Learning how to play the violin has been a great experience for me. I have always been a huge music lover, dating from the days when I was a little kid. Even as early as then, I was already interested in learning how to play a musical instrument, and not remain as merely a listener who would only enjoy the music that I hear. My aim was to go beyond that, and eventually be able to play my own music, and if possible stamp my own individuality on it. Because that has been the person that I am, someone who has always been individualistic and something of a free spirit I have always liked to go my own way.
So in the way I learned the violin, I have also been able to put forward my own style, even as early as now. I’ve barely been into violin playing, just a few months to be exact. My development has been such that I am now able to play some of the classical pieces that I have always loved. Lately however, my interest is straying beyond simply playing and being good at it. I actually feel that I want to learn how to build my own violin. Having a craftsman and artist’s side to it, I think I can manage to do it. The way I am feeling these days, my interest is actually leaning towards learning how to make a violin bow first.
Let’s Make a Bow
As I progress in my study of playing the violin, I’d love to do learn to make a violin bow as well. I’m confident that it wouldn’t be a problem since I have already learned the basics of playing and I’m even playing some difficult pieces already. The violin bow is an indispensable part of playing the violin. The bow is made up of a stick that has a ribbon of horsehair strung between its tip and frog (also called heel, or nut). The bow is usually about 29 inches in length (75cm), and its weight is around 60 g. As for how it is made, the following are the basic steps:
• Using a block plane, shape a piece of pernambuco to have a smooth, round surface or octagonal shape. After the wood has been cut, it has to be left for about 10 years to mature, or season.
• The bow should be bended by placing it over alcohol flames, or a brazier of charcoal. Then, using a hardwood block to press, bend a few inches at a time. This would create the characteristic curve of the wood.
• The finger rest is created through winding wire at the stick’s bottom, after which a leather pad is glued beside it. Thus, a comfortable bow hand would be produced.
• A piece of ebony is shaped to make the frog. The wood should be planed into a trapezoidal shape, with the front having a U shape and the bottom fitted with a metal ferrule. This piece would look like a metal D, using silver soldering and silver lining.
• A slab, made from mother of pearl and is glued to a piece of ebony, is inserted into a slot at the bottom of the frog that has been chiseled out. This would prevent the horse hairs from being seen when looking at the frog’s bottom. There, a silver lining would be placed in order to protect from cracking.
• The head of the bow should be shaped into a curve, and then glue a thin piece of gold to the head as an ornament and also to protect it from bumping. Materials other than gold can also be used. Then make a hole in the face of the head, and then insert a wood block for easily securing of the horse hair into the head of the bow.
• Inspect the shape of the bow for any irregularities and then place shell dots on either side of the frog. To finish it up, varnish your bow.