Mother of Pearl - Sometimes confused with Abalone, this is a colourful, almost prismatic material obtained from the inside of shells of oysters, mussels, and (ironically) abalone. It can be found in shells of salt and freshwater species and is implemented as a decorative inlay on bows ( slide and eye) as well as other fittings and sometimes (novelty) violins themselves. Caution: Be careful, much of the cheap violin market has fake, painted-on stripes to mimic the appearance of purfling that later wears off! Countless buyers have fled to my shop after being deceived by incompetent or lying competitors. Rest assured, every single one of my instruments have real inlaid purfling.

Read my article about how changing the tip from a point to the modern 90-degree tip changed violin technique and the repertoire itself Veneer - A thin sheet of a material, in the case of violins or bows it is wood, that is placed on the exterior of an object to give the appearance of solid wood. Fun Project: If you are feeling curious, unscrew your bow all the way and remove the screw to have a look-see. Just be sure to hold the frog and hair still so it doesn't twist and tangle inside itself.There are also modern style pillow-like or pad-style rests, which typically don't have a structural frame. Blanket - A small piece of layered cloth that rests on top of the instrument inside the case to protect it from loose items in the case and rosin rubbing off from the bow on to the instrument. The blanket is believed by many experts to provide extra insulation from temperature as well. More Caution: I also warn you to not buy a used violin that has been taken apart and "re-graduated" as these thinned fiddles can be rife with issues down the line. Instead invest in an instrument that was carved right from the start. Fun Fact: The softer nature of spruce combined with the harder maple allows the violin to have vibrate properly and produce the best sound qualities possible.

Amati - The surname of of a family of Italian luthiers from Cremona from the mid 1500s to the mid 1700s. Their importance is considered equal to those of the Stradivari and Guarneri families. Andrea Amati ( c. 1505 – December 20, 1577) is the father of the violin family and designed and constructed the first instruments of this class (violin, viola and cello), creating a standard for others to emulate. Nicolò Amati (December 3, 1596 – April 12, 1684) was Girolamo Amati's son and became the most famous and respected in the family, having trained Antonio Stradivari and Andrea Guarneri himself. A contemporary violin made in the Amati pattern is usually one inspired by Nicolò. Varnish - Similar to what you see on furniture, but with tonal qualities in mind beyond aesthetics, varnish is tree resin or sap dissolved in an oil or other chemical that, when applied to tonewood in liquid state, dries to form a clear, shiny and hard protective surface. Most violins are made with either an oil or spirit varnish and though violinists have nearly dogmatic opinions on which is better, but in my more neutral and educated opinion, what matters most is how the violin sounds.

Bonmusica Viola shoulder rest

Cremonese - Instruments coming from the northern Italian city of Cremona are considered to be of Cremonese origin. The city, also the capital of the province of the same name, is famous for its early violin-making traditions from the 1600s and 1700s. Renowned luthiers including Antonio Stradivari, Giuseppe Guarneri and various members of the Amati family, among many other makers in that "Golden Era" of luthierie crafted their instruments in what came to be known as the Cremonese style. Fun Fact: Some young fern species are called "fiddlehead" ferns owing to their shape just before they unfurl. You can see this shape in my adorable green logo. Fiddlehead ferns are edible and I have recipes here! I think the Everest is the best “basic” shoulder rest, but Kun is also widely available and fine for those starting to use shoulder rests. If you’re looking for something ergonomic…

Then you’d play the scale in the reversed rhythm, starting with 16th, dotted 8th, 16th, dotted 8th…..so this time your 1st finger gets the short note, and 2nd finger gets the long note. Rebush - Rebushing is a repair that involves filling worn-down, too large peg holes in a pegbox (or an endpin hole) with matching grained wood then varnishing the area and re-drilling the hole to fit a new set of pegs (or endpin). Don't worry, this is done on older instruments and you won't need to re-bush any of my new violins for a very long time! My favorite aspect of the BonMusica is the fact that it wraps around your shoulder, doing a lot of the heavy lifting for you. I’ve used this shoulder rest when I’ve performed in operas, since I have trouble holding my viola for hours on end. It helped relieve a bit of weight in my arm, and then I had more stamina!With advancements in shoulder rest technologies, there are a multitude of ways to adjust them to your exact needs. Fun Fact: My advanced snakewood Baroque bow is named in honour of this city and the legacy its makers left for violinists hundreds of years later. Have a look here D Bonmusica offers unique and versatile shoulder rests. Many of their shoulder restscan be adjusted in more ways than just their height.

Shoulder rests Violin and Viola Shoulder rests are very personal and what suits one player may not suit another. Many young students start off with the Huber pad or Jegro shoulder pad before moving on to a shoulder rest. Most teachers would then have a preferred option – Kun and Wolf are the long standing favourites but there are now many very good and comfortable alternatives. If you’re undecided and in the area you’re most welcome to spend some time in the shop trying them to find one that suits you. Guadagnini - Italian luthier Giovanni Battista Guadagnini and much of his family are usually cited as the third finest violinmakers in history, behind Stradivari and the Guarneri families respectively. Guadagnini models tend to be smaller than their counterparts. This is where shoulder rests shine,due to the fact that many of their heights can be easily adjusted and modified to provide whatviolinistsneed. Next-up something a little pricier which is well worth paying for. This model from Bonmusica provides great versatility, as its anatomical form is curve adjustable.And we help you play better, too. But really, you have to feel good first because if it hurts, you’ll quit like any sane human would. These rubber feet are then attached to two different points on the body of a violin, providing a secure structure for a violinistto use ontheir instrument. Air Cushion Shoulder Rests