Choosing an instrument is the most important decision any musician can make. It’s not just a major financial investment; it’s also a highly emotional choice that affects both your musicality and your career trajectory. As a professional violist, it can be difficult to find the right instrument for your needs. To start, professional violas vary …
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Finding the Right 7/8 Violin or Small Pattern Violin For You The 7/8 violin is not produced by many makers, and this model can be hard to find. At Dolce Violins, we enjoy the challenge of curating well-crafted 7/8 violins and small pattern 4/4 violins that produce a beautiful tone. We seek out both antique …
John Dodd I (1752-1839) spearheaded the development of the modern English bow, going down in music history as “The English Tourte.” Initially a metalworker, Dodd’s career took him to Paris to explore advances in screw mechanisms. There, he encountered François Xavier Tourte and his revolutionary bow model. Dodd switched to bow making around the 1770s …
James Tubbs Rumored to have made over five thousand bows during his career, James Tubbs’ (1835-1921) output stands as some of the best bows of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, rivaling even his most celebrated French contemporaries. Tubbs apprenticed under his father, William Tubbs, before opening his own studio in the 1850s. Around 1858, …
Born to a Mirecourt winemaker and luthier, Joseph Henry received the bulk of his bow-making training in Paris. He moved to the capital at the tender age of fourteen to apprentice under luthier Georges Chanot. Henry honed his craft under Chanot, who like his colleague, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, was not a bow maker but thoroughly appreciated …
How Much Should I Spend on My Cello Bow? You put a lot of care and thought into choosing your cello; your bow deserves the same attention. But how much do cello bows normally cost? There is no simple answer to this question. Your cello bow cost will vary based on your needs, including your …
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