About Gill Expertise I can answer questions about the anatomy of the violin (aka. parts of the violin),violin technique and musicality as well as tips on performance preparation, repertiore selection, Royal Conservatory of Music exam requirements and formats, and other schools of learning such as the Suzuki method. I can suggest violin teachers in the GTA East and can recommend reputable shops for purchasing violins, parts, strings and books/repretoire.
Experience I have been a violinist for 18 years and have extensive experience in ensemble performance. I teach both private and group violin lessons, and have completed the Grade 10 Practical exam for violin with the Royal Conservatory. I studied violin (primarily under the education heading) at University as well.
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Arts from an Ontario University (Music Minor).
Grade 10 Practical (violin)--Royal Conservatory of Music
Question I have a Juzek, marketed by Monarch, stamped 1926, and endorsed by Leopold Auer. It says "Artist" inside it. My grandparents paid $500 for it in 1926. It is in wonderful condition, and sounds superb, compared with all of the other amateurs' violins I have heard over the years. Everyone wants to buy it from me, but I am not selling it. Do you know what it might be worth, for insurance purposes? Thanks,
Bonnie
Answer Hi Bonnie,
Well I wish I could be of more help to you. Unfortunately, I cannot say with any certainty what your instrument would be worth.
You see, a lot of things go into the approximate worth of a violin including the following:
-Sound
-Appearance (ie. does it have a nice varnish? Does it have gold embellishments? Does it have a solid or 2-piece back piece?)
-Any imperfections or previous repairs (visible or non)
-Age
-Make (the person or studio credited with its creation)
-Master-Made or workshop made (was it hand-crafted by a master violin maker? Or was it made in a workshop bearing the name of a master violin maker but not made specifically by him?)
I wouldn't want to speculate regarding the worth of your instrument as I am by no means an expert at instrument appraisals. You can, however, have your instrument appraised by an insurance company. They often require that you take the instrument to a shop which deals in these sorts of things, and there a violin expert will look it over and determine for you its authenticity and approximate worth. If you decide to go this route, you will probably be required to leave the instrument for a few days so that it can be thoroughly examined. If you are in the Toronto area, please let me know and I can suggest a couple places that would offer such services.
