Merton College

Attendance is for one day per week over two years.  The qualification is a City & Guilds Level 1 certificate, involving some portfolio work alongside the practical project.

During the course the aim is to make one violin. An extremely fine level of hand skill must be developed during this time, so the focus will be on the processes and techniques required.

Time is devoted to learning or improving woodwork theory and skills. Topics include: health & safety, sharpening, maintaining and using edge tools (planes, chisels, gouges and knives), measuring & marking out, making accurate joints, bandsaw & other machine skills, timber identification, adhesives, abrasives, finishes.

Instrument making topics include: -overview of the making process - discussion of the various making processes (types of moulds), recommended reading - tool choice - mould and template making - thinning and bending ribs - preparing and jointing front and back - carving archings  - fitting purfling - thicknessing plates - marking out and cutting ff holes - fitting bassbar - preparing the neck & fingerboard - carving the scroll  - neck setting  - setting up  - wood treatments.

We strongly recommend that those wishing to pursue a career in violin making or repair consider taking the full time course, given the level of hand skill and knowledge required in the trade.

Attendance: One evening (Wednesdays) per week for 30 weeks, 7pm - 9pm.

This course does not lead to a qualification, which means that students are free to choose to work on any aspect of instrument making and-or repair that interests them.

Making topics include: -overview of the making process - discussion of the various making processes (inside or outside moulds)  - recommended reading - tool choice - mould and template making - thinning and bending ribs - preparing and jointing front and back - carving archings  - fitting purfling - thicknessing plates - marking out and cutting ff holes - fitting bassbar - preparing the neck & fingerboard - carving the scroll  - neck setting  - setting up  - wood treatments - varnishing

The main aim of this course is the making of an instrument, however students are free to choose to work on any aspect of instrument making and/or repair that interests them.

Topics covered at the request of students, has included:

-cleaning instruments -checking and regluing loose seams -shooting fingerboard -fitting a new top saddle -peg fitting -retouching -soundpost fitting -bridge fitting - bow rehair.....as well as some more challenging areas such as: plaster casting and patch fitting!

Not all of this can be achieved by each student in one year, given the time available, so projects normally span two or three courses.