A week of violin making at the UNH Violin Craftsmanship Institute is much like being in the workshop of a full-time violin making school. Participants will progress on their own instruments at their own pace with their own tools. Instruction will be given to each student, and to small groups, to individualize the learning experience. There will also be daily lectures with discussion, a different topic every day on subjects of interest to the class. Ample time for individual progress is built into the daily schedule. An atmosphere of mutual discovery and exploration will leave the participants with advancements toward completion on their own projects, and a renewed zeal for this timeless and classic craft.
A list of the tools and materials required for this course can be found in the Tools & Materials tab above.
Materials & Tools
Professionals and curious amateurs may bring one or two violins or violas unfinished, at any stage of completion, made on any model. It is beneficial if two instruments are at the same stage, so that a learned skill can be immediately repeated, but this is not a requirement.
Please contact instructor Todd Goldenberg at tgoldenberg@maine.rr.com for individual tool needs.
Todd Goldenberg’s path to becoming a violin maker began with a degree in botany from the University of New Hampshire. Todd began to pursue his passion by moving to Portland, Oregon where he studied with guitar maker Rob Ehlers. A move to Chicago was intended to expand his training in guitar-making, but, once there, Todd was hired at Bein and Fushi and he has been a violin maker ever since.
Todd next moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he began a nine-year tenure with Shar Products Company, working closely with David Burgess. In 1987 Todd settled in North Berwick, Maine and opened his own violin studio in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Todd has taught violin making at the North Bennett Street School in Boston. He was part of a co-operative group of violin makers in Waltham, Massachusetts where he worked alongside other New England makers. Finally, in 2003 Todd built a violin shop across the road from his lakeside home. Here he works as a violin, viola, and cello maker. Todd has been awarded a silver medal for cello tone in V.S.A sponsored international competition in 2006. Todd has served two terms on the board member of the Violin Society of America.
