<![CDATA[ - Stamell Strings Blog]]>

<![CDATA[ - Stamell Strings Blog]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 02:51:39 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[“Through the F Hole”]]>Fri, 04 May 2012 07:18:56 -0800http://www.stamellstring.com/1/post/2012/05/through-the-f-hole.html May 4, 2012

Today is my daughter Molly’s 23rd birthday. The shop opened on April 12, 1989. Less than a month later my daughter Molly was born. Soon after she was born, I started to bring her to work and she would reside on a blanket under my workbench. As the shop had just opened, I could not take time off, so I brought her with me. Now, 23 years later, I am reflecting on what the violin trade has taught me. It is something that my daughters have taught me as well: patience.

I am not a patient person by nature, but the violin teaches us patience. It teaches us to be patient while learning to play. It teaches us patience in the making and restoring as well. Nothing good can happen quickly with the violin; every step, from the design, the crafting, the sharpening of tools, the bow hold, the training of the ear to know if you are playing in tune- all if it requires a great deal of patience. It requires patience to be the parent of a string player. The longer I work with these instruments, the more I learn and relearn the same lesson: patience required!

This is truly what the world needs. We need patience. We need the ability to understand things that are out of our comfort zone. And, we need tenacity along with the patience.

Hey, the violin is not going to solve the problems of the world. However, it may contribute in its small way to a better place if we learn what it has to teach us.

Matt Stamell

]]><![CDATA[We now are offering our own line of violin, viola, cello, and bass bows!]]>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:38:46 -0800http://www.stamellstring.com/1/post/2012/04/we-now-are-offering-our-own-line-of-violin-viola-cello-and-bass-bows.htmlS.Stamell Pernambuco Bows
Priced at $350 and up "S. Stamell" bows are made from pernambuco with either nickel or silver mounted frogs. These bows are excellent for advancing player with both strength and suppleness, and come with a warmer sound than carbon fiber bows.

These bows are named for Sid Stamell, 1926-2007.
]]><![CDATA[Interesting article on how we perceive the differences in great instruments]]>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:34:48 -0800http://www.stamellstring.com/1/post/2012/01/interesting-article-on-how-we-perceive-the-differences-in-great-instruments.htmlCheck out the NPR article here:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2012/01/02/144482863/double-blind-violin-test-can-you-pick-the-strad
]]><![CDATA[Our Weekly Music Recommendation]]>Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:32:33 -0800http://www.stamellstring.com/1/post/2011/08/our-weekly-music-recommendation.htmlRandal Bays' Newest Album - Oyster Light

My good friend, the great Irish fiddle player, Randal Bays, was sitting in my kitchen playing incredible Celtic music one night, on guitar. I knew that Randal had been trained as a classical guitarist, but what I heard that night really blew me away. I suggested he make a recording. That is exactly what he did.

The CD Oyster Light is truly a gem; not only does it show Randal’s virtuosity on the guitar, it is also a melodic journey, full or richness and emotion. The phrasing and texture is tasteful and full; the choice of material is varied in terms of key signature and rhythm.

Randal adds extra depth and richness to the sound with an overlay of violin and viola, and the New York cellist Abby Newton adds exquisite cello lines.

If you love good Celtic music, I highly recommend this CD to you.

Matt Stamell

You can find his CD at our location in Amherst, MA or visit his website: http://www.randalbays.com

]]><![CDATA[Hobart and William Smith Folk Festival]]>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:15:18 -0800http://www.stamellstring.com/1/post/2011/06/hobart-and-william-smith-folk-festival.html The year was 1976 and I was a student at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y. That year I organized the first Hobart and William Smith Folk Festival, which continued unabated for 27 years. One of my favorite things was to find and hire the performers, and among them was The Correctone String Band. The lead fiddle player was John Specker, and the band came for 3 consecutive years, playing up a storm for 2-3 days.

Years later, 35 to be exact, I find myself working on some of John’s violins! John now lives in Vermont, but continues to make authentic American old time music, now with his two daughters upon occasion. A few years back when John wandered into my shop, I reminded him of the old days, and gave him a recording of one of his performances with the Correctones at Hobart. He just gave me a CD of some reissued recordings of his from 1974. There is something very pleasing about the continuity of long relationships.

Matt Stamell

Amherst, Ma.

]]><![CDATA[First Post!]]>Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.stamellstring.com/1/post/2011/05/first-post.html

Welcome to our Stamell Strings Blog!

Thank you for visiting our new website and blog. This is where old, new and current customers can check out current offering and sales, as well as learn and thing or two from trained luthier and musician, Matt Stamell, owner of Stamell Stringed Instruments.

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