one five-day autumn course to complete your instrument, and the time needed beyond this will be dependent on your level of ability and previous fine making experience. A more complex bowed instrument will certainly take several courses to complete.
For those with previous instrument making experience, instruction is given in the principles of making, assembling and setting up a Viola da Gamba, or work on one already started with the tutor. If starting a new instrument, the model is decided on in agreement with the tutor please note a Viola da Gamba will require attendance of three or four courses to complete.
Materials and techniques covered are as appropriate to individual requirements. You will work in wood (spruce, maple, ebony and fruit woods). General techniques covered during making the instruments are planing, filing, sawing, gluing, with more specialist techniques of bending, carving and inlaying, introduced when necessary.
Teaching is generally on a one-to-one basis, catering for the students 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.
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 clear 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 indicate 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 materials and information relating to this or inform the tutor of what you need.
As the tutor lives in Germany, you will need to purchase your own timber and materials to bring to the course, once you have discussed your requirements with her.
If you play a musical instrument, please bring it with you for informal music making in the evenings.
Materials Although students on this course are asked to obtain most of their own materials/timber, if the tutor does obtain any additional items, this cost should be paid to her before the end of the course, by cash or BACS, in addition to any materials that students may have purchased individually.
Level of Ability: (D) advanced, (C) intermediate
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.
Please note, it is not possible to complete instruments marked # in one nine-day course. You may need to participate in more than two nine-day courses to complete your instrument.
Tools The following is a basic list. It is not definitive, so you should bring as many tools as you think you will need. Please remember that if you dont have any specific tools on the list, most basic tools can be borrowed at the College. 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.
Some woodworking tools are provided by the College, including a variety of planes, gauges, mallets, face sander, lathes, drills, etc. However, numbers are limited, so you should ideally bring your own, if you have them, to include the following (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).
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
Renate Fink trained at the London College of Furniture, later London Guildhall University as a maker of early fretted instruments. She worked for several violin shops in England and on the continent before setting up her own business. She has been teaching at West Dean since 1998. Renate is a member of the British Violinmaking Association.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
