We now have a website, which is still somewhat in process. However, you can find it at:
www.virtuosviolins.com.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
An Update--Finally
Alberto has been very busy with the violin business lately, making violas, repairing instruments, rehairing bows etc. He continues to learn English and almost doesn't need me to talk with the clients. He does, however, still rely on me for the keeping the books, ordering supplies and paying taxes. I am also supposed to be working on a web-page, which I hope will be up and running within the next month (or two).
Alberto plays Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (apparently Stradavarius didn't play violin either)
A note, to let you know, we have been acquiring "previously loved" instruments that Alberto has set up, which we can offer for sale at a variety of prices. So, if you're looking for something more modestly priced, come by the workshop to check the instruments out. Of course, we are always happy to have anyone stop by the workshop just for a visit.
Keld Jensen plays at a recent party at our place.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Another Violin
This violin is a star. Everyone seems to like it a great deal. It has a lot of harmony as much in the construction as in the sound. The one piece back means that the flame really stands out and makes the violin look absolutely beautiful. Of course, tiny pictures cannot do the violin justice, so we welcome musicians to get in touch with us and try it or another instrument out.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Varnishing
June hasn't been the nicest of months. Alberto has been waiting for the sun to come out so that he can varnish the latest violin. I wanted to get the laundry done.
Apparently, exposure to sunlight not only helps dry the varnish, but also makes it insoluble in turpentine, which also means that Alberto can subsequently polish the instrument to a high shine. Alberto--true to his instinctual nature--just says it makes it easier to varnish, makes the varnish go further in thinner coats.
Apparently, exposure to sunlight not only helps dry the varnish, but also makes it insoluble in turpentine, which also means that Alberto can subsequently polish the instrument to a high shine. Alberto--true to his instinctual nature--just says it makes it easier to varnish, makes the varnish go further in thinner coats.
Beat Beethoven
On June 7th my brother Stuart and I ran the 8km Beat Beethoven run while my pregnant sister-in-law walked the 4km and Alberto held coats and took pictures. The Kingston Symphony put on a free concert (Beethoven's 3rd Symphony) while runners and walkers followed the route. My brother generously kept me company for the first 3km before taking off to go at his own pace. Unfortunately I missed out on most of the concert, making it back with just seven minutes to spare.
I finished in 43.21 beating my own goal of 46 minutes. Over 700 people walked or ran raising oodles of money for the KSO. All in all it was a great time and I hope to do even better next year.
Runners line up at the start.
I finished in 43.21 beating my own goal of 46 minutes. Over 700 people walked or ran raising oodles of money for the KSO. All in all it was a great time and I hope to do even better next year.
Runners line up at the start.
The symphony plays.
Sue (my sister-in-law) walks and claps.
After, at the pub.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Ottawa Trip
This past weekend Alberto and I made a trip to Ottawa. Friday we spent our time wandering around the city, to 
Ottawa U and downtown music stores in the off-chance we might meet a violinist interested in taking a look at one of the two new instruments we were lugging around with us. Generally, the day turned out to be a bit of a flop, though we did have the chance to explore the city. One point, however, really stood out in the day. As we were walking along MacLaren Street
Kun house
I glanced up at the sign on a large house. The name seemed familiar as I repeated it in my head before shouting out "Kun!" loud enough for passers-by to turn. We had stumbled across the company that makes very excellent shoulder rests, which we order from Maryland. We went inside and saw the small production team, including the receptionist who was carefully sticking Kun tags to every shoulder rest.
It was a bit exciting to visit Kun since it is so easy to forget that products have to be made somewhere by someone, when for us they just appear by magic through the mail. Unfortunately, Kun only sells in large amounts to its distributers, so I guess we'll have to keep ordering shoulder rests from Maryland.
The real highlight of the weekend was visiting the National Arts Centre Orchestra. A friend of a friend of a relative plays oboe in the orchestra and arranged for us to meet the string players backstage between the rehearsal and the performance. I was amazed at the friendliness of the musicians and how accepted we were amongst them. Alberto, who is much more used to gate crashing rehearsals than I am, was quite comfortable. I was a bit nervous about filling expectations but after a few musicians played the instruments and asked
serious questions about the instruments and Alberto, I realized that perhaps we were in the right place. A big boost to our confidence was when Karoly Sziladi
Alberto outside the NAC (we forgot the camera earlier when we were at the rehearsal)
played one of Alberto's violins on stage during the concert.
Alberto and I would like to thank all the musicians at the NAC for giving us the time and the chance to show the instruments. Since we are new to the music scene here in Canada, we rely almost entirely on word-of-mouth and the kindness of musicians who take the time to take us seriously.
Ottawa U and downtown music stores in the off-chance we might meet a violinist interested in taking a look at one of the two new instruments we were lugging around with us. Generally, the day turned out to be a bit of a flop, though we did have the chance to explore the city. One point, however, really stood out in the day. As we were walking along MacLaren StreetKun house
I glanced up at the sign on a large house. The name seemed familiar as I repeated it in my head before shouting out "Kun!" loud enough for passers-by to turn. We had stumbled across the company that makes very excellent shoulder rests, which we order from Maryland. We went inside and saw the small production team, including the receptionist who was carefully sticking Kun tags to every shoulder rest.
It was a bit exciting to visit Kun since it is so easy to forget that products have to be made somewhere by someone, when for us they just appear by magic through the mail. Unfortunately, Kun only sells in large amounts to its distributers, so I guess we'll have to keep ordering shoulder rests from Maryland.
The real highlight of the weekend was visiting the National Arts Centre Orchestra. A friend of a friend of a relative plays oboe in the orchestra and arranged for us to meet the string players backstage between the rehearsal and the performance. I was amazed at the friendliness of the musicians and how accepted we were amongst them. Alberto, who is much more used to gate crashing rehearsals than I am, was quite comfortable. I was a bit nervous about filling expectations but after a few musicians played the instruments and asked
serious questions about the instruments and Alberto, I realized that perhaps we were in the right place. A big boost to our confidence was when Karoly SziladiAlberto outside the NAC (we forgot the camera earlier when we were at the rehearsal)
played one of Alberto's violins on stage during the concert.
Alberto and I would like to thank all the musicians at the NAC for giving us the time and the chance to show the instruments. Since we are new to the music scene here in Canada, we rely almost entirely on word-of-mouth and the kindness of musicians who take the time to take us seriously.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Some Photos of One Instrument for Sale
Please ignore the dates on the photos...not sure how they got there, but they are completely wrong.
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