Weekly Instrument-making Classes in Norwich
2009/10
There are two weekly evening classes in stringed instrument making held during term time in my workshop in Norwich. The Workshop
I have run these classes in one venue or another in Norwich for over twenty years. During which time lots of first time and some more experienced students have made numerous stringed instruments very successfully. It has been particularly useful for music students at the university who have learned to play viol on the university's instruments and also been able to make their own instrument to take away for use after their course is over.
Among the instruments which have been made are: treble, tenor, bass, great dooble-bass and seven string viola-da-gambas, lutes of all sizes and types, violins, violas and cellos, hurdy-gurdies, medieval harp, dulcimers and renaissance guitars. However I specialise in early instruments and do not normally accept either modern or electric guitars.
Over the years, I have found that anyone who sticks at it can make a successful instrument, even without any previous woodworking experience.
At the moment both classes are full but do enquire if you are interested and I can let you know when there is a space.
Fees at the moment are £3.50 for each two hour session, payable by term or half-term in advance. For this I provide all the tools but the students have to buy their own wood and other materials.
Copyright 2000 - 8 by David Van Edwards
Sundays 6 - 8pm and Mondays 7 - 9pm
Autumn term: 13/14th Sept - 13/14th Dec (Half-term 25/26th Oct) 12 weeks
Winter term: 3/4th Jan - 28/29th March (Half-term 14/15th Feb.) 13 weeks
Summer term: 25/26th April - 18/19th July (Half-term 30/31th May ) 12 weeks
Here is a group of instruments under way in January 2006 showing the almost finished bass viol, the cello , another 'Ud, a violin, a tenor viol and five different lutes.
Saber discussing his newly finished Ud with Mike.
Viv working on the fingerboard of her tenor viol.
Toby carving the pegbox back for his baroque lute.
Anna carving the front of her cello.
Derek playing his newly finished renaissance lute.
Carving the pegbox for Derek’s bass viol.
Saber fitting the first rib of his new 'Ud.
Viv trimming the back of her tenor viol.
Testing the nodes on the cello back and front.
Tim sanding the back of his tenor viol.
Tim has just fitted the back to his tenor viol.
The front of Anna’s cello now with its bass-bar.
Danny veneering the pegbox sides of his lute.
Danny putting the final touches to his renaissance lute.
Tony gluing on the pegbox to his tenor lute.
David fretting his renaissance guitar.
Mike working on his renaissance lute.
James with his newly finished renaissance lute.
Viv gluing in the linen linings to her tenor viol.
The cello ready to be assembled.
Mike trimming the nut rebate for his lute.
James working on the front of his tenor viol.
Anna’s cello ready for its front.
Fergus trimming the linings of his Amati violin.
Derek’s bass viol in birds eye maple is coming on well.
Mike fitting the edging to his lute.
David playing his newly finished renaissance guitar.
