The NBSS is one of the few full-time instrument making programs in the United States. Students, alumni, and faculty regularly receive international recognition for the craftsmanship and tonality of their instruments.

The curriculum provides a solid foundation in instrument making and an introduction to the art and science of stringed instrument restoration. During the three-year program, students build five violins, a viola, and a bowed instrument of the student's choice, as well as covering repair, restoration, and set-up of stringed instruments.

Violin Making School of America

A 3 - 4 year, full time program aimed to graduate students with a foundation of skills and knowledge on which to build their careers as makers, restorers, and dealers of violin family instruments.

Violin and Bow Making Courses in Canada

Ecole Nationale de Lutherie

3-year courses in violin family making and maintenance.

Violin and Bow Making Courses in Mexico

Escuela de Laudería / National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL)

The "Escuela de Laudería" (Violin Making School) offers a 10 semester course in making violin family instruments. The curriculum includes: construction workshop, restoration workshop, varnishing, technical drawing, history of musical instruments, photography, acoustics (physics), wood technology, instrument playing, instruments ensembles, etc.

Violin Making Schools in Italy

Cremona

Situated in the splendid and noble Mina Bolzesi palace, in the center of Cremona, the 3 year Violin Making and 2 year Bow Making courses available at the Academia Cremonensis affords each student the opportunity to learn and practice violin and bow making according to the guidelines of the great violin maker Simone Fernando Sacconi and bow maker Giovanni Lucchi.

The Violin Making International School of Cremona was founded in order to create a center of high professional qualification in the stringed instrument field, respecting the classical tradition of Cremona. There are two programs at the school: the three-year course of violin making and the two-year course of violin making. In addition, the school provides opportunities to work along side professional violin makers in their workshops.

Milan

A 4 year course in instrument making. Bowed or plucked strings

Parma

A three years course in violin making and varnish, mostly practical, with some theoretical lessons in technology of the wood, design and acoustics physics. Optional two years of specialization.

Violin Schools in England

London

The courses are aimed at individuals with little or no prior experience, who have a desire to build their own musical instrument, or others who may already have a grounding in violin making and wish to develop their knowledge and skills further.

Newark

A three-year course in violin making and repair; also, a one-year basic course in violin making. Based at Newark College (part of Lincoln College).

Chapel Violins School

Providing a range of courses in violin making and restoration including intensive 6 month courses in Advanced Restoration Techniques and the Certificate in Violin Making.

West Dean

The course places emphasis on making violas da gamba but students may opt to make instruments of the violin family.

Cambridge Violin Makers Workshop

The Violin Workshop, based in Cambridge UK and run by The Cambridge Violin Makers, offers one week summer courses in Violin Making and Bow Making for students of all ages and professions. Evening and daytime classes in violin making have been run by The C.V.M for over forty years. In 1990, Bow Making was added as an option for both evening classes and summer courses.

Violin Schools in Germany

Klingenthal

A 3 year course of education of violin makers, bow makers and other instruments. Admission of 5 students for each trade, each year. Classes start in fall (August /September).

Markneukirchen

The course of study "Musical Instrument Construction" is accepting students in the departments of String Instrument Construction, Plucked Instruments Construction and Bow Construction. The goal of this study is for the student to acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge and ability to enable him or her to design and construct high-quality, artistically shaped musical instruments. Prerequisite for a successful application to this program is above all practical experience and pre-knowledge of musical instrument construction.

Mittenwald

Other Schools Around the World

Belgium

Brazil

O curso de luteria do Conservatório de Tatuí orienta para construção de instrumentos de arco – violino, viola, violoncelo e contrabaixo, com duração de seis semestres. Amplo e com programa bem definido, o curso conta com planejamento semestral e tem por objetivos oferecer ao aluno um melhor aproveitamento e a consciência de sua evolução em cada etapa do curso, bem como uma formação profissional completa, equiparada às dos melhores cursos existentes em outros países.

Finland

2 - 4 year courses in string instrument making. 24 student to 2 teachers. School founded in 1984. Entrance by examination. Also short summer courses.

France

A 2 - 3  year course in instrument making and repair.

Norway

Scotland

One year National Certificate and one year Higher National Certificate in violin/guitar repair and construction.

Spain

Cirriculum includes: Repair and restoration techniques, Making a string quartet, Bow maintenance and rehairing, Acoustics and Performance, Business Practice, & Instrument Playing.

Switzerland

The swiss school of violin making in Brienz (Geigenbauschule Brienz) is the only school in Switzerland specialising in violin making.
The four-year course of study allows students sufficient time to learn the skills that will enable them to develop individually as craftsmen and later on as professional violin makers.

House of Note also has a very comprehensive listing of Violin Making Schools worldwide.

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