Students and Practice

Practise, practise and practise a well known professional musician once said when asked what he does in his spare time! All very well you may reply but every time I remind my budding musician to practice it is perceived as a ‘nag’. I’ve often tried the positive approach – ‘well dear that was really beautiful,…

So you need a new Cello bow?

So you need a new Cello bow? From the start let me say that this article is intended for advancing players rather than professionals. We have musicians coming from all over the UK looking for the perfect bow – they spend hours testing, feeling, listening. These are bows from £1500 upwards! So, you have upgraded…

Cello by Jenny Bailly

Just picked out a lovely old Cello labelled Jenny Bailly. Ever heard of Jenny? She must surely be the very first and most famous female Luthier of the last century. Jenny was the daughter and pupil of the famous Paul Bailly and Henley writes her instruments up – ‘strong tonal qualities – pure and homogeneous’.…

Humidity and String Instruments

Humidity and String Instruments Moisture in the air (Humidity) affects the tone and the condition of String instruments because wood is a natural substance and can absorb and adapt to the humidity in the air. When the humidity rises, wood expands and when the humidity drops the wood dries out causing it to shrink. If…