Coping Strategies and the Long WaitThe date of 20th March has varying significance. Typically, it is the date of the vernal equinox. The sun rises due east, passes along...
Lockdown LowdownThroughout the spring and summer I have been keen to hear people’s stories, of how we have adapted to cope with the extraordinary...
Fétis and Vuillaume: A mathematical approach to bow makingSimple mathematical problems can be intriguing, and since I have a bit more time on my hands than normal, I decided to see what sense I...
The Ebony ProjectEbony is common on musical instruments and bows, it has become traditional, and expected. Makers choose their materials carefully with an...
It's just a piece of wood, innit?I would like to take a moment to ramble on the subject of variation in bows. And I mean in particular bows for violin, viola and cello,...
Thoughts on horse hair (part one)In this article I want to consider the final material to go on the bow, the hair. Usually, no one questions its provenance but being ‘in...
Customer loyalty and satisfactionAt the beginning of the month I celebrated my eleventh anniversary of self employment, and also the first anniversary of my foray into...
A Celebrity Musician in Victorian LondonSome ten years ago I started researching the life of Jean Prosper Guivier, a nineteenth century musician thought to be the man behind the...
The epic quest for the pernambuco and the pearlThe last entry in my blog was to do with considerations behind responsible sourcing of materials for bow making and restoration. It’s a...
Advice for string players visiting the USAInternational tours have become a regular feature in the schedules of many musicians. The opportunity to play in the world’s finest...