From the field

Blog

  • Getting Ready for Showtime

    February 2025 I was humbled to have presented a repair and maintenance session at the annual TMEA conference in San Antonio.  February 2026 I’m elated to return as an exhibitor.

    Presenting was such a highlight but came with a time limit and was a one-way conversation. As an exhibitor I can talk to people, learn about their repair needs, meet fellow teacher/repairers, inspire future teacher/repairers, and hopefully convey my passion for what I do in a genuine fashion.  Showing people how they can take charge of their repair timeline and budget instead of being beholden to chaos is truly why I love doing this.

    Furthermore, I want to honor the community that helped get me to this point.  My administrator who first encouraged me to share my repair knowledge with my fellow teachers.  My husband who efforts to steer me toward success with tolerance for my stubbornness.  My college professor who, despite needing to leave the house, replied quite lengthily to my request for suggestions for having a positive convention experience.  My students who provide new and exciting repair needs on a regular basis.  My luthier instructors that are endlessly patient and encouraging.  My peers who cheer me on and provide honest feedback regarding my repair work.

    What is my Fiddle Care booth for?  Who is my booth for?  When you visit my Fiddle Care booth at TMEA 2026 know that it is teacher-owned, teacher-led small business providing knowledge and skills to string educators to tackle basic maintenance and repair before engaging your local luthier.

    Come find me!

    I am the teacher in a luthier apron at the yellow and blue Fiddle Care booth who can’t wait to talk repair with you!

  • My $20,000 Flexible Ruler

    The journey of a flexible ruler from Mittenwald, Germany to North Adams, Massachusetts.

    You’ve come a LONG way, baby!
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  • We Have a New Winner!

    Violin repair school this June was incredible.  A thorough review of basic set-up skills such as fitting new pegs, fingerboards, top nuts, soundposts, and bridges.  Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Berkshires, I made excellent progress, and life was beautiful.

    North Adams, Massachusetts
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  • All In My Head

    For a little while, my Achilles heel has been soundposts.  Setting, fitting, adjusting them…all of the above.  I’d decided in my mind that no matter how hard I tried, that little stick was going to get the best of me, and that’s all there was to it.  I was going to lose every time, so I got used to being frustrated, disappointed, and embarrassed with my abilities.

    The little stick (a.k.a. The soundpost)
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  • The Importance of Winterizing Your Fleet

    “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

    – Ben Franklin, 1735 regarding fire safety in Philly

    If you usually have your classroom instruments on racks for convenient racks, like I do, the thought of casing them all up every time it gets cold sounds daunting.  But doing so protects your fleet from open seams, cracks, broken strings, and warping (bow included).  Here’s your suggested game plan for three different scenarios.

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  • Passing the time with bows

    Checking the angles of the tip plug.

    After a long week at school I chose to unwind by rehairing some bows.  The quiet, the unique nature of each bow, and the possibilities each piece of musical materiel I return to service fuel my passion for repair.

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