Classic Violins

04/29/2026

Last week our woodwind shop did some pad work on a lesser seen member of the woodwind family: an alto flute. Alto flutes have a lower register than a “standard” flute, pitched a fourth below a “C” flute. This lower pitch is made possible by a wider bore (the “tube” that is the flute body is a larger diameter) and a longer overall body. The last four photos show the sections of the alto flute next to their corresponding sections of a standard “C” flute.

Alto flutes were largely standardized by the noted German woodwind designer Theobald Böhm (1794-1881) who introduced a more comfortable and compact key system to the instrument to make it more comfortable to play and increased the instrument’s popularity.

Many composers including Ravel, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and Holst wrote for alto flute. A great listening example is in Holst’s “The Planets” where the instrument is featured in “Neptune, The Mystic”. Give it a listen!

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️❤️

02/09/2026

This past week, a truly unique musical event unfolded near the snowy midwestern shore of Lake Michigan. Tucked away modestly at The DeKoven Center’s historic Taylor Hall just south of downtown Racine, Wisconsin, violinists from across the United States and across the Atlantic congregated to create music and camaraderie over five unforgettable days. Gatherings like this are rare: single-day convocations or afternoon master classes are common occurrences in the musical world, but multi-day multi-faceted and hyper-focused gatherings of violinists are not typical. A Violin Intensive is truly as the name suggests! The logistics required to bring dozens of musicians together, food, lodging, instructors, events, repertoire, ensembles… the list goes on. But through the vision of Darlene Rivest and the support of the Racine Symphony Orchestra, magic was made.

It was an honor for Classic Violins to play a small part in this historic event. One of our Luthiers, Spencer Hamann, was invited to be present on-site for the event and discuss instruments and adjustments with the violinists present, and provide emergency instrument maintenance if needed. He also presented a “violin tasting” as part of the programming: a double-blind listening opportunity where musicians were able to play and contemplate a selection of new and antique violins from all over the world.

If this event sounds like something you would be interested in, please make sure you follow the Racine Symphony Orchestra, and reach out to let them know. This event was one of a kind, a fantastic experience to learn from and work with world-class teachers and performers, but also explore human mechanics through Alexander Technique instruction, massage, and yoga practices: a holistic approach to playing.

01/30/2026

In the Spotlight: a demonstration of one of the fine violins available at our shop!

The violin is a 2024 copy of the “Ole Bull” Guarneri del Gesu. As you can hear from the video, the violin has strong and clear voice, brilliant tone, and even voice across its range.

For more information about this instrument or to purchase, please contact us at [email protected]

In the Spotlight: a demonstration of one of the fine violins available at Classic Violins!Label- Copy of "Ole Bull" Guarneri del Gesufrom the workshop ofKost...

12/16/2025

Both our Mundelein, Illinois and our Racine, Wisconsin shops will be closed from Wednesday, December 24 through Thursday, January 1 for the holidays. Both locations will open up again at 10am on Friday, January 2 for regular business.

12/12/2025

Looking for that perfect gift for the musician in your life? Or maybe yourself! Our holiday specials only come around once a year, and are our biggest discounts on instruments, cases, and bows!

11/26/2025

From all of us at Classic Violins, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving full of the people and things that bring you joy!

Our shops will be closed on Thursday and Friday November 27 and 28 for the holiday. But we’ll be back on Saturday November 29 and hope to see you then!

11/18/2025

Do you know about the Chicago Violin Competition?

From their website:

Top International Violin Competition Online – Chicago Violin Competition is an international violin competition held online from Chicago, providing promising young artists ages 7-28 the opportunity to showcase their talents on the world’s stage. CVC is a unique violin competition, setting a new standard in the musical community as an excellent opportunity for both talented young violinists and seasoned performers to deepen their abilities. Both Young Artist and Senior Artist divisions are assessed by world-renowned Judges. Additionally, you can also see the full list of past competition videos on our YouTube.

If you’re looking for a place to further your violin knowledge or ability, look at our blogs filled with a plethora of useful information relating to the Violin.

CVC is creating a new landscape in the international violin competition world with a unique virtual way of participating, inspiring young talented violinists to reach for the stars! Look below to learn how to register for the international violin competition in Chicago"

The deadline for application is August 31, 2026, and the competition takes place November 22, 2026. Check it out and consider registering or encouraging your students to register!

Chicago International Violin Competition is an online violin competition! Young Artist - ages 7-17yrs old & Senior Artist ages 18-28yr old