Crash courses in violin repair, music reading set for February

Release Date: 1/22/2002. Expired: 2/9/2002

Learn the basics of violin maintenance and repair, and take a crash course in the fundamentals of reading music through special one-day workshops at The Renaissance Center Feb. 2 and 9.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, spend two hours from 1-3 p.m. with Charles Li, Suzuki and traditional violin and viola instructor, as he explains and demonstrates specific techniques for caring for a violin. Spend three hours with Lora Brown, Suzuki and traditional violin, viola, cello and Suzuki piano instructor Feb. 9 for a crash course in music reading.

The hands-on violin workshop includes proper cleaning and polishing, bow maintenance, string care, and tuning. More advanced instruction might include tool selection and sharpening, basic bridge fitting, gluing and clamping, or touch-up varnishing, depending on time and interest of participants.

“The basic idea of it is maintenance first,” Li said. “It’s how to keep your instruments in good repair because there are so many things that can go wrong with them.”

Weather is a major consideration in keeping the violin in good condition, Li said.

“They’re so thin and they’re wood and they’re so susceptible to weather changes,” he said. “They expand and contract when the humidity goes up and down. There’s been a great need for people to really learn how to keep their violins in working order.”

Li said the workshop also will focus on how to keep the violin and bow clean. His special recipe cleaner will be available for sale in the Virtually Unlimited Bookstore at the center.

Can one use carpenter’s glue or Elmer’s glue to repair a violin? What kind of tools does one use to make repairs to the bridge or shape the pegs? Minor repair is also on the agenda for the workshop for those students who are interested and want to work with the intricacies of the violin, Li said.

“What I’m going to do is go over all the maintenance in the first hour, and then let the students practice,” Li said. “It’s going to be a real hands-on thing. The second hour will focus on basic repair. We’re going to try to get everyone’s feet wet.”

Participants should bring their own instrument and bow, Li said.

The following Saturday, Feb. 9, is the crash course in music from 9 a.m. to noon. This is a one-day class where adults can learn the fundamentals of reading music. They will also receive helpful practice tips to aid in their own learning or help with their child’s practice habits.

This workshop is not instrument specific.

“The fundamental idea of how we teach music reading here is the way people learn to speak,” Li said. “They get the language first and then they learn how to read. It’s really much easier to learn music reading by getting the sound in your head first... it’s much easier to read instead of reading just by phonics. You want to look at the symbol and realize that that represents sound and feeling already. Some people call it the mother tongue method. We’re really trying to approach it like a language.”

Basically the workshop will address how to look at a piece of sheet music and learn it quickly, Brown said.

“Parents who feel musically illiterate can learn to look at a piece of music and be able to help their kids learn it quickly and easily,” she said.

“The class will focus on identifying elements in the music, like specific rhythms and note groups to aid in fast comprehension,” Li said.

The cost for each workshop is $25. For the crash course in music the fee includes a workbook and handouts.

For more information or to register for the workshops call The Renaissance Center at (615)740-5600.

The Renaissance Center is located at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 minutes from Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

Visit the Music Workshops page for more about the workshops.

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