ISSMA Solo & Ensemble

It’s that time again – this Saturday is State Solo & Ensemble!  While this day is full of fun and excitement, it can occasionally get TOO exciting when an instrument or bow malfunctions.  A couple of tips as you make your way to the site: Before...

The magic of modern making

If you’ve spent any time around me talking about the making of new instruments, you know how big a fan I am of the great modern makers and their creations.  I was fortunate to visit one of the greatest living violin makers, Kurt Widenhouse, when I was a young...

The value of trust

The value of trust is something I consider nearly every day.  As I raise my children, we often talk about trust – how to build it and how it can be broken.  The durability of nearly every long term relationship can be measured by the strength of trust.  A breach...