Mr Violin Reviews
My music school made the news!
https://abc11.com/community-music-school-longleaf-of-the-arts-raleigh-lessons-affordable/10978246/
Mr Violin
9 reviews
Lesson Review
"I am writing to follow-up on our many conversations and quests for competent violin teachers who can inspire and be patient with our children. (My daughter) has begun lessons with Adam Ainsworth. We have known Adam for the last 6 years or so since (my daughter) started playing the violin, and have always found him to be a kind, gentle and brilliant guy, a young renaissance man, actually. He was working at Hammond Ashley for several years and now is working as a performer, private teacher and appraiser.
(My daughter) has had 3 lessons with him and he is WONDERFUL and a very skilled teacher! Yesterday, he told me that he has room for more students. And it gets even better! He travels to our home for the lessons..."
(My daughter) has had 3 lessons with him and he is WONDERFUL and a very skilled teacher! Yesterday, he told me that he has room for more students. And it gets even better! He travels to our home for the lessons..."
Appraisal Reviews
4/4 Violin French-made early 1900's
2012
2012
A perpetual item on my to-do list has been to get my violin appraised
and decide if I need to add it to my insurance. While looking for a 3/4 size
violin for my daughter, I ran across Mr Violin's advertisement and visited his
web-site. He is in San Diego and offers on-line photo and in-person appraisals.
He will come to you, a real plus.
We exchanged a few e-mails and decided to begin with an on-line appraisal.
My husband is an excellent photographer, so the photos I provided were good.
Mr Violin, aka Adam, quickly got back to me with an astounding amount of
information about my instrument and bows. I have owned this violin for 30 years
and thought I knew all about it, but he provided all sorts of fascinating tidbits.
Short example:
"It has 'rolled-up' edges which gives it, as they would say in the old English
vernacular violin books, a statement about its "vanity"; hence, French. The
English schools would "roll up" their edges more stoutly (or carve them out)
and refer to them as 'beer channels'. Luthiers are an interesting bunch."
Mr Violin also included helpful information about homeowners/renters insurance
that again, I didn't know. I have since verified that information with my agent.
All in all, I found working with Mr Violin to be easy and worthwhile. He is
thorough, articulate, prompt, easy to work with and his prices seem reasonable.
Best part of all - it was really fascinating to learn about my violin.
---K. G.
Appraisal Instrument: Lorezno Storioni circa 1793
2012
2012
“There are times when someone goes above and beyond the call of duty. In the business world, it's what we hope to see, but often settle for less. Fortunately, I have had the recent privilege of experiencing first rate customer service with Mr. Adam Ainsworth, Mr Violin's owner. I sent some violin pictures for an online appraisal, to which he promptly replied with an unbelievable appraisal.; also demonstrated that He is a respectable appraiser with a huge knowledge in this area., I can honestly say he went the extra mile(s) and deserve proper kudos In doing so.”
G. R.
Ensenada B.C. México
G. R.
Ensenada B.C. México
Donation Thank You Letter
Sunday, March 21st, 2010
Dear Enthrall Inc. and Adam Ainsworth at Hammond Ashley Violins,
I’m writing this today to thank you on behalf of KIPP Adelante Preparatory
Academy for the donation of a new student violin to our orchestra program. It will be
used by a promising and needy student for the remainder of the school year, and will be
made available to students for years to come.
As a public charter school that caters to underserved youth in our community, we
try to provide a well-rounded and high-quality education to our students that they
typically aren’t offered in their local public schools. Part of our program is an all-inclusive
enrichment program, where every student in our school gets to learn to play a
string enrichment, take art classes, and learn how to use computers and computer
technology. Your donation helps bolster the supply of school owned instruments we are
able to offer for use to our students, and will surely enable countless students to enjoy
learning to play the violin and express themselves musically. An overwhelming majority
of our students come from economically disadvantaged households and cannot afford to
rent or purchase instruments on their own, thus they count on our school being able to
offer these tools so they can be successful in our orchestra program. This new donation
will give a deserving student the opportunity to have an instrument to practice on at
home, and it will also be utilized in our school performances. In these times of economic
uncertainty and drastic cuts in education funding it is a breath of fresh air to know there
are still individuals and organizations that recognize the power of music and music
education and who are willing to help out in what ways they can to make sure children
everywhere have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument and connect with
something that is much bigger than themselves.
Again, we are very appreciative of your generous contribution to our program and
hope that one day you will be able to visit our school and see how your donation has been
put to good use.
Musically yours,
T. D.
Orchestra Director
KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy
Dear Enthrall Inc. and Adam Ainsworth at Hammond Ashley Violins,
I’m writing this today to thank you on behalf of KIPP Adelante Preparatory
Academy for the donation of a new student violin to our orchestra program. It will be
used by a promising and needy student for the remainder of the school year, and will be
made available to students for years to come.
As a public charter school that caters to underserved youth in our community, we
try to provide a well-rounded and high-quality education to our students that they
typically aren’t offered in their local public schools. Part of our program is an all-inclusive
enrichment program, where every student in our school gets to learn to play a
string enrichment, take art classes, and learn how to use computers and computer
technology. Your donation helps bolster the supply of school owned instruments we are
able to offer for use to our students, and will surely enable countless students to enjoy
learning to play the violin and express themselves musically. An overwhelming majority
of our students come from economically disadvantaged households and cannot afford to
rent or purchase instruments on their own, thus they count on our school being able to
offer these tools so they can be successful in our orchestra program. This new donation
will give a deserving student the opportunity to have an instrument to practice on at
home, and it will also be utilized in our school performances. In these times of economic
uncertainty and drastic cuts in education funding it is a breath of fresh air to know there
are still individuals and organizations that recognize the power of music and music
education and who are willing to help out in what ways they can to make sure children
everywhere have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument and connect with
something that is much bigger than themselves.
Again, we are very appreciative of your generous contribution to our program and
hope that one day you will be able to visit our school and see how your donation has been
put to good use.
Musically yours,
T. D.
Orchestra Director
KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy
Performance Review
Review of live performance in downtown La Jolla by Ben Sobel
Acoustic Evenings at The Athenaeum
Acoustic Evenings at the Athenaeum Last night, I went to the final concert in the Athenaeum’s “Acoustic Evenings at the Athenaeum” series, featuring Madera, a group with an interesting, genre-transcending sound; singer-songwriter Jane Lui; and singer-songwriter Jenn Grinels. The experience was really different from any other Athenaeum concert I had been to before; the intimidating atmosphere of the concert halls that I remember from my younger years dissolved into the comfort of the Library’s Joan and Irwin Jacobs Music Room.
I got to the Athenaeum as soon as the house opened (7:00, half an hour before the concert began). I caught a glimpse of Adam Ainsworth, Madera’s violinist, warming up with some burning licks as I staked out a good seat. I then watched as Ms. Lui sound-checked her glockenspiel and music box, two surprisingly unconventional devices that she used in her performance to great effect. Before the show, I heard a man in the audience ask a woman near him:
“Is this the first one you’ve been to?”
“Yes.”
“They’re good – really good.”
This actually happened, and I’m happy to say that after the concert was over I was just as enthusiastic about the Acoustic Evenings Series.
Soon after, 7:30 arrived – time for Jefferson Jay, the night’s MC, to introduce the show. He began with an amusing monologue about his search for an opening act (the opening act turned out to be a song written and played by Jefferson himself) and showed the audience his latest acquisition: a pair of the world’s largest pants.
Naturally, this was a hard act for Madera, the night’s first scheduled performers, to follow, but they did so admirably. Their songs fused Spanish and Latin American rhythm and harmony with hard-hitting, American sensibilities, and their driving rhythms were so infectious that the woman seated next to me was enthusiastically drumming on her legs throughout the performance.
Next up was Jane Lui, who, despite an early disclaimer about her not being “opera material,” wowed the audience with her soaring, breathy, and almost ethereal vocals, as well as her imaginative performances (glockenspiels and music boxes, anyone?).
The concert concluded with Jenn Grinels’s soulful vocal performance. She interspersed her original tunes with charming banter, and the audience loved it! To the performer’s delight, several people yelled things like “Nailed it!” and “That was great!” when she finished a song. Her final song, an encore, was a killer cover of Aretha Franklin’s “I Never Loved a Man (The Way That I Love You)”
In short, the Acoustic Evenings at the Athenaeum series offered me an intimate, comfortable musical experience – one unlike any I had encountered with the Athenaeum before, and I’m looking forward to the next season!
For audience members interested in further information about the artists and their performances (song names in quotes are based on introductions, and all songs are assumed to be written by the performers unless otherwise specified):
Madera: Adam Ainsworth (violin), Andre Elias (guitar, vocals), Kasey Wallrath (cajon)
Songs Played: Original (Adam Ainsworth), Blue Widow, Sabrosa, Ruminations, Leviathan, Untitled.
Jane Lui: Jane Lui (piano, vocals, glockenspiel, music box, guitar).
Songs played: Untitled original, Animal Migration Song, Imaginary Friends, Untitled, Firefly
Jenn Grinels: Jenn Grinels (guitar, vocals).
Songs played: Soundcheck (Misery Loves Company), Little Words, Untitled (segue into “Moon Dance” {V. Morrison}), Can’t Stay Here, Don’t Wanna Be Happy, “Brand Brand New Song,” Closure, Crutch, Know Better, Encore: I Never Loved a Man (The Way That I Love You) (R. Shannon).
Madera will not be performing any upcoming concerts due to guitarist/vocalist Andre Elias’s traveling to Seattle to pursue a PhD in Ethnomusicology.
Jane Lui will be performing at Lestat’s on July 31st.
All artists have CDs available.
link:
http://ljathenaeum.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/acoustic-evenings-at-the-athenaeum/
I got to the Athenaeum as soon as the house opened (7:00, half an hour before the concert began). I caught a glimpse of Adam Ainsworth, Madera’s violinist, warming up with some burning licks as I staked out a good seat. I then watched as Ms. Lui sound-checked her glockenspiel and music box, two surprisingly unconventional devices that she used in her performance to great effect. Before the show, I heard a man in the audience ask a woman near him:
“Is this the first one you’ve been to?”
“Yes.”
“They’re good – really good.”
This actually happened, and I’m happy to say that after the concert was over I was just as enthusiastic about the Acoustic Evenings Series.
Soon after, 7:30 arrived – time for Jefferson Jay, the night’s MC, to introduce the show. He began with an amusing monologue about his search for an opening act (the opening act turned out to be a song written and played by Jefferson himself) and showed the audience his latest acquisition: a pair of the world’s largest pants.
Naturally, this was a hard act for Madera, the night’s first scheduled performers, to follow, but they did so admirably. Their songs fused Spanish and Latin American rhythm and harmony with hard-hitting, American sensibilities, and their driving rhythms were so infectious that the woman seated next to me was enthusiastically drumming on her legs throughout the performance.
Next up was Jane Lui, who, despite an early disclaimer about her not being “opera material,” wowed the audience with her soaring, breathy, and almost ethereal vocals, as well as her imaginative performances (glockenspiels and music boxes, anyone?).
The concert concluded with Jenn Grinels’s soulful vocal performance. She interspersed her original tunes with charming banter, and the audience loved it! To the performer’s delight, several people yelled things like “Nailed it!” and “That was great!” when she finished a song. Her final song, an encore, was a killer cover of Aretha Franklin’s “I Never Loved a Man (The Way That I Love You)”
In short, the Acoustic Evenings at the Athenaeum series offered me an intimate, comfortable musical experience – one unlike any I had encountered with the Athenaeum before, and I’m looking forward to the next season!
For audience members interested in further information about the artists and their performances (song names in quotes are based on introductions, and all songs are assumed to be written by the performers unless otherwise specified):
Madera: Adam Ainsworth (violin), Andre Elias (guitar, vocals), Kasey Wallrath (cajon)
Songs Played: Original (Adam Ainsworth), Blue Widow, Sabrosa, Ruminations, Leviathan, Untitled.
Jane Lui: Jane Lui (piano, vocals, glockenspiel, music box, guitar).
Songs played: Untitled original, Animal Migration Song, Imaginary Friends, Untitled, Firefly
Jenn Grinels: Jenn Grinels (guitar, vocals).
Songs played: Soundcheck (Misery Loves Company), Little Words, Untitled (segue into “Moon Dance” {V. Morrison}), Can’t Stay Here, Don’t Wanna Be Happy, “Brand Brand New Song,” Closure, Crutch, Know Better, Encore: I Never Loved a Man (The Way That I Love You) (R. Shannon).
Madera will not be performing any upcoming concerts due to guitarist/vocalist Andre Elias’s traveling to Seattle to pursue a PhD in Ethnomusicology.
Jane Lui will be performing at Lestat’s on July 31st.
All artists have CDs available.
link:
http://ljathenaeum.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/acoustic-evenings-at-the-athenaeum/