Local Shop Expands Product Lines of Violins, Bows, Accessories and Sheet Music

 

Violin in burgundy shirt and glasses holding two violins

Fiddleheads Violins!

Fiddleheads Violin School announces the expansion of local shop Fiddleheads Violins which is now an online shop specializing in quality stringed instruments and bows, accessories, books and other specialty string items.

Owner and violin instructor Rhiannon Nachbaur [Schmitt at the time of this press release], age 27, has a deep understanding of her violins and their specialized construction. The award-winning businesswoman's expertise serving her own students has attracted frequent calls from players from across the region seeking advice on anything from an instrument purchase, where to find specialty accessories, and how to get the best instrument for their limited budgets.

"There are so many violin and stringed instrument products to choose from in so many price ranges that it's hard to know what is best for them individual," she said.

 

"Buying an instrument is an expensive investment and you want to make an informed decision. Most general music shops just have a stack of distributor catalogs and know very little about what they're selling, and my shop is changing that."

Violins hanging side by side in Fiddleheads' shop


No One Ever Regretted Buying Quality

As an instructor Rhiannon is continually frustrated by high-priced, poor quality student violins she sees so many players using, explaining that a poor instrument is far more difficult to play.

"You need the right tool for the job, a violin that responds and gives back what you put into it. A good violin makes a player stronger, so no one ever regretted buying a quality instrument."

She added that the biggest price tag doesn't necessarily mean the best quality. "Many violin shops have gouged their customers for years because they had a monopoly on the information. My customers receive an education as well as fair pricing when they deal with me."

Nachbaur sees her store as an great opportunity to "talk shop" and provide exceptional service to fellow string players at reasonable prices. She carries and has access to special order a wide range of items, from specialty shoulder rests from Germany, to various types of rosin and space-saving double cases for two instruments.

 

Violin in a case with two coloured bows

 

Unique Offerings

Three products of note are carbon fibre bows, a limited series of "wild animal" art violins [pictured below] and her staple student violins made by an award-winning maker's workshop.

"My carbon fibre bows play like a pernambuco bow, but are far more affordable and robust," she said.

Many Shuswap/Okanagan area teachers and players use Rhiannon's coloured carbon bows, including local fiddle teacher Dick Owings, musicians in the nearby Kamloops Symphony and countlesss amateur players around the Southern Interior.


Blue violin with butterfliesLeopard violin Dalmation violin Spider painted yellow violin Dalmation violin

 

[Discontinued by the maker] "Zoolins" are novelty violins made in Europe and embellished with fun hand-applied animal designs. Nachbaur says the butterflies violin is the most popular, but other patterns include cow, leopard, Dalmatian, spiders, tiger, peacock, and zebra. The purely decorative instruments are in limited supply as they came from the estate of a deceased luthier, so they are selling out fast.

Sun violins' backs

 

The Violins

Something that won't sell out any time soon is the Fiddleheads series of student violins specially-commissioned from the workshop Xuechang Sun [pictured above], winner of awards with the Violin Society of America maker's competition. The violins are available in three levels so all students have a price point depending on their budget starting under $400 for the base model, as shown in the photos.

Past your student years? Fiddleheads has its own line of advanced to professional violins and violas, with cellos and basses by special order. Her current top European levels go for up to $10,000.

 

Phone 1-833-3-VIOLIN or visit www.Fiddleheads.com to view the catalogue. The online store is in the works and will be ready for orders in the next few weeks.