Instruments

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and British Violin Making Association Announces Partnership

The British Violin Making Association (BVMA) and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) will be working together to provide opportunities for players and makers to connect.

RBC Strings Department and the BVMA will be working together over the coming years in order to bring violin, viola, cello, double bass and bow makers together with players at the crucial early stage of their careers, as well as providing opportunities for RBC to maintain and expand their instrument collection.

At events such as the RBC open day, makers will be present in order to answer any questions parents and students may have about maintaining and acquiring a professional level instrument. There will also be a number of instrument specific days, where makers from the BVMA will attend RBC in order to talk to, train and assist strings students in groups with their instruments.

For BVMA members, this provides an excellent opportunity to make connections with students and players in the Midlands all within RBC’s excellent facilities and welcoming environment. The BVMA intend to do ‘live making’ events where makers will work in teams to create an instrument in white over a short period of time. Aside from being a fun few days away from their normal workbench, this provides a great learning opportunity for makers themselves as they have to work together as a team and create a clear strategy and agreement of approach. Meanwhile, players will have a unique chance to see how a violin is made and take into consideration their own needs when it comes to their current or future instrument.

For RBC students, this partnership provides excellent access to the UK’s best makers right on their doorstep. The in-depth experience and knowledge provided by contemporary makers means that students can communicate what they need and then work with makers to achieve their aims.