Andrew Dynamite

Spending more than £20,000 on a violin is a special moment in a musician’s life. It usually comes after years of study, many concerts, countless scales, and a quiet realisation that your current instrument is no longer keeping up with you. It is also the moment when rational thought becomes… optional. Before emotion takes full control of your credit card, here are a few things every serious musician should know. 1. You Are Not Buying Wood. You Are Buying Possibility. At this level, you are...

Before my hands ever met maple and spruce, I was a violinist. Not just any violinist — I was first violin in a Ukrainian symphonic orchestra , living the life of rehearsals, solos, and the occasional fingernail disaster. Music was everything, and the violin was my constant companion. But as every serious player knows, there’s always that nagging question: Is there a better violin out there? I decided to find out. I saved every penny to buy the violin I had been dreaming of — the one that...

Italian violins have always lived somewhere between reality and legend. For centuries, they have been spoken about in lowered voices, admired from a distance, and surrounded by stories that blur craftsmanship with mystery. Some of these stories illuminate the truth. Others, while entertaining, tend to distract from what truly matters. Let’s step quietly into the workshop and examine the most persistent myths — with respect for tradition, and clarity grounded in fact. Myth 1: Italian violins...