Musikstudio "Soli Deo Gloria"

01/07/2025

A bittersweet weekend as we said goodbye to the Reimer Family.

Trina, Corey, Noah, Mia, Leah and Milo have been involved in the Jugendsinfonieorchester des Landkreises Kaiserslautern since its beginning, and also helped us to renovate and establish our Musikstudio in 2023. Leah plays violin and studies oboe with Dr. Reese, and has progressed exceptionally quickly.

Corey retired from the Air Force in June, and the Reimers must return to the US. Before they left, though, we took a short trip together to Paris, where Leah was able to try out some professional Lorée oboes at the Lorée - de Gourdon workshop. (Thanks to the De Gourdon team for their incredible hospitality!) We also sent the Reimers off with a beautiful and unique Lion's Head violin, a 1900 black beauty from Markneukirchen with a rosewood fingerboard and fittings.

We wish the Reiners the very best as they continue their adventure together!

27/06/2025

Woodwind instrument demonstrations at Albert Schweitzer Gymnasium, Kaiserslautern.

10/06/2025

Recent post by the Kaiserslautern county government regarding our recent Jugendsinfonieorchester des Landkreises Kaiserslautern concert, with some photos taken KMS photographer Andreas Neigel!

24/05/2025

On the workbench this week: a professional Marigaux 901 full-conservatory oboe from the 1970s!

This instrument arrived from France in rough but servicable shape, but with some signifigant pitting of the silver keys. I did a full overhaul, which involved disassembling the oboe, cleaning the body, buffing/polishing the keys, then replacing springs, corks and pads. You can follow me step by step through the restoration process in the photos and captions.

This project turned out very well; this oboe looks great, plays like new, and is ready to make many years of music with a new owner!

24/05/2025

JSOKL Concert coming up on June 5th!

Herzliche Einladung zum Junikonzert des Jugendsinfonieorchesters des Landkreises Kaiserslautern!

Konzert des Jugendsinfonieorchsters (YOKL)

21/05/2025

On the workbench this week: a German-system clarinet overhaul for our regional music school. During a woodwind overhaul, we take apart and thoroughly clean the instrument, carefully polish the keys, and re-plate any keys with damaged plating. Then we replace any broken springs, install new corks and pads, and regulate the mechanism. The result is a restored instrument that both looks great and plays like new.

14/05/2025

Some intersting reference info about single reeds, from Vandoren:

09/05/2025

This week on our workbench is the first in a series of Markneukirchen Lion's Head violin restorations. This pretty little "Markie" from about 1895 turned out really well, with some special touches like an antique ebony tailpiece inlaid with silver and mother of pearl. And with a new set of Thomastik Infield Red strings, it sounds great too! This was a special project for our friend and professional colleague Jessica Riemer, and I hope she enjoys it for many years to come!

15/04/2025

So, what have we been doing in the workshop this Winter and Spring? Another round of violin restorations! This group included three pairs of full-size, 3/4 and 1/2 size instruments.

First up were three restorations of antique violins recently donated to our regional music school. Dr Reese made various repairs, touched up the original varnishes, fitted new bridges, installed new CA Goetz fittings, and provided new cases and bows.

The second round included three studio instruments that needed more significant repairs. Dr. Reese used natural hide glue to close open seams, reset a neck, and replace a fingerboard. Once finished with the repairs, these violins received the same attention to their finishes and fittings. Now they're available for rental or purchase, ready for students to begin or continue their musical journeys!

Full explanations of the process and detailed descriptions of the instruments are in the photo captions.

Next up are three more Lion's head violins from Markneunkirchen ; each of these restorations will have its own set of challenges. Stay tuned!

10/04/2025

On our latest edition of "What's On the Workbench," we have this W***y Bauer oboe, made in Leipzig. After a full overhaul with newly-polished keys, pads and key corks, this nice little instrument is in great shape and all ready for a new student.

17/11/2024

Some candid shots from today's Fall Studio Recital and reception.

12/10/2024

We took a short business trip over to Josef Böhm tools in Bavaria, which supplies hand-made brass and woodwind tools to instrument technicians throughout Europe. In addition to finding many tools we needed, we enjoyed a tour of their impressive fabrication workshop. We then made a run over to Thomann, Europe's biggest music store, and capped off the day with an excellent Indian curry before returning home the next day.