What is Violin Making Academy?
The VIOLIN MAKING Academy is, well, it is an academy for Violin Making lol.
The VIOLIN MAKING Academy consist a total of 21+ hours of educational content where international Violin Maker Corvus Kwok will take you through every single steps of the making, from getting the tools and the workshop well-set, learning how to hold the tools, to sawing, cutting, assembling, varnishing and setting up the whole violin. Plus a full guide on tools and workshop preparation, along with all the basic woodworking skill you'll need for making a violin, You will be fine even if making a violin is your first woodworking project.
What will I learn?
Tools Usage
Learn the basic woodworking skill needed for making a violin, even musicians can do it!
Sharpening
Learn to sharpen your tools like a professional violin maker.
Varnishing
Learn the safest and easiest way to make and apply your own varnish
Structure
Discover the theory underlying the design and learn what makes a violin, a violin.
Violin Making
Of course, every single steps of the making even if you don't understand the structure, yet.
Set Ups
Learn to set up your violin, so no panicking even if the sound post fall down 8 mins before concerts.
Do you always want to make a violin, but there are just too many obstacles?
Learning Violin Making usually requires you to put everything behind, travel very far, take years and risk it all, while you still can't be sure if you can learn the right thing from the right people.
Now with Violin Making Academy, You can realistically fulfill your dream from the comfort of your own home.
Course Curriculum
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
Well-known 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
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
“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
Do you wanna build a violin?
Come on let's go and play!
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Closer Look
You'll get to see how I do each and every step very very closely, as if we are sharing vision.
Highest Quailty Videos
I've took the time to ensure the filming quality is at the best, not just roll and talk and forgot about focusing. You'll get to see every single detail I am working on very very clearly.
High Effort Keynotes
Since low effort whiteboard drawings are hard to look at in videos. You'll get to learn about the violin structure and the theory underlying the design along with my clean & direct Keynotes Presentations.
