United Sound, United Minds

This student wouldn't touch a cello until the week prior.  Now she is flourishing.

American culture has come a long way since we used to bar children with special needs from entering schools.  That being said, as a child in the 80's and 90's, I still rarely saw students with severe special needs in my schools.  As is true with all human nature, the less I was exposed to something, the less I understood it, had empathy for it, and the less I identified with it.  To admit my faults, I did not understand the differences in various special needs diagnoses, and I did not think about these students often. On the rare occasion that I did, I figured it was impossible to connect and interact with them in meaningful ways.


I doubt my former ignorance is that uncommon.  For many children, another student making noises or drooling is something to be, at worst, laughed at, or at best, politely ignored.  There is a group of student musicians at North Cobb High School who break this norm in a beautiful way.

United Sound is an international non-profit organization which gives students with special needs the opportunity to learn to play musical instruments in a well-structured, individualized, and positive environment.  The program allows students to learn either band or orchestra instruments.  North Cobb High School has started a United Sound group as of January 2017, and the program is flourishing.

Smiles are a common sight in a United Sound rehearsal.

I was invited by Dr. Paula Krupiczewicz, the orchestra director at North Cobb High School to observe a regular, weekly rehearsal of United Sound.  On Wednesday, March 8th, I witnessed not only students with special needs learning and loving play musical instruments, but I saw a massive shift in the way these students are treated and viewed since I was a child.

Color-coordinated strings.

A United Sound wrist band worn
proudly by everyone involved.

There were five United Sound students.  Two were learning cello, and the other three were learning violin.  As per the United Sound guidelines, each new musician has a team of three other students who are all proficient in music from their regular music classes.  Each of the three students has a specific job: one helps the new musician directly, fixing posture, guiding hands, etc., one guides the lesson by counting off rhythms and focusing attention on the lesson, and one plays alongside the new musician, modeling and demonstrating how it should look and sound.  The result is a structured, adaptive team of teachers.  This structure was yielding results before my eyes.

One way the instruction is specialized is the conversion of notes to types of food.  The abstract concept of a quarter note and the foreign symbol can be confusing even for most adults.  In United Sound, a quarter note is now simply "Cake," spoken long over the course of one beat.  This is demonstrated repeatedly and becomes easy to remember and imitate for the students.  The pictures of the food on the page change color to tell the students which string to play.  "Do-nut," becomes two eighth notes, and "Souuuuuuup," is a whole note.  The entire class embraces this system and proudly belts it out across the classroom ushering laughter and smiles from everyone.

An excerpt from the United Sound workbook.
The organization donates these books if needed.

It was explained to me that one non-verbal new musician had only ever touched a cello in one other class.  While I observed, she was completely involved, playing open cello strings and seemingly loving it.  In previous classes, it was thought she was not involved at all.  She would constantly do small hops with her chair and scoot it back away from the action of the class.  However, the other students soon realized she was scooting her chair in rhythm with the music.  She was participating in her own way, which soon blossomed into understanding for the other students.  For me to watch this student play the cello while I was there was the cultivation of much effort and collective learning on everyone's part.

One of the most astonishing realizations I had was how positively everyone was interacting.  There were near-constant smiles from everyone in the room.  All of the young teachers seemed completely comfortable with their student musicians.  They made direct, meaningful eye contact, laughed along with the new musicians, and seemed completely at ease.  Never have I seen high school students interact on such a meaningful and comfortable level with students with severe special needs.

After the class, I asked a few students about their experience in United Sound.  One student commented, "When these students are here, they seem to forget about their struggles.  When they play, they feel so happy about it.  They don't doubt themselves like we do when performing music."

The three teacher roles are clearly seen here.

Another student said, "No one should be prevented from doing activities like music."  She later added, "Everyone should be challenged on their own level, and United Sounds does that for these students."

One of the most enlightening things I've ever heard was said by a third student after the class.  "I have learned to never pity them.  They have different struggles than we do, but they just keep learning and having fun doing it.  That is nothing that deserves pity."

I asked Dr. Krupiczewicz what her experience with the United Sound program was so far.  "I love it!" she exclaimed.  "It gives me a chance to do something unfamiliar.  It challenges me as a teacher which is rejuvenating.  It's also fun to watch my students teach others."  She went on to say, "I watched one of my students connecting with parents and special education teachers on how to reach her student.  I've never seen a student be so motivated to learn and create connections to help someone else.  She was willing to try anything--I almost cried watching that."

Dr. K. stands over a cellist demonstrating the
example the class was working on that day.

The world needs more understanding.  Meeting and interacting with someone who is different from you leads to wisdom and empathy.  If this ideal could be embraced the world over, we would live in much more peaceful, enlightened times.  United Sound is a catalyst for wisdom and joy for all involved.
If you would like to learn more about United Sound, you can see their website here: http://www.unitedsound.org/

If you would like to contact me about United Sound, do not hesitate.  I would love to speak with you about it and help you start your own program.

-Andrew Ryan Henke
andrew@ronaldsachs.com

www.ronaldsachs.com

Interview with THE Ronald Sachs

Interview with THE Ronald Sachs

How Ronald Sachs Violins has taken the southeast by storm

Ronald Sachs Violins has been the standard for quality string instruments and string instrument repair in the Atlanta area for eighteen years.  The majority of Atlanta Symphony Orchestra string musicians go to Ronald Sachs Violins for their instrument needs.

What makes Ronald Sachs Violins such a staple of quality?  Why do ASO musicians, and professionals from the entire southeast, prefer Ronald Sachs Violins?

Mr. Sachs in his workshop in Lilburn regraduating a German violin from the 1800s.

We interviewed the Ronald Sachs himself to get these answers.

Interviewer: When you started this business eighteen years ago, what were your goals for the business?

Mr. Sachs: “The goal has always been to have the most affordable, highest quality violin shop in Atlanta. I wanted to distinguish my shop from my competitors by having the highest quality student-level instruments for rent.  Our signature Ronald Sachs Violins line of rental instruments sound and play fantastic compared to the lackluster instruments that were, and still are, available from other stores.”

Interviewer: If someone is shopping around for an instrument to purchase or rent, why should they choose Ronald Sachs Violins?

The Marietta/East Cobb location.

Mr. Sachs: “We have an excellent selection in every single price range.  Unlike a general music store that has one or maybe two instruments to choose from, we have five, ten, or more quality instruments to play and compare. Next, all of our instruments are lifetime warrantied; you can always upgrade and not lose any of your investment.  Also, we regularly work on professional instruments.  We apply the same level of quality to a middle-school student instrument as we do with an eighty-thousand dollar Atlanta Symphony Orchestra member’s instrument.”

Interviewer: Why does the majority of Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musicians go to your shop for instrument repairs, bow rehairs, etc.?

Mr. Sachs: “Our quality is, without question, the highest in the Atlanta market—if not the entire southeast of the country.  We are very fast with our repairs, and do them at a fair price.  Regardless of whether it is a student or professional musician, no one wants to overpay for quality.”

Interviewer: What is your favorite thing about owning and operating Ronald Sachs Violins?

Mr. Sachs: “Watching and following the reactions of children that begin with us, getting to know them over years, and watching them turn into fine young musicians who are a positive force in their community.”

Ron tuning up the E string
on a customer's bass.

Interviewer: What are your goals for the future of RSV?

Mr. Sachs: “We are looking to open locations across the southeast to expand the reach of my original goal: getting quality instruments into the hands of the people in this area for affordable prices.  Opening more shops will also increase the convenience for all of the folks here.  They should be able to find high-quality instruments and great service close to their home without having to struggle through Atlanta traffic.”

Interviewer: If you could say one thing to the people of Cobb County, what would it be?

Mr. Sachs: “Your money is hard-earned.  Your children are the center of your life.  Do not go to a substandard shop, get a shoddy instrument, and then force your child to suffer with it--ruining something they were excited to learn.  Stop the cycle of wasting money on shoddy instruments.  Go to Ronald Sachs Violins, get a fantastic instrument, and give your child the best chance at succeeding at violin, viola, cello, or string bass.”

For more info, feel free to contact your nearest Ronald Sachs Violins location, or drop on in!

RSV Lilburn 
836 Pleasant Hill Rd, Lilburn, GA 30047
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday:  10 AM - 5 PM
(770) 931-2440
ron@ronaldsachs.com 

RSV Marietta/East Cobb
3100 Roswell Rd, 
Marietta, GA 30062
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday11 AM - 6 PM
(770) 485-8814
andrew@ronaldsachs.com

RSV Peachtree City
2001 Commerce Drive N, Peachtree City, GA 30269
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11AM - 6PM
(770) 703-4914
chris@ronaldsachs.com

RSV Sugar Hill, GA
1400 Buford Hwy Bldg A, Sugar Hill, GA 30518
Hours: Thursday - Friday 4:00 - 9:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
(470)589-1482
info@ronaldsachs.com

RSV Suwanee, GA
4164 Silver Peak Pkwy Suite A, Suwanee, GA 30024
Hours: Monday - Friday 1:00 - 9:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
(770)614-8221
info@ronaldsachs.com

RSV Wilmington, NC
206 N. 4th St. Suite 15, Wilmington, NC 28401
Hours: By Appointment
(910) 833-5751
adrian@ronaldsachs.com

The Absolute, MUST read guide to parents of beginning orchestra students

The Absolute, MUST read guide to parents of beginning orchestra students

by Andrew Ryan Henke

So your kid chose to be in orchestra! Congratulations!  I'm sure you're thinking, "Great.  The to the next two months will be full of squeaky, out-of-tune, Twinkle Twinkle."  As many jokes as there are about beginning strings players, it is a truly beautiful thing to watch a child grow as a musician and fall in love with this art form.  It can also be not too squeaky or out-of-tune if you have a good teacher.

However there's one giant potential pitfall for you as a parent!  Finding an instrument!

So... you're stuck finding an instrument for your kid and you know nothing about string instruments.  I've heard this lament thousands of times from parents like you; but there's good news!  I was a public school orchestra teacher for nine years and now manage a violin shop.  I am here to help!

This is a list of do's and don'ts for getting an instrument for your child, getting the most out of your dollar, and having a pleasant experience through the process.

The Do's of shopping for an instrument

1. Shop around.  All instruments are not anywhere close to made equal.  One shop will rent you a $120 piece of junk for the same price as another shop down the street renting you a $700 excellent student-level instrument.

2. Ask people in-the-know for the best shops.  This does not include just anyone who already rents/purchased an instrument.  This means private teachers in the area, professional musicians in the area, public school teachers (though in Georgia, public school teachers are not allowed to recommend one shop over another), and students who have played for years (and are decent musicians).

3. Ask questions about the instrument.  Once you find a string instrument specialist shop (if they have drum sets, saxophones, and walls of amps, you aren't in the right place), ask the salesperson questions about the instrument.  You're giving them your money, they should not be against answering your questions.  If they are against it, run the other direction.  If they let you ask but have no clue about the specifics of the instrument, run even faster.

Here are some questions you could ask to gauge the quality of the instrument and the quality of the store you are getting it from.

1. "How much are these instruments new?"
If the answer is less than $300, they are probably garbage.
2. "What strings do you put on these?"
If the sales rep has no idea, they are probably the cheapest garbage that came standard on the instrument.  They will sound terrible.  They probably don't know what good strings are and are banking on you not knowing either.
3. "If I need a repair, can you do it here?  How long would a repair take?"
If they need to ship the instrument off to some other state to get things fixed, that's a bad sign... especially if it's something minor like your bridge fell over.  It's going to take a month to get it back and, in my experience, once you get it back, the problem is either not fixed at all and they said they couldn't do it, or it's fixed with the absolute least amount of effort possible and barely passes for a fix.  Any real strings shop can put on new strings, put up a sound post, reset a bridge, or make the pegs not stick in minutes.  Larger repairs they will do in days.
4. "When you get these instruments in, what all do you check to make sure they are set up correctly?" This question is to test what the salesperson really knows.  You don't have to understand the answer, but if the salesperson stutters, draws a blank, or says they do nothing to check the instruments, you're probably not at the best store.

4. Ask questions about the contract.  It is entirely possible for you to get screwed through a violin rental.  See Don't No.1 below for a story about this.

The Don'ts of shopping for an instrument

1. Don't go in uneducated.  Music instrument rentals and sales is a surprisingly cut-throat business.  If you go into the wrong store clueless, they will take advantage of you.

I just had a customer in my shop last week who rented with another company nearby.  They noticed a problem with the instrument at home, so they brought the instrument back in for repairs.  The store blamed them for an issue with the make of instrument, did horrible repair work that broke again weeks later, yelled at them and refused to fix it again even though they were paying for insurance, and sold them a piece of garbage $200 cello for 1.2 thousand dollars.  I often wonder why this specific shop is still in business after hearing many stories like this.  Some of our competitors are decent shops... this one isn't.

The only possible use for some of the
horrible instruments I've seen in my time.

2. Don't buy an instrument online!!!  Unless you know for sure that it's a decent make and quality, don't buy one online.  I know you can find instruments that look perfectly fine for $100 on amazon.  They are not perfectly fine.  These are garbage instruments that will make your child hate playing music.  They sound terrible, feel terrible, often have major functionality issues, sometimes aren't even set up, and will break for no obvious reason.  $100 on an instrument ordered online is $100 flushed down the toilet.  It's not a beginner instrument; it's what we in the business like to call a "violin shaped object."  Renting an instrument from a reputable company through their website might be an okay way to go if you know the company has consistently good quality instruments.

Do you see all the violins on display?
Yeah, me neither.  Don't go here for one.

3. Don't go to a general music store.  Find a string specialist store, usually called a violin shop.  You might have to drive a bit, but it is so worth it.  You're most likely going to need maintenance on that instrument eventually.  You want someone who can take that violin apart and put it back together, not a saxophone player who has never worked on a violin in his/her life.

4. Don't be tricked by too-good-to-be-real deals.  There is no good way to mass produce a string instrument.  Even the cheapest, decent quality violins cost between $500 and $700.  Most stores have an affordable rental plan, but if you aren't shelling out at least $15 a month or so, you probably got a terrible instrument.

If you have any questions about this process, your instrument, another shop, or Ronald Sachs Violins, feel free to email me.

If you don't have a store near you, Ronald Sachs Violins does rentals through our website and has the best quality instruments in the entire south-east of the country.  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra members often walk into my shop, try one of our rental instruments, and say, "Wow, you rent these?  These are excellent!"  We'll even ship the instrument to you for free! https://www.ronaldsachs.com/t-violinrentals.aspx

I truly hope this blog helped!

By Andrew Ryan Henke
http://www.ronaldsachs.com

Andrew Ryan Henke is the manager of the Marietta/East Cobb branch of Ronald Sachs Violins.  He has played string bass for 22 years and was a public school orchestra teacher for nine years.  He also is a fantasy author of the epic trilogy "The Lumin Prophecies." www.andrewryanhenke.com

HORRIBLE (and hilarious) Stock Violin Photos

HORRIBLE (and hilarious) Stock Violin Photos

by Andrew Ryan Henke

I've been working for Ronald Sachs Violins here in Atlanta, Georgia for about five months now, and often I have to find images for ads, twitter posts, blogs, etc.  I have found it is very hard to find good pictures of teenagers and young adults playing instruments in a natural, orchestra setting.  However, what is very VERY easy to find is hilariously bad stock photos of people holding violins.

So here are a few I've found that just make me laugh.

I call these first few, "I don't need no stinkin' bridge!"

So elegant.  That bow grip and no bridge....

I'd imagine salt water and sand is bad for an instrument... but I'm sure she knows that being the fact that she's playing with no bridge and all.

The hair is the important part.  Pay no attention to the bow grip, incorrect chin rest placement, and lack of bridge.

 Bad added photoshop fire for the win.  This happens to me when I play... doesn't it happen to you?

 At first I thought she was just posing with this cello in an awkward way... but no, she is actually acting like she's playing it.

 Proper care of your instrument 101.

 Seriously, it is SO easy to find images like this.

This is the stuff of nightmares.  The upside down bow is an afterthought on this one.  I dare you to print this image and put it beside your bed tonight.  Yeah, you're not going to because you don't want nightmares.

 This is definitely the correct size instrument for this girl.  Definitely.

 The model took a break to make robot voices into a box fan.

 Just no.

Most of these images seem to be women, but men are not immune!  I'm sure that instrument sounds BEAUTIFUL halfway up the fingerboard like that.

 Cool outfit... but I've SERIOUSLY never seen someone hold a bow like that before, and I taught public school orchestra for nine years!

SO much effort went into this girl's look... and they put zero effort into figuring out how to hold a violin.

 I'm going to tell my children this is where string instruments come from.  Who WHO thought this would make a good picture?

 Gotta love playing a violin backwards.  I wonder if this picture was actually taken correctly, then someone flipped it later.  That bridge looks a little lower on the left side though, so I doubt it.

 Did someone think this was cool?  It's just... confusing.  Broken bow parts... what?  Also, for some reason the instrument's strings are going UNDER the fingerboard?!?

I had to send this one to my boss, Ronald Sachs himself, it was so bad.  She fairly successfully made herself to look like she's passionately making music... until you notice the bow.... :-/

I seriously think that bow is as tall as she is.

This lady and the last girl should swap bows!

This seriously took me about 15 minutes to find all of these images.  What is it about photographers giving often broken violins to people when neither of them have ANY idea how to play or let alone hold one.  I am also amused that apparently people think playing violin is this beautiful, passionate, earth-shatteringly intimate experience.

Hope you had a laugh!  I know I did finding all these pictures for you!

By Andrew Ryan Henke
http://www.ronaldsachs.com

Andrew Ryan Henke is the manager of the Marietta/East Cobb branch of Ronald Sachs Violins.  He has played string bass for 22 years and was a public school orchestra teacher for nine years.  He also is a fantasy author of the epic trilogy "The Lumin Prophecies." www.andrewryanhenke.com

Top 5 ways to preserve your sanity when nearing middle-age.

The top 5 ways to preserve your sanity as you get close to middle-age.

by Andrew Ryan Henke

Party City is so much freakin' fun this time of the year!

I'm 32 years old.  Not middle-aged yet... but I'm getting there.  I'm on my second marriage, my second major career, and my 3,000th hobby.  As I get older, I learn more and more what truly makes me happy; and, despite what my 18-year-old-self believed, it's not sitting in my PJs, eating pizza rolls, and watching TV all day.

So here's what I've learned in my 32 years of experience!  Hopefully you can learn a little from this not quite young and not quite old person.

1. Get out of the damn house!

It is so easy to settle into a routine.  There is nothing wrong with coming home, slipping into yoga pants/gym shorts, watching TV, etc. as long as it's not every day.  Going outside is scary, I get it, but every time I've ever gone to something/somewhere new to me, I've always been glad I did.  Even if it doesn't turn out to be a great experience, I'm still glad I tried it.

Do you need some ideas for getting out of the damn house?  Here are some my wife and I love!
1. Take a dancing class.  I know it sounds cliche' but it is so much fun... and romantic too!  Don't worry about being good at dancing... no one cares.  Just have fun!
2. Go to a museum!  It's fun to learn, and it's even more fun to learn alongside your spouse!
3. Go do all the things you tell your kids not to!  Go clubbing for Pete's sake!  Admittedly it's less fun than it was when you were 22, but it's fun to relive those crazy, fun days.  Also, if you're married, you have the security of having someone to go with and go home with.
4. Try a new restaurant!  This is great for some of the less adventurous of you out there.  I know you have your favorite restaurant, but I promise you there's a better one out there-- you just have to find it!

2. Pursue that dream!

So remember when you were a teen or twenty-something and you had that crazy dream?  Don't think you have one?  Dust off some cob-webs in the back of your brain and I promise you one is there.  For me it was making a video game.  Guess what, I made one!  I wanted to build violins... I did that too!  I wanted to write fantasy books... I'm about to publish my third!

Being in the music field for practically all my life, I've met countless adults that either say they a) always wanted to learn cello/piano/etc., or b) wish they'd never quit cello/piano/etc.  They always say they're too old now.  I always respond with, "No you aren't!"  They never have a good excuse for not doing it... but they always have an excuse.

It really really is never too late to pursue that dream... unless your dream is to be a gymnast.  Holy crap, my knees and back hurt just watching that crap!

3. Don't convince yourself you're already old.

During my first marriage, which I'm not going to talk about much here, my then wife convinced herself and me that we were old.  We gained weight, we didn't do young people things any more like, you know, exercising, and we were miserable.  Somehow, even though we were only in our mid 20's, we convinced ourselves we were old.

On my recent, mini-honeymoon to a cabin in the mountains in north Georgia, there was a small, wooden, folksy, decoration in the bathroom that said, "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?"  I'd never heard that before.  It got me thinking.  If you, your parents, or no one ever kept track of how many times you'd orbited the giant nuclear furnace we call the sun, how old would you think you are?  My wife and I enjoyed talking about it a bit.  I decided I'd be a 14-year-old.  I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.

4. Don't be too afraid to make a career change.

I was a teacher for nine years and I hated every second of it!  I was good at it, too!  My students loved me, but I still hated it.  I made every excuse in the book to not change careers.  It was a stable job, I had a degree in it so I shouldn't waste it, what other career would I do, what if I don't find another job, blah blah blah.

In the end, I was miserable and too scared to change jobs even though every night dreaded going to bed because sleep made the next day come all the more soon.

Last year was my final year of being a teacher and I'm never going back.  I changed careers and I am now working for a violin company, Ronald Sachs Violins.  I never thought I wanted to manage a violin shop, but I took a chance and I am a million times happier than I was teaching.  I'm making less money, but it really doesn't matter at all compared to haw much my disposition has improved.

If you are miserable at your current job and you can survive a possible pay cut, just freakin' do it!

5. Don't allow your children to control your lives.

Okay, I am already hearing the comments now... Who am I to give parenting advice when I'm not a parent myself?  I am one of the fastest to point this out when others do it, but I'm not really giving parenting advice here... almost the opposite.

I see too many parents engaging in a phenomenon known as "child worship," which, if you don't know about, you can learn more from a wise expert here.

Think back to why you had children in the first place.  Why did you have kids?  I don't know about you, but some folks say:
1. I want to carry on my genes/family name.
2. I think it'd be an incredible adventure.
3. I want raise amazing humans to make this world a better place.
4. I want to see what weird-looking creature me and this random guy/girl I met make!
5. etc.

Notice each of those started with "I" and have nothing to do with your kid.  You didn't have a kid for
the kid....  You had a kid for your own reasons.  For whatever reason you WANTED that kid (unless you didn't, which is a whole other topic... one you shouldn't discuss with said kid).

You wanted to have that kid, and now that weird-looking creature is making you and your spouse miserable.  Get a baby sitter and get out!  Go do things that you actually enjoy.  Don't tell me you enjoy helping your kid with homework, because if you do, you're a liar!  You don't get good parenting cookies!  Homework sucks!  Go out and have fun!

Also stop worrying so much about your child.  Let your kid get their head caught in the stairs banister.  Let them get a bump or scrape or even a freakin' broken bone!  It doesn't make you a bad parent.  Worrying about it or hovering over your kid constantly will only make you  miserable and turn your kid into a self-absorbed little snot.

So there you go, five ways to keep your sanity as an edging-up-on-middle-age person, at least from my 32 years of experience.  Get out there and have fun!  This is your life we're talking about.  I know your PJs and TV are safe, but safe isn't experiencing life!  Go live it!

By Andrew Ryan Henke
http://www.ronaldsachs.com

Andrew Ryan Henke is the manager of the Marietta/East Cobb branch of Ronald Sachs Violins.  He has played string bass for 22 years and was a public school orchestra teacher for nine years.  He also is a fantasy author of the epic trilogy "The Lumin Prophecies." www.andrewryanhenke.com

An amateur luthier visits Cremona, Italy

Intimidated by Stradivarius

An amateur luthier visits Cremona, Italy

-by Andrew Ryan Henke

     When I was seventeen and trying to figure out what the heck I was going to do with the rest of my life, I made the decision I was going to be a public high school string orchestra teacher.  I was getting ready to go to music school when I visited Andy Stetson's luthier workshop called the Bass Cellar in Cincinnati Ohio (http://www.basscellar.com/luthiers.html).

     I had purchased my string bass from Andy Stetson and I was, on this day, returning for him to glue a seam.  He welcomed me down to his workshop to show me how.  We walked down into the cellar (hence the name) and I saw my first luthier workshop.  Several basses were in various states of repair and construction, there were tools everywhere, and for some reason, I was in awe.  I've always been a creative person (writing, painting, etc.) and I saw something that I instantly knew I'd love.

     However, I had a problem.  I was so sure I wanted to be an orchestra teacher.  I was going to college.  Where would I learn to be a luthier?  Was this strange, rare field of study even remotely practical from a life and financial point-of-view?

     I took the practical approach and went to college to be an orchestra teacher.

     Fast forward many years and I found myself hating teaching.  I had classes of 70 and 80 regularly, 7 classes a day, many bad students that the administration refused to do anything about, and I dreaded every single day.  I was a very good teacher.  The vast majority of my students loved me.  However, I realized I was sacrificing my sanity, time, and life outside of work for a profession that I dreaded.

     Seemingly randomly, one day I got a flash from my former dream to be a luthier.  One of my teacher friends forwarded an email from a local luthier who had studied with the masters in Cremona Italy.  He was offering lessons on making violins.  I did not hesitate and signed up.  I had completed my first violin 5 months later and loved every second of making it.

     My luthier teacher, Okkyum Kim (http://www.okkyumviolin.com/), moved to Las Angeles after 5 months and I felt stuck.  Life got in the way over the next few years and I only dabbled in violin making.  I started a second violin, but only got as far as the ribs and back.  I dreamed of visiting Cremona, Italy and seeing the birthplace of Stradivarius and visiting the best luthiers int he world.

     This year, I quit teaching.  I couldn't take it any more after 9 years.  I am now working for Ronald Sachs Violins and loving every second of it.  I manage the Marietta/East Cobb store and get to do minor instrument repairs (https://www.ronaldsachs.com/t-marietta.aspx).

     I just returned from a trip to Italy with my fiance'.  We went to Rome, Florence, and, of course, Cremona.  I figured the world of amateur violin makers might be interested to hear my experience and maybe make the pilgrimage as well some day.

     So you know how in the regular world you feel like no one really gets string players or the craft unless they're one themselves?  You say you're a musician and people say, "Are you in a band?"  You clarify and usually get a flat, "Oh," or an overly cheerful response of how much they love fiddles or Canon in D or that one pretty cello song (Bach cello suite no.1).  Or you might say how you play a string instrument and get the response of, "Oh, I played x instrument in band in high school," and that's the end of the conversation.

     In Cremona Italy, I assumed people in the town would know about the history of violin making and even maybe know that there was a luthier school and luthiers in the town.  I was blown away at how much string instruments and luthiers are a part of the town.  Everywhere you look there are things violin-related in Cremona and everyone (I mean EVERYONE) knows about the history of the luthiers in their town.  More often than not, shop windows are decorated with violins, violas, and cellos.  The street signs include arrows toward luthier's workshops.  My hotel was completely violin themed.  There was even a DJ festival the first night we were there called the "StraDJvarius" festival.

     For the first time ever, I felt like I was in a place that understood this crazy thing I love so much called violin making.

     Another preface to this story.  Okkyum Kim, my teacher, was SERIOUS about violin making.  I assume you have to to be as good as he was.  He yelled at me a few times in his workshop when I'd make mistakes.  So I was understandably very nervous to visit the world-renown luthiers of Cremona.  I told my fiance' a week before our trip that I wasn't going to visit any luthiers because "they don't want amateurs bothering them," and, "they probably get amateurs like me in their shops every day and have to shoo them off."

     Lucikly, I gathered my courage and contacted several luthiers and violin making schools.  Several responded with excitement for my visit.  I got to see three different luthiers' workshops and talk shop with them.  Every one was incredibly nice, encouraging, and helpful.  They did not treat me like an amateur to placate or get rid of.  They treated me almost like an equal, often showing me instruments they were working on and even in one instance asking my advice (thought that had to be just him being nice).  I met Michele Dobner (http://www.micheledobner.com/), Valerio Ferron (http://www.violinaio.it/welcome/), and Maestro Piergiuseppe Esposti.  Michele Dobner told me about a local luthier tools shop that he got a large planer from.  I immediately went after my visit.  Many times in the past I've ordered tools online and not received what I thought I was getting.  At the tools store, I was so happy to finally get to hold in my hand every tool so I knew I was ordering what I wanted.  Kid in a candy store much?  I also went through the violin music with my fiance'.  She loved it and felt like she understood me and what I do much better, so feel free to bring a significant other!

     I did not hear back from the major school in Cremona until I had already left unfortunately, but I did get to tour a private violin making school called Academia Cremonensis (http://www.academiacremonensis.it/en/).  They let me tour their school and talked with me for a good three hours.  They even let me see their private stock of wood, let me comb through all of it for the best wood, and purchase several pieces.

     I showed pictures of the violin I had made to Maestro Esposti and he was very encouraging and positive about what he saw and the method that I'd used to make it.  I was offered to apply to the school and, after seeing my work, said I wouldn't even possibly be able to enter a year or two ahead of a standard beginner.  I don't know if I'm going to take that big of a plunge into this world any time soon, but I was very flattered and tempted.

     In the end, I want any beginner, amateur, intermediate, or even expert luthier to not be intimidated to visit Cremona.  The city is amazing to visit even without the luthier side of things.  Everyone was extremely nice and encouraging to me.  If you have a passion for this crazy thing called violin making, repair, bow making, or even just the history of the art, do not be intimidated to visit Cremona and visit with the world-class luthiers there.

By Andrew Ryan Henke
http://www.ronaldsachs.com

Andrew Ryan Henke is the manager of the Marietta/East Cobb branch of Ronald Sachs Violins.  He has played string bass for 22 years and was a public school orchestra teacher for nine years.  He also is a fantasy author of the epic trilogy "The Lumin Prophecies." www.andrewryanhenke.com