What is Violin Making Academy?
The VIOLIN MAKING Academy is, well, an academy for violin-making!
The VIOLIN MAKING Academy consists of a total of 25+ hours of educational content where international violin-maker Corvus Kwok will walk you through every single step on making your very first violin at home.
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You'll learn starting from the basics, from handling tools and setting up your very own workspace, to learning sawing, cutting, assembling, varnish, and setting up the whole violin.
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A full guide on tools and workshop preparation, alongside all the basic woodworking skills you'll ever need for making a violin will be provided to you, and you'll be just fine even if making a violin is your first woodworking project.
What will I learn?
Tool Usage
Learn the basic woodworking skill needed for making a violin, even musicians can do it!
Sharpening
Master the art of sharpening your tools like a professional violin-maker.
Varnishing
Discover the safest, simplest, and easiest way to make and apply your own varnishing.
Structure
Understand the theory behind a violin's design and structure and what makes a violin work.
Assembly
Build every component of the violin step by step, even if you're new to the craft.
Set Up
Develop your setup skills to stay calm, even if the sound post falls before a concert.
Do you always want to make a violin, but there are just too many obstacles?
Learning to make violins often means putting everything aside, traveling far, spending years, and taking risks, with no guarantee of learning from the right people.​
Now, with ViolinMakingAcademy.com, you can realistically fulfill your dream from the comfort of your own home.
As a violinist, conductor, and contemporary composer who coaches and teaches people about music and ensemble skills - from schools to universities and multi-million-dollar stages leading choirs and orchestras - I dare to say that I know how the learning of this art works.
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When my passion grew from the front stage to the back stage, I found that violin making IS REALLY HARD TO LEARN!
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Well, it's not very hard to MAKE a violin after all, as a fragile musician like me with no woodworking experience can do it too; But the LEARNING part is what makes it difficult.
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As my SiFu Michael Darnton said, "many prefer to work like the Wizard of Oz, unseen and all-powerful." It took me years and a lot of traveling to figure out what’s right and what’s not. Thanks to Michael, I finally learned that much of violin making is actually direct and non-esoteric.
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The learning journey was tough, but it was very rewarding. I want to share my findings with you here in the hope of making the LEARNING PART EASIER. If you are seeking the truth about how to make a good violin in the comfort of your own home, you’ll love my approach to teaching.
- Corvus Kwok
Founder of violinmakingacademy.com
Recommendations
"Corvus has done a very fine job of bringing a real violin shop into your computer. It's one thing to read about making violins, but it goes to a whole different level when you can see someone who knows what he's doing work on every small detail so that you can see exactly how he twists his hand at that just right moment or changes the direction of the tool slightly to get a better cut. Corvus' violin making series is just like watching over his shoulder while he works, and there's nothing else quite like that except really being there in person. That's why no matter what other resources you have, you need this one, too."
Michael Darnton
Owner of Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins,
Renowned Violin Maker, Restorer,
Writer and Teacher
"Corvus is the best Darnton Workshop apprentice. I am proud of him for carrying on the mission and the spirit of the Southern California Violin Making Workshop and though it ceased to exist after covid hit, his videos continue to inspire makers all over the world. His videos are excellent and provide excellent instruction. His spirit is also inspirational. He is an honor to the craft and I am proud of him.​
James Brown
Violin Maker, Vocalist, Teacher, Member of the VSA, Organizer of the Southern California Violin Making Workshop (SCVMW)
Testimonials
"Hi, I'm Peter, and I'm an amateur violin maker. I got interested in violin making about 15 years ago through correspondence with a master maker in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who taught me how to make my first violin. Since then, I had opportunities to spend time in various workshops, learning from other makers and enthusiasts.
I met Corvus a couple of times at violin making classes in California. He has a passion for violin making, and I think his work is very beautiful. Mostly I found he was good company and fun to be around. I make violins just for the fun of it, and for me, part of the fun is always learning new things. So when I found out about Corvus' online academy of violin making, I signed up right away and have been following the classwork where Corvus teaches how to make a violin from the very beginning of the process.
One of the benefits I've found with Corvus' academy is the flexibility to learn at my own pace. As an amateur with a busy schedule and a day job, I can dedicate time to the lessons whenever it's convenient for me. The academy provides a good balance of video lessons and encouragement to complete the hands-on practice.
Corvus' videos are professionally made, they're easy to follow, and they're broken into manageable segments. I've been able to revisit them as needed while working on my latest violin project.
In addition, I'm able to get personalized feedback from Corvus. I can share photos of my progress, and he provides guidance tailored specifically to my current skills. I recommend Corvus' Violin Making Academy to anyone who is interested in making a violin, regardless of their skill level. Come and join the fun!"
Peter McCombs
Software Developer,
Space Cowboy
USA
"FIVE STARS! This is the best way to learn violin-making I can imagine (short of traveling and taking a years long course).
I tell anyone who will listen: I have a fantastic online violin making teacher. He is very detail oriented which is what I like. And, he includes every single helpful detail and suggestion he can think of. No hidden "trade secrets" or glossed over steps. All the info is here and super clear. Corvus is a very generous teacher.
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It's been a dream of mine since childhood to make violins. Approaching retirement, it was time to start. I read books and I watched a lot of YouTube videos. I started to make my first instrument based on free videos made by Corvus' Mekwok Studios. Corvus' violin making videos were by far the clearest I could find on the internet. Just based on the free YouTube videos, I started to make an instrument.
I was thrilled when Corvus began his Violin Making Academy! I subscribed right away. The hours of 10-20minute professionally produced instruction videos are beautiful. They have a calm, meditative quality. The videos are not the same as the YouTube free videos. They are very detailed, clear and specific about every step. I feel like I'm right next to Corvus learning from a master. Plus, his voice is melodious and he has a charming sense of humor.
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As a woodworking novice, I've been particularly grateful for the advice on tools and safe, effective tool sharpening. The new techniques are quickly becoming comfortable.
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It's also great to now be a part of Corvus' League of Luthiers online community to get advice from other luthiers and gentle but spot-on critique from Corvus himself.
I'm so happy to be making my first violin. Join us!!
Ann Eastman
Physician, Musician
USA
THIS COULD BE YOU!
“After many years of wanting to learn how to build my own instrument, I feel that it has been worth doing it with the formidable guide of Corvus Kwok. His Violin Making Academy is a great place to start, but also if you already have some experience making violins. Corvus is a very good teacher and generously accompanies every step; the videos and explanations are excellent too. I have not lost a bit of enthusiasm for building my violin and in 9 months I have made infinitely more progress towards that goal than the previous decade with other resources. Absolutely recommended.”
Luis Martínez
Professional Musician, Conservatory Teacher
Spain
“I was looking for ways to repair my violin years ago, and I met Corvus in person. He patiently explained to me what's going on with my violin, how he's going to repair it, and how I could do it too! (And yes, I should use restore, not repair, Haha!) He also show me how to maintain and take care of my violin, so it won't break that easily in the future. With his marvelous explanation and observation ability, I started to understand the violin more and more, and also started to become interested in violin making.
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I later found that he is also a violinist. I think that's the very reason why he could explain things to me in a way most other luthiers cannot. And that's why I join his course when I finally wanted to learn how to make a violin.
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Besides, the quality of the class videos and the way he explain things are top notch. I can really feel his passion in the teaching and the making.
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Highly recommended!​​​"
Klimt Wong
Fitness Coach, Violinist
Hong Kong
You'll get to see how I do each and every step closely, as if we are sharing a vision, giving you a deeper understanding of the process and the nuances involved along the way.
Take the
Closer Up Look
Highest Quailty Videos
I've taken the time to ensure the filming quality is at its best, not just rolling the camera and talking without focusing. You'll get to see every single detail I am working on very clearly."
No More
White Board
Since low-effort whiteboard drawings are hard to look, you'll learn about the violin's structure and theory underlying the design through my polished Keynote presentations.
