Welcome to the Ilja
Grawert Double Bass
to Violin shop
in Brisbane, Australia. You will be able to find teachers,
information about violins, making, repairs, restoration, etc and go
online shopping for all
your musical instrument
needs, here. This page is always under current (15th of February
2008)
construction.
Check our TEACHERS
page out for your link to a teacher in your area
The SETUP
page is interesting as well
Ilja's Story
Having
been born into the tradition of
violin making, Ilja decided at 15 to become a violin maker. At 18 he
began his apprenticeship (1982-1986) at Geigenbau Machold in Bremen,
Germany, where he had the opportunity to study under some of Europe's
best violin makers.
After
receiving his qualifications, he
established his own workshop in Germany, concentrating on the making
of new instruments & restoration. He remained an independent
artisan after migrating to Brisbane in 1994.
Ilja now has a shop in
Woolloongabba,
Brisbane. He caters to beginners and advanced students, as well as
professionals, with backgrounds in not only classical education but
also folk, jazz, and other types of music. His main workshop is
located above his shop, but during opening hours, he prefers to do
the finer work at a workbench in his shop window. He welcomes the
chance to chat with anyone interested in the art of violin making,
and is happy for people to watch while he works.
“Apart
from selling the full range of bowed stringed instruments, strings,
accessories and print music, we do repairs,restorations, making of new
instruments and setups in my workshop.
“Looking
back on 25 years of experience in serving beginners and professionals,
I
cannot stress enough that it is essential to play a
well setup
instrument. Even though it is very beautiful to play a valuable
instrument, the quality of the instrument is often not as crucial as
the quality of the setup.
A well setup cheaper instrument will serve
you better than an expensive one with a bad setup. I have seen many
kids give up because they or their parents thought that they were not
gifted at the violin. Very often these kids didn't stand a chance
because their instruments were unplayable. A so called
“professional” setup is not always good enough (Any
person
earning money assembling instruments can call it a professional setup
whether or not they know what they are doing).
“
Every
violin needs work on the peg, nut, fingerboard, bridge, soundpost,
tailpiece and very often the strings need to be upgraded for good
sound. In my shop every instrument gets anywhere between ¾
of
an hour and 8 hours of setup work done before it is offered for sale.
“
When
your
child begins playing the violin, viola, cello or double bass, it is
important to start building up a relationship of trust between you,
your child and a violin maker, just as you do with your family
doctor. From day one, the setup, as well as the individual fitting to
the right sized instrument, the choice of chin rest, and good
shoulder rest adjustments can make all the difference as to whether
your child continues playing or gives up out of frustration.
Inadequate attention to any of these areas can result in shoulder and
back pain, as well as negative feelings toward the violin.
“
When
you
come to visit my shop please bring some extra time with you. We
always try to take our time to educate you, and we like you to take
your time to make the right decision. Please always bring your
child/children with you to select an instrument, for individual
fitting, as well as for a little 10 minute lecture in “ How
to look
after your instrument”.
Back to topNEWS
In
the meantime please contact Kate or Ilja by phone:
Freecall # 1800
88 2468
You
find our shop
in 20 Logan
Rd Woolloongabba/Brisbane QLD 4102
Tue
- Fri 10am to 5pm & Sat 10am - 2.30pm
We are looking
forward to see you
soon.
Ilja
Grawert
This
weeks "web page construction"
special click
here
