In the early 20th century, there was equality in respect and pricing among violins from Italy, France, UK and Germany, but after World War I, when Schonback became part of the Czech Republic, they became the cheap product of commercial instruments and their neighbor, Markneukirchen, German instruments imported parts and by associate also became viewed as "cheapened." France concentrated on Germany's problems and established inroads in US and Europe markets. As World War II developed, many of the prominent Jewish musicians that had promoted German makers were forced from their positions, which led to boycotts of German goods by overseas Jewish clients. Many German makers' livelihoods disappeared. After war prejudices remained for many years, but by the 1960s, the German craftman's respect began emerging. This leads "Old German instruments as a tremendous investment because they combine quality woods and workmanship in an old (and therefore well played in) package and for an affordable sum." (from The Strad Magazine, March 2014.)

Golden Music has numerous German violins starting at under $1,000 up to several thousand dollars.  Until June 30th, everything is 30% off ($300-$2,500 off!). Most can be purchased on the rent-to-own program for a low monthly amount. The German violin shown here is the Karl Muller copy stock #4730 for $1595 on sale for $1016!

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This is a Beautiful Decorated Violin - thought to be made in the Bohemia region, German in the 1920s. It was restored at Golden Music by our German Luthier Thomas Hummel (he works for 8 weeks in our shop every year - pictured below). Thomas brings the European Tradition to Colorado. It not only looks beautiful but has great sound. It is a Master Level 4 so is $3600 on sale through June 30^th for $2420!

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Dark, warm mellow beautiful rich golden red flamed two piece back

Intro to Romanian Violins = Reghin and Claudio Ciurbin

Where to begin about Romania?  Our first trip there in 2006 included a lot of sight seeing, we traveled down with guides from Hungary to Transalvania, saw the rural Romanian lifestyle – still farming and living off the land and had many adventures. We visited the Gliga factory, the large operation that began after World War II in an airplane factory. Gliga is a high volume producer of violins and not exactly where Golden Music finds its best instruments. In comes Claudio Ciurbin. Claudio was trained as a Master Luthier in Cremona which is a green light in the first place, but he is Romanian and returned to Reghin to develop his craft and workshop.

The town of Reghin is pretty tiny, about 30,000 people, but the majority work on violins!  It is rumored that the wood used in some of the most famous violins of all time came from the forests near Reghin.

We bought violins there from Claudio, his friends Mark and Fritzy, and a few others.  They are always very lively, raw and speak well. I’d say we have had about 50 from there in total. The violin I play at home (I'm studying violin now but am mainly a pianist) is Romanian. We buy everything that Fritzy makes and many of you have his instruments as they sell as soon as we get them in! We just got four in and they are being prepared for the store now.

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Rolling into Sofia Bulgaria: Spring 2010

Violin Maker Boris in Kanzalak, Bulgaria

The 2006 outreach emails turned up a pocket of violin makers in Bulgaria. We visited them then and again in 2010. They are centered in the small town of Kanzalak which is about an hour’s drive from the Country’s largest city, Sofia. We met several luthiers making violins in their small workshops, but the most interesting was Boris. He bought a forest, some several hundred acres of wood for violin making. We met him in his cold basement, huddled around the hearth of his fire place. He was the former manager at the violin making plant there in Kanzalak. It was Russian controlled until the breakup and then was bought by a private party. He left then and started the workshop style of violin making in his home. He organizes several makers that work in cooperation to build violins that students can afford. He supplies the materials and does the final check of every instrument. He has more violins than he has market for. He said he really needed to travel and find more buyers for them but he was in poor health. He had thousands of violins unvarnished stacked throughout his house! They were along the walls in his hallway, his bedroom, his living room! We very much enjoyed meeting him, his sons, his wife and he dogs. He doesn’t speak any English but we had a translator there with us. We still buy instruments from him.

Teras Rhapsodia Violin from the Master 1 Collection

Featured today is the Teras Rhapsodia violin from our Master 1 collection. A highly flamed golden orangish brown finish, is one of Boris’ premium violins. It features all ebony fittings, a beautiful one piece back, and a warm, sonorous tone. On sale through June 30th 2014 for $1295 normally $2,000.

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Edited by Catie, Spyagent, Grifflet, Katie and 8 others from Violinist.com

Ok, so you've learned the basics, how to play the violin, how to hold it properly, and all of that. Perhaps you've even had a good teacher. But you feel like something is missing, or you want to be better at it. Read on!

1. Realize that it will take money, love, and hard work to accomplish your goal. You will potentially spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on teachers, and a good instrument. You will also have to dedicate most of your time to playing and getting better. You are in search of perfection, and that comes with a price. Don't even try this unless you love music and the violin enough to go through with it.
2. Get to know your instrument. It may sound silly, but the better you know the instrument and love it, the better sound you will produce together. Don't think of it as just you playing the violin, think of it as either an extension of yourself, or your best friend. Perhaps even your baby. Giving it a name can sometimes help with this. If you both are relatively new to playing, you both will develop together. If either one of you is more experienced, one will teach the other.
3. Surround yourself with music. Widen your taste to include everything from classical to rock to traditional. Your playing will be better for it.
4. Become an active listener. While you are listening to music, if it does not have a violin part, think of one in your head. If it does, try to follow it. Listen to where the music takes you, the tune, the beat, and the melody.
5. Listen to the masters play. If a jock wants to become better, he watches the best of the best and tries to mimic them. Do the same. I recommend Mairead Nesbitt. She combines Fiddling and Classical violin and is incredible on stage.
6. Play all the time, and every day. Play during your free time if you can. You won't get anywhere if you don't practice. As an exercise, play some music that you don't know the violin parts to, and play with it. Improvise as you go along. It will teach you to listen to what the music tells you to do. Close your eyes while you play as well, force yourself to concentrate.
7. Have fun! Listen to the music, you don't have to strictly play what the sheet tells you to, add in some embellishments after you have learned the piece. Playing with other people can be fun as well. Move around to it, get into the music.
8. If you have a musical hero, pretend that they are there listening to you. Close your eyes and imagine them right there, it helps you concentrate and play your best.
9. Get a good teacher to help you out. They will catch things you may not, and help you refine your skills.
10. Strive for a perfect tone. Keep your bowing straight, your fingering on track, and your violin in tune. Always pay attention and be in control. Good posture helps as well, try to stand up when you play, keep a straight back, wrist open, fingers peaked and loose, loose but controlled bowing arm, and elbow up.
11. If you feel like you are getting bored, find a complicated piece and play it. Or take songs from your favorite movies or bands and try those. It doesn't all have to be classical. Play what you want to play. Make sure you love the music.

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The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which also includes the viola, cello, and double bass.

The violin is sometimes informally called a fiddle, regardless of the type of music played on it. The word violin comes from the Medieval Latin word vitula, meaning stringed instrument;[1] this word is also believed to be the source of the Germanic "fiddle".[2] The violin, while it has ancient origins, acquired most of its modern characteristics in 16th-century Italy, with some further modifications occurring in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Violinists and collectors particularly prize the instruments made by the Gasparo da Salò, Giovanni Paolo Maggini, Stradivari, Guarneri and Amati families from the 16th to the 18th century in Brescia and Cremona and by Jacob Stainer in Austria. Great numbers of instruments have come from the hands of "lesser" makers, as well as still greater numbers of mass-produced commercial "trade violins" coming from cottage industries in places such as Saxony, Bohemia, and Mirecourt. Many of these trade instruments were formerly sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co. and other mass merchandisers.

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Golden Music Center will host a free lecture by Liutaio Robert Gasser “The Cremonese Violinmaking between Tradition and Modern Style” at 7 pm on Tuesday, January 24th. Continue reading

Getting a new instrument is always exciting, however it is important to know how to use all the parts and understand why. This video is about the rosin we use on all bowed string instruments. We will cover how it is made, the different kinds, and how to use it.

Take a few minutes and enjoy this short video and you will be able to move forward with your playing with confidence and understanding.

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A violin is a delicate musical instrument which has to be handled with care – this is especially important for young children to learn to understand. Continue reading

Here are a list of hints and tips to help you choose the right size of instrument for you if your teacher or violin professional isn't available. Continue reading