I’m here today because I love sound I love to make sound and I love to listen
love to make sound and I love to listen
love to make sound and I love to listen to sound I’m especially curious about
to sound I’m especially curious about
to sound I’m especially curious about how musicians use their instruments and
how musicians use their instruments and
how musicians use their instruments and how the quality of those instruments
how the quality of those instruments
how the quality of those instruments affects their experience while playing
affects their experience while playing
affects their experience while playing my name is Mike Murray and I’m a luthier
my name is Mike Murray and I’m a luthier
my name is Mike Murray and I’m a luthier I specialized in the repair restoration
I specialized in the repair restoration
I specialized in the repair restoration construction and professional setup of
construction and professional setup of
construction and professional setup of the violin family becoming a luthier is
the violin family becoming a luthier is
the violin family becoming a luthier is a crazy experience once I got past the a
a crazy experience once I got past the a
a crazy experience once I got past the a my totally nuts phase which for me it
my totally nuts phase which for me it
my totally nuts phase which for me it took like three years and you know it
took like three years and you know it
took like three years and you know it didn’t really help virtually everybody I
didn’t really help virtually everybody I
didn’t really help virtually everybody I talked to had super supportive views to
talked to had super supportive views to
talked to had super supportive views to share like well that’s a dying industry
or let’s see another one was are you
or let’s see another one was are you gonna do with that when you’re done I
gonna do with that when you’re done I
gonna do with that when you’re done I think my favorite was there any money in
think my favorite was there any money in
think my favorite was there any money in it I get it right I think I’ve heard
it I get it right I think I’ve heard
it I get it right I think I’ve heard them all and I understand the whole idea
them all and I understand the whole idea
them all and I understand the whole idea is totally romantic the question I get
is totally romantic the question I get
is totally romantic the question I get asked now is how how in the world do you
asked now is how how in the world do you
asked now is how how in the world do you become a luthier well the process is
become a luthier well the process is
become a luthier well the process is intense and as I’ve alluded to the most
intense and as I’ve alluded to the most
intense and as I’ve alluded to the most difficult part for me I think was
difficult part for me I think was
difficult part for me I think was getting started it was only after much
getting started it was only after much
getting started it was only after much hesitation self skepticism and
hesitation self skepticism and
hesitation self skepticism and opposition to the idea of being a
opposition to the idea of being a
opposition to the idea of being a totally poor artist for the rest of my
totally poor artist for the rest of my
totally poor artist for the rest of my life that I heated my gut and I began
life that I heated my gut and I began
life that I heated my gut and I began school in September of 2012 I chose to
school in September of 2012 I chose to
school in September of 2012 I chose to attend the violin making School of
attend the violin making School of
attend the violin making School of America in Salt Lake City Utah I chose
America in Salt Lake City Utah I chose
America in Salt Lake City Utah I chose to attend there
to attend there
to attend there because of its rich history renown and
because of its rich history renown and
because of its rich history renown and quality of education toted is one of the
quality of education toted is one of the
quality of education toted is one of the most prestigious instrument making
most prestigious instrument making
most prestigious instrument making institutions in the world it was started
institutions in the world it was started
institutions in the world it was started by pure prayer in 1972 seven years after
by pure prayer in 1972 seven years after
by pure prayer in 1972 seven years after he started his shop in 1965 where he not
he started his shop in 1965 where he not
he started his shop in 1965 where he not only excelled in the repair restoration
only excelled in the repair restoration
only excelled in the repair restoration sale and construction of instruments my
sale and construction of instruments my
sale and construction of instruments my infatuation with instruments began as a
infatuation with instruments began as a
infatuation with instruments began as a young person I took every chance I had
young person I took every chance I had
young person I took every chance I had to acquaint myself with a new instrument
to acquaint myself with a new instrument
to acquaint myself with a new instrument attempting to apply the years of music
attempting to apply the years of music
attempting to apply the years of music education that I’ve had my problem was
education that I’ve had my problem was
education that I’ve had my problem was that I couldn’t pick and stay with just
that I couldn’t pick and stay with just
that I couldn’t pick and stay with just one instrument they were way too many
one instrument they were way too many
one instrument they were way too many sounds to play with however during this
sounds to play with however during this
sounds to play with however during this time I did learn some important lessons
time I did learn some important lessons
time I did learn some important lessons lesson number one
lesson number one
lesson number one nice instruments are easier to play
nice instruments are easier to play
nice instruments are easier to play number two nice instruments
number two nice instruments
number two nice instruments generally speaking sound better lesson
generally speaking sound better lesson
generally speaking sound better lesson number three nice instruments are
number three nice instruments are
number three nice instruments are expensive with some antique instruments
expensive with some antique instruments
expensive with some antique instruments fetching prices of more than fifteen
fetching prices of more than fifteen
fetching prices of more than fifteen million dollars I thought yeah if I ever
million dollars I thought yeah if I ever
million dollars I thought yeah if I ever want a nice instrument I’m gonna have to
want a nice instrument I’m gonna have to
want a nice instrument I’m gonna have to make it myself thank goodness no prior
make it myself thank goodness no prior
make it myself thank goodness no prior woodworking experience is required to
woodworking experience is required to
woodworking experience is required to attend the school the curriculum is
attend the school the curriculum is
attend the school the curriculum is designed to develop and hone the ability
designed to develop and hone the ability
designed to develop and hone the ability of students no matter their skill level
of students no matter their skill level
of students no matter their skill level practical and conceptual woodworking
practical and conceptual woodworking
practical and conceptual woodworking methodology is a constant topic always
methodology is a constant topic always
methodology is a constant topic always with the goal in mind of improving the
with the goal in mind of improving the
with the goal in mind of improving the level of craftsmanship and quality and
level of craftsmanship and quality and
level of craftsmanship and quality and instrument making on the first day of
instrument making on the first day of
instrument making on the first day of school I was welcomed by a pile of wood
school I was welcomed by a pile of wood
school I was welcomed by a pile of wood on my newly assigned desk I had no idea
on my newly assigned desk I had no idea
on my newly assigned desk I had no idea I had no idea what I was getting into
I had no idea what I was getting into
I had no idea what I was getting into and many times over the course of my
and many times over the course of my
and many times over the course of my education there wanted to throw in the
education there wanted to throw in the
education there wanted to throw in the towel
before I began I thought you know it
before I began I thought you know it can’t be that difficult I’d grown up on
can’t be that difficult I’d grown up on
can’t be that difficult I’d grown up on a farm I’d helped build various homes
a farm I’d helped build various homes
a farm I’d helped build various homes I’ve used power tools and regular tools
I’ve used power tools and regular tools
I’ve used power tools and regular tools most of my life I thought it would be
most of my life I thought it would be
most of my life I thought it would be similar to building a birdhouse
similar to building a birdhouse
similar to building a birdhouse you know just one with strings the
you know just one with strings the
you know just one with strings the format of instruction is one on one you
format of instruction is one on one you
format of instruction is one on one you start at the beginning and you complete
start at the beginning and you complete
start at the beginning and you complete each step there’s lots of them to the
each step there’s lots of them to the
each step there’s lots of them to the highest level of quality possible–
highest level of quality possible–
highest level of quality possible– getting permission to move on or often
getting permission to move on or often
getting permission to move on or often start again instructors are there to
start again instructors are there to
start again instructors are there to teach you very carefully about
teach you very carefully about
teach you very carefully about craftsmanship and quality what that
craftsmanship and quality what that
craftsmanship and quality what that means and how it will affect the overall
means and how it will affect the overall
means and how it will affect the overall outcome of your instrument many lessons
outcome of your instrument many lessons
outcome of your instrument many lessons I scarcely understood then and continue
I scarcely understood then and continue
I scarcely understood then and continue to wrap my mind around now
to wrap my mind around now
to wrap my mind around now one such lesson is that of joining
one such lesson is that of joining
one such lesson is that of joining violin plates in the violin family the
violin plates in the violin family the
violin plates in the violin family the top plate and the back plate most often
top plate and the back plate most often
top plate and the back plate most often are two pieces of wood joined together
are two pieces of wood joined together
are two pieces of wood joined together in the center this task is completed
in the center this task is completed
in the center this task is completed using a tool known as a jointer plane by
using a tool known as a jointer plane by
using a tool known as a jointer plane by sliding the edges of the wood against
sliding the edges of the wood against
sliding the edges of the wood against the blade a smooth flat surface is
the blade a smooth flat surface is
the blade a smooth flat surface is created that joint has to be so close
created that joint has to be so close
created that joint has to be so close and so smooth that there’s no gapping
and so smooth that there’s no gapping
and so smooth that there’s no gapping between it and that when you try to rub
between it and that when you try to rub
between it and that when you try to rub those edges together it creates an
those edges together it creates an
those edges together it creates an enormous amount of friction so much so
enormous amount of friction so much so
enormous amount of friction so much so that trying to rub them together is
that trying to rub them together is
that trying to rub them together is really really difficult not an easy task
skills learned during the curriculum are
skills learned during the curriculum are tested at the very end students have to
tested at the very end students have to
tested at the very end students have to take three months out of their life and
take three months out of their life and
take three months out of their life and they build two instruments one is fully
they build two instruments one is fully
they build two instruments one is fully finished and
finished and
finished and varnished while the other is just
varnished while the other is just
varnished while the other is just prepared to be varnished and I have to
prepared to be varnished and I have to
prepared to be varnished and I have to do this away from school away from
do this away from school away from
do this away from school away from instruction it’s a massive massive
instruction it’s a massive massive
instruction it’s a massive massive challenge to complete especially while
challenge to complete especially while
challenge to complete especially while trying to maintain the high standards of
trying to maintain the high standards of
trying to maintain the high standards of quality the violin is an incredibly
quality the violin is an incredibly
quality the violin is an incredibly complex tool one that has changed a lot
complex tool one that has changed a lot
complex tool one that has changed a lot in high-quality instruments the
in high-quality instruments the
in high-quality instruments the standards or the tolerances are
standards or the tolerances are
standards or the tolerances are relatively tight concerning dimension
relatively tight concerning dimension
relatively tight concerning dimension shape size and setup these and other
shape size and setup these and other
shape size and setup these and other structural components have evolved over
structural components have evolved over
structural components have evolved over hundreds of years in response to the
hundreds of years in response to the
hundreds of years in response to the needs of players and composers making
needs of players and composers making
needs of players and composers making instruments louder easier and more
instruments louder easier and more
instruments louder easier and more ergonomic to play upon finishing my
ergonomic to play upon finishing my
ergonomic to play upon finishing my graduation work I excitedly accepted the
graduation work I excitedly accepted the
graduation work I excitedly accepted the opportunity to work at the Pierre and
opportunity to work at the Pierre and
opportunity to work at the Pierre and Sons violin shop working in that shop
Sons violin shop working in that shop
Sons violin shop working in that shop and being exposed to some of the highest
and being exposed to some of the highest
and being exposed to some of the highest quality and most rare antique
quality and most rare antique
quality and most rare antique instruments in the world has helped me
instruments in the world has helped me
instruments in the world has helped me to further understand the AI the idea
to further understand the AI the idea
to further understand the AI the idea behind design and the effort on behalf
behind design and the effort on behalf
behind design and the effort on behalf of luthiers that has gone into
of luthiers that has gone into
of luthiers that has gone into perfecting the violin my first exposure
perfecting the violin my first exposure
perfecting the violin my first exposure into the world of high quality goods was
into the world of high quality goods was
into the world of high quality goods was the violin making school the concept
the violin making school the concept
the violin making school the concept right this idea that an object could be
right this idea that an object could be
right this idea that an object could be designed and then created to last for
designed and then created to last for
designed and then created to last for hundreds of years as a foreign concept
hundreds of years as a foreign concept
hundreds of years as a foreign concept today or so would seem for example how
today or so would seem for example how
today or so would seem for example how many of us are wearing moderately
many of us are wearing moderately
many of us are wearing moderately uncomfortable shoes that cost very
uncomfortable shoes that cost very
uncomfortable shoes that cost very little and soon enough we’ll end up in a
little and soon enough we’ll end up in a
little and soon enough we’ll end up in a landfill the shorts shirt the piece of
landfill the shorts shirt the piece of
landfill the shorts shirt the piece of jewelry the watch the appliance the car
jewelry the watch the appliance the car
jewelry the watch the appliance the car I remember as a young person being
I remember as a young person being
I remember as a young person being introduced into the world of hyper
introduced into the world of hyper
introduced into the world of hyper consumerism from the electronics that I
consumerism from the electronics that I
consumerism from the electronics that I purchased to the clothes that I wore the
purchased to the clothes that I wore the
purchased to the clothes that I wore the cheaper the better and the shorter the
cheaper the better and the shorter the
cheaper the better and the shorter the duration
duration
duration you seemed to be the norm imagine my
you seemed to be the norm imagine my
you seemed to be the norm imagine my surprise when entering the violin school
surprise when entering the violin school
surprise when entering the violin school all of a sudden I was expected to create
all of a sudden I was expected to create
all of a sudden I was expected to create a high-quality work of art that I hoped
a high-quality work of art that I hoped
a high-quality work of art that I hoped would last for centuries not as a
would last for centuries not as a
would last for centuries not as a stationary object either but as a tool
stationary object either but as a tool
stationary object either but as a tool that musicians would use constantly I’ve
that musicians would use constantly I’ve
that musicians would use constantly I’ve experienced the wisdom and this approach
experienced the wisdom and this approach
experienced the wisdom and this approach not only would it help us in creating a
not only would it help us in creating a
not only would it help us in creating a brighter future but the utility that we
brighter future but the utility that we
brighter future but the utility that we experienced when consuming products that
experienced when consuming products that
experienced when consuming products that are better suited for our needs
are better suited for our needs
are better suited for our needs increases products would last longer
increases products would last longer
increases products would last longer cost less over time and the materials
cost less over time and the materials
cost less over time and the materials used in production would decrease not to
used in production would decrease not to
used in production would decrease not to mention our current trend of hyper
mention our current trend of hyper
mention our current trend of hyper consumerism is not sustainable it’s not
what would happen if we re learning
what would happen if we re learning goods were and we consumed only those
goods were and we consumed only those
goods were and we consumed only those Goods it’s an interesting idea one that
Goods it’s an interesting idea one that
Goods it’s an interesting idea one that I’ve learned a little bit about in the
I’ve learned a little bit about in the
I’ve learned a little bit about in the violin world as well how does this all
violin world as well how does this all
violin world as well how does this all translate to sound behind me I have two
translate to sound behind me I have two
translate to sound behind me I have two instruments ones of a higher quality
instruments ones of a higher quality
instruments ones of a higher quality ones of a lower quality but which ones
ones of a lower quality but which ones
ones of a lower quality but which ones the higher quality one I’ll let you
the higher quality one I’ll let you
the higher quality one I’ll let you decide to help illustrate the difference
decide to help illustrate the difference
decide to help illustrate the difference please welcome to the stage Hobe Salazar
please welcome to the stage Hobe Salazar
please welcome to the stage Hobe Salazar Fonseca
ladies and gentlemen quality matters
ladies and gentlemen quality matters thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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