Making Stringed Musical Instruments

THE TUTOR
Roger Rose is a leading international maker of Renaissance and Baroque Stringed instruments and bows, particularly Viola da Gamba. Following a musical instrument-making apprenticeship with Arnold Dolmetsch Ltd, Roger completed a Dip HE and a Cert Ed from London University and taught at the Department of Musical Instrument Technology, London College of Furniture, before joining West Dean over twenty years ago. His interests include appraising and documenting Viola da Gamba and research through making. 
Assistant Tutor: Shem Mackey

THE FACILITIES
The programme is delivered in the purpose-built and dedicated workshop which benefits from excellent natural and artificial light. You will have your own workbench, and storage for personal tools and equipment. Specialist facilities include a separate machine shop, a varnishing room and a range of professional woodworking equipment.

VISITING LECTURERS include:

ALISON CRUM: professional viola da gamba player and teacher.
MICHAEL LOWE: maker and researcher in the history of the lute.
MATTHEW SPRING: musician and lecturer, Bath Spa University College.

STUDENT PROFILES:
 
Zachariah Whitridge, West Dean College Diploma, Professional Development Diploma progressing to Research Associate, Making Stringed Musical Instruments, 2005 - 2008
Sometimes I wish that I had found West Dean sooner, because it is just the kind of place that I had dreamt of for much of my life. It wasn’t until I had studied sculpture and print making at university and worked for a few years at a number of less than inspiring jobs that I began to dream of seriously pursuing my first love, woodworking, and combining it with my interest in music.  The programme at West Dean has given me the skills and techniques to build several viols de gamba, a violin, a violone and a bandora, but also through lessons in playing, museum visits, history lectures and the chance to research I have gained a body of background information which complements the hands-on making and puts it all into context. The real strength of West Dean is being immersed in an environment of passionate talented and diverse people. That environment has inspired and nurtured a frenetic enthusiasm in me to learn to make and to do.

Viktor Koós, maker of modern and baroque instruments
Studied West Dean College Diploma in Making Stringed Musical Instruments
Born in Hungary, I originally studied repair, and construction of violin-family instruments in Budapest. West Dean gave me the opportunity to focus on stringed instrument making from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. I learnt so much during my time at West Dean, including careful preparation and research and keeping accurate records, which has ensured a professional attitude in all my work. Upon returning to Hungary, with a broadened approach to instrument making, I soon found that I was the only person trained in making early stringed musical instruments in Hungary. I am making all the string instruments for the Castel of Esterhaza. These instruments will be played by the Orfeo Baroque Orchestra at a big celebration of Haydn’s 200th anniversary in the 2009 festivities - a great honour.  I have recently been commissioned to make baroque instruments for the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy in Budapest for the opening of the new baroque department in 2012.