As a violinmaker I am always looking for ways to improve the sound and level of my instruments, one of them being competitions. I just returned from a violin competition in Tucson Arizona, sponsored by theViolin Makers Association of Arizona International. VMAAI is a non-profit, educational organization founded in 1958, the oldest of its kind in the USA. It was a very rewarding trip for several reasons.  

The first was the presence of the workmanship judge Christopher Germain, former President of the Violin Society of America and a well respected authority in the violin world. It is always great opportunity to have your instrument critiqued in a way that you can learn and grow from, helping you become a better maker.  

The second was that it is an opportunity to meet with your fellow violinmakers and share ideas and information. There were makers there from all over the US and even a few international entries.

The third reason is that we had an opportunity to listen to our instruments being played by professionals and then having the chance to get their feedback on what a musician looks and listens for. This all comes together in the making of better instruments. There are very good instruments being made by living makers today and that should be taken into consideration by the today's players.  

On a related note, I was reminded about the importance of properly humidifying your instruments. The impact it can have when traveling or with winter quickly approaching is dramatic and potentially damaging. When my violin arrived in Tucson, it did not sound like itself and needed time to acclimate to the extreme dry air there. Keeping a humidifier in your arsenal will help protect your instruments from this trauma in the winter months.

-Alex Reza