Despite  the global economic crisis, sales of unique and high-level instruments are increasing significantly worldwide.

More than a symbol of luxury, owning and trading valuable musical instruments indicates a certain sensitivity for the arts and music, a privilege and at the same time the taste to lend such rare objects to highly talented musicians. The rare instrument market relies on experts to understand, administer and grow this exclusive sector.

The Master in Violin Business Foundations and Placement has been specially designed for students who aspire to careers in the global rare instrument market.

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WHO IS IT FOR?
Applicants for this Masters are interested in knowing how to start and run a commercial business as violinmakers and dealers. Academia Cremonensis helps students in this course refine problem solving approaches that are vital to success in a for-profit career, such as sales techniques, negotiation strategies, and workshop management methods. 
At the same time, the academy attaches great importance to technical ability in order to train a new type of violin dealer, able to make a professional instrument and better understand instruments and musicians.

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Mandatory documents: 
- Official undergraduate degree/diploma in violinmaking, engineering or architecture, technical engineering and technical architecture or, for foreign qualifications, the equivalent qualification awarded by an accredited higher education institution). Qualifications can be in the following academic areas: Violinmaking, Design, Music, Engineering, History of Art, Languages and Literature, History, Education Sciences, Fine Arts and Architecture
- Academic transcript of the accredited official training with the average grade at the university of origin
- Curriculum Vitae in English or Italian
- A study proposal in English or Italian (600 to 800 words)
- Language skills declaration 
- Identity Card or Passport

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Optional documents:

- A letter of recommendation
- Professional experience in any of the fields related to the master’s programme
- Research experience
- Teaching experience
- Additional academic training in areas related to the master’s programme
- Additional professional experience

In addition, the Departments’ selection committee may decide to interview the candidate

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CAREER PROSPECTS 

Objectives:
- Enhance all the phases of the violinmaking process by:
                           - The application of traditional techniques
                           - Players-centered design solutions
- Know the current situation of contemporary violinmaking, participating in the course through some of the most relevant masters of Cremona.
- Experience the knowledge acquired through the realization of professional instruments and participate to competitions.  
- Provide solid knowledge about the latest technologies in the industry and the different materials that the market offers, in order to develop the product in the most simple and effective way.
- Learn about the technological properties of the wood and the production costs of an instrument to take the best decisions in the course of its development.
- Study and evaluate the concrete decisions that are made on a product development project through the exposure and discussion of real projects made by the Greatest Masters.

COMPETENCES 
Transversal competences:
- Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams to manage different aspects of violinmaking
- Ability to identify various methods and styles
 
Specific competences:
- Ability to create an instrument with a personal style, from the conceptual phase to the technical development.
- Ability to evaluate the functional, aesthetic, cultural, economic and communicative implications of one’s style to be developed.
- Ability to apply the knowledge acquired from the selection of materials, from the transformation and simulation processes, to the project of redesign or optimization of a product
- Ability to use the instruments built at school as a validation tool for personal projects

 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES 
In the world there are about 1,900 luthier craftsmen who sell professional instruments sold in excess of € 10,000, of which 160 in Cremona. Despite the concentration, the Cremona trade enjoys an incredible fortune due to the variety and professionalism of the work of each workshop
For many years, American, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese dealers have been coming to Cremona on time to try and buy new instruments
At the end of the course, the students of the Master in VBFP have the right skills and are already part of the network of dealers, players and luthiers.

A Master in Violin Business Foundations and Placement can help prepare you to be a:
•    Violin Dealer
•    Independent Luthier
•    Instrument and bow technician for set-up of student instruments and rentals and bow rehair
•    Maintainer of private collections and Museums
•    violin making teacher at professional violin making institutes in the world