A little note from our owner Mary:
As we were helping what felt like the ten thousandth child try an instrument that we help the teachers in schools with their recruiting process with hundreds of hours of staffing, it occurred to me this fall.
Parents are able to give their children a gift through Golden Music's rent-to-own program, through the time and exposure in finding the instrument they are passionate about. It is a lifetime gift of music!
It takes several important steps to finding the RIGHT instrument.
1) Have the ability to trade to other instruments when trying out as sometimes the first one picked isn't the one that creates an intrinsic love or passion. (FYI: You can trade instruments through our rental program!)
2) It is important to have a high quality & well maintained instrument that will always be serviced. It is easy and less stressful for the student to receive a loaner instrument while repairs are being done by our shop!
3) Make practice time a habit & have patience! Music is a progressive journey through the squeaks and squawks, changing instrument decisions, and taking the time for lessons, rehearsals and personal practice.
Pictured here is Golden Music at Arrowwood Elementary School in Highlands Ranch, CO last year, helping kids tryout instruments. Golden Music helps over 100 schools this time of year, so their programs can be up and running!
Last Week, Andrew Briggs came by Golden Music to try out some cellos. We got the pleasure of hearing our set of Apprentice and Master cellos performed by an amazing professional. If that wasn't great enough, he went ahead and took one of our cellos home to use at his outdoor concerts this summer. Here are some clips of the different cellos and him playing:
https://youtu.be/uM8c1dTBHQw
https://youtu.be/kY8iBJ_YYuU
Riccardo Antoniazzi - Golden Music offers one of his 4/4 Violin
Antoniazzi was born in Cremona, the sixth child and pupil of Gaetano, and was the ablest and most consistent violin maker of his family. He moved to Milan around 1870. In 1880 he went to Nice, probably to work for Nicolò Bianchi and returned in 1886 Unfortunately he lived somewhat in the shadow of Leandro Bisiach and he did not sign many of the instruments from his best period. His instruments can be divided into three periods: from his apprenticeship and early development until about 1887–8, during which he made instruments similar to those of his father; his best period, which lasted until about 1904, during which he developed his own style and worked primarily for Leandro Bisiach; and the period from about 1904 when he worked for the firm Monzino and Sons, during which he made beautiful instruments although working with less care, especially with regard to the varnish. Today these are his best-known instruments. He had many students and followers. He died in Milan.
Antoniazzi's models varied considerably, but his varnish was often either a yellow-orange or dark red. Four different labels are known, in addition to a brand with his initials, which dates from his time with the Monzino firm. One of the founders of the modern Milanese school, he had many followers and students, including Ferdinando Garimberti and Gaetano Sgarabotto
From Tuscany, Renzo Bechini led a long life and wrote his own biography at age 80. He built his first bow at the age of sixty. He was born in 1911 and died in 1995. He was self taught until 1955 when he trained with a maker from Milan.
He wrote in his autobiograph:
"If you exclude prodigious and individual moments that destiny can give us , to love our own job (which unfortunately is the privilege of a few) is the best real approximation to the happiness on earth, but this is a truth that many do not know."
Renzo held many jobs in his life: he was a blacksmith at his father's shop when he was a child, dental technician, musician (he was graduated in viola), mechanic, jewelery dealer, jazz bassist, and of course , at first a luthier and then a bowmaker. The passion for bows and instruments was born, as in many cases at the time, by necessity. Wishing to study the violin professionally, and not coming from a wealthy family who could afford such an important expense, he decided to build one for himself. The first attempts, obviously, gave mixed results, but he did not loose heart, and throughout years and experience, things improved a lot.
In 1952, he attend as a hobbyist, the national competition of contemporary violin making at the Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome, hoping, at least, to display his works. To his surprise, not only the instrument was chosen by the commission, but he also won the second prize.
In 1971, the year of his retirement (because obviously he was a luthier in his spare time left him by his job) he won the biennial in Cremona with a cello, after which he decided to devote himself entirely to bows.
