Snippets from Jan and Anna, Gainesville Violins

Welcome to the second edition of our monthly electronic newsletter! You may cease receiving this filling out the form at www.gviolins.cc under Newsletter. However, we rather hope that you will enjoy this together with us.

Our phone number is (352) 372-8264 (between 1 and 6 pm; otherwise please leave a message). Our e-mail address is customercare@gviolins.cc, and our website which will answer many of your questions, is www.gviolins.cc.

FIDDLERS

Please remember the upcoming Sawgrass Fiddling Competition at Paynes Prairie, Saturday March 10. Although we are co-sponsors of this event, we will regrettably not be able to be there due to pressing duties in Tallahassee on that day. Call Annemieke Pronker-Coron for more information on Sawgrass: (352) 375-7151.

By the way, we have some gorgeous full-size "Mark O'Connor" fiddles, with Mark's facsimile signature on the front and the bridge cut according to a template of his bridge, on sale for $199.00 for a complete outfit, while supplies last .... "first come first served".

BOWS

We are official dealers of the now-famous composite CodaBows... space-age carbon-graphite sticks, real horsehair, sterling silver and sterling gold wrapping and inlay, finest ebony frogs .... and, best of all, LIFETIME guarantee. You can't beat that, and no-one can beat our prices. CALL US NOW. Also, check out www.codabow.com. The thousands of pro's, teachers, orchestra players, soloists, professors, and students who switched to CodaBow can't be wrong. We have sold several dozen of them since we got the dealership in December 2000. One testimony: "My $630 CodaBow Classic plays better than my previous $3,000.00 bow." Try them out and decide FOR YOURSELF.

HEIFETZ

Jascha Heifetz, Russian-American "Violinist of the Century", would have been 100 years old this year. On special order, we make copies of his 1742 Guarneri del Gesu violin (of which we have made a special study). See pictures in our website, www.gviolins.cc. Come to our shop to see and hear one of these. To order, you pay $1000 up front. I will then complete the violin in 3 to 6 months. Then you get it for 2 months tryout, no obligation. If you like it, you pay the balance of $19,000.00. If you return it, we refund you your $1000. BUT the great news is that, in honor of Heifetz's 100th anniversary, the first person to ask for this, can order a special nniversary violin (and duly inscribed as such) at a FIFTY PER CENT discount!!! $1000 down, $9000 later ... no obligation, though, just as the normal offer.)

We'd like to ask suggestions as to what our business could do in/for the community during 2001 in honor of Heifetz. Please send us your suggestions by hitting the "Reply" button before 3.7.2001. For the author of the suggestion that we eventually adopt, we have a special double CD of Heifetz as a gift.

THE SMALLEST VIOLINS

We have quite a selection of tiny 1/32-size violins, too cute for words, BUT real playable instruments. They are beautiful. We have the little outfits on sale for $175.00. CALL now to reserve yours! They make GREAT gifts. Some people buy them for their dolls. Others buy them as ornaments (wall hangings for the music room). But mostly people buy them... for little kids to play on! Offer ends 3/31/2001.

OLD OR NEW? SPECIAL OLDIE OF THE MONTH

Read in our website about the question whether old violins are necessarily better than new ones. We have an old violin as special of the month: a fine Widhalm (Nurnberg) dated 1857. Perfectly and ethically restored, great tone, enormously powerful, with focused projection. A true concert violin. Lifetime guarantee! Price reduced from $6K to $4K. Offer ends 3/15/2001. No trade-ins, payment in one lump sum please.

"LADY'S VIOLINS"

A smaller-than-4/4 violin is needed by many grownups and growing-ups who have shorter arms and smaller hands. Yet the sound must be like a 4/4, the body of which is typically 14 inches long. In days past these smaller-sized violins were called "Lady's Violins"; now we call them 7/8 violins. The bodies are typically 13 1/2 to 13 7/8 inches long. We now have stunning "Viennese Red" Johann Strauss II 7/8 violins available. Come try them out ... ladies AND gentlemen!

But no, this is no special. Our normal price for a full set of Thomastik Dominant strings, expertly fitted to your violin by us, is $25 plus tax. We think this is reasonable! (How much did you pay? Say again? Huh? WOW!!! You could have saved a LOT if you had come to us.)

SERVICE YOUR CAR

More important: let your INSTRUMENT be serviced by us well before State Festival in Avon Park. Reserve your spot in our busy timetable NOW. Call (352) 372-8264 (1 - 6 pm). We guarantee substantial tonal improvement.

LEOPOLD AUER SEZ...

"A supple, flexible wrist enables the production of a beautiful, singing tone, while a stiff and inflexible wrist invariably produces a tone of harsh, unmusical quality." QUESTION: Who was Leopold Auer? Mention two of his famous students. First correct e-mailed answer gets a free cake of Salchow rosin - the best.

LET FREEDOM RING

Dr Suzuki sez... listen to AS MANY recordings as possible of the work you are studying. Let the different interpretations feed your imagination. Then let your inner ear, your soul, instruct you as to how YOU will play it. Your teacher will help you, but not prescribe to you. Everybody must NOT play it the same ... that is tyranny. In speech development everybody talks slightly differently. So it must be with violin playing. Your freedom is so precious.

(It is different for orchestral music, of course. There, just as in a voice choir, you willingly sacrifice individuality for the benefit of the unity of the group, under direction of the conductor.)

NO INSIDER TRADING

Regrettably, no prizes may be won by Gainesville Violins "insiders" - apprentices, accountants, admin people, secretaries, assistants... sorry folks, your rewards lie elsewhere! :-)

Until next time, we take a bow. (A Coda bow ... hehehe.)
- Jan and Anna