Clik here to view.
Before Cremona- Where Did the Violin Come From?
By Andy Fein, luthier at Fein Violinsand Ivana TruongWhere did the violin family come from?"1647 Nicola Amati Violin"Used by permission of the author and publisher of BC, Before Cremona, All rights...
View ArticleClik here to view.
BIG Violas and Lionel Tertis
Lionel Tertisimage from www.english-heritage.org.uk courtesy of Margaret and Robert LyonsBy Andy Fein, Luthier, Fein Violinsand Ivana TruongLionel Tertis was a giant of the viola world. He brought the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Left Handed Violins
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violinsand Ivana TruongOccasionally, we get calls from beginners, or their parents, desperately searching for a "left handed violin". Andy's mother was a lefty and the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Know Your Rosin - It's a Sticky Situation
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violinsand Ivana TruongMagic Rosin with the Fein Violins logo It's been several years since we've blogged about Rosin. The basics really haven't changed- Every string...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eva Mudocci- Violinist and Muse for Edvard Munch.
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violins andIvana TruongYou know those stories about a picture or a violin or something turning up in grandma's attic after being stored away for 50 years? Very...
View ArticleClik here to view.
All About Tailpieces- Long, Short, and Fine Tuned
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violinsand Ivana Truongwith comparison videos by Diane Houser and Megan ScottA Schmidt Harp Style tailpiece made from PernambucoTailpieces do far more than hold your...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Goffriller Cellos. For Cellists- Goffriller > Stradivarius?
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violins,and Ivana TruongWe've written several times about Stradivari's cellos. As beautiful as these instruments are, many are not in their original condition....
View ArticleYour Brain on Strings
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violins,and Ivana TruongMusic unifies us, it's enjoyable, and as it turns out, beneficial to our health. A review of 400 studies done by Professor Daniel J. Levitin...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Berlioz, A Snuff Box, and a Requiem. It's Pretty Fantastic!
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violins,and Ivana TruongA cartoon of Berlioz conducting, originally captioned "Fortunately the hall is solid... it can stand the strain!"Hector Berlioz, like many...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Oldest Line of Violin Makers in America
by Andy Fein, luthier at Fein Violins,and Ivana TruongThe mid-1500s is very early in violin making history. The earliest violins, violas, and cellos still in existence were made by members of the Amati...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Keeping Your Musician's Hands Healthy in Winter
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violins,Ltd.and Ivana TruongIf you're a musician and you live in a climate that experiences a cold and dry winter, then you know the constant fight to keep your hands and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Keeping Your Musician's Body and Mind Healthy
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violins & FineViolins.comand Ivana TruongPlaying music isn't typically thought of as a physically taxing activity, but musical injuries are surprisingly common. And...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The 'Adelaide' Guadagnini - A Violin Beloved in Australia
By Andy Fein, Luthier, Fein Violinsand Ivana TruongNatsuko Yoshimoto with 1752-57 Guadagnini "The Adelaide"Photo by Claudio RaschellaIn early February, a 1753-1757 Guadagnini violin was given on a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Who Killed The Composer? Leclair's Mysterious Murder
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violins,and Ivana TruongWho killed composer, violinist, and dance master Jean-Marie Leclair? His ex-wife? The gardener? The Duke of Gramont? His son-in-law? His younger...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Violins of Hope- Violins From The Holocaust Refuse To Be Silenced
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violins and Ivana TruongSeveral years ago I wrote a blog post about a circle of friends that extended from my hometown of Cherry Hill, NJ to St. Paul, MN to Tel Aviv,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Jewish Violinists Brought Western Classical Music to ...... China
By Andy Fein, Luthier, Fein Violins, Ltd.and Ivana TruongAt the recent Violins of Hope event, which Andy attended, the violinist Xiang Gao was invited to perform “Shalom Shanghai”, a concert and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Classical Music During the Chinese Cultural Revolution
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violins, Ltd.And Ivana TruongIn our last blog, we traced the movements of Jewish refugees into Shanghai and other Chinese cities and how these became the seeds for violin...
View ArticleClik here to view.
E Strings & E Tuners- What's Best?
By Andy Fein, Luthier at www.FineViolins.comand Ivana TruongThe E string. In the world of violins, violas, and cellos, only the violin has the privilege and burden to play on the highest string. What...
View ArticleOnline Lessons for Stringed Instruments
By Andy Fein, Luthier at Fein Violinsand Ivana TruongWe know as well as anyone that learning an instrument is a massive undertaking. Even the first step, finding a teacher, can be overwhelming and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fingerboards
By Andy Fein, Luthier at www.FineViolins.comand Ivana TruongA cello fingerboard with a precisely machined metal straightedge on top. Fingerboards need a "hollow or "scoop".The fingerboard isn't a very...
View Article