Former Gymnast Forges a New Path Building Violins

Here is a life-trajectory story to share with your students. Former gymnast Amanda Ewing left the corporate world after 16 years, taking her first steps toward a more fulfilling career and life. A passionate violin player, Amanda threw herself into her music, attending practice sessions with other violin players from the Nashville area. She connected with a local instrument-maker to discuss building a custom instrument together, and through the work, she found a new calling. On average, it takes 250 hours, about 56 parts, and two unfailing hands to craft a violin. Hand tools such as carving knives, chisels, gouges, and finger planes work to precisely reduce the thickness of spruce and maple components mere millimeters at a time. But Ewing believes that honing her craft and succeeding in her profession serve a greater purpose. “To this day, I have yet to find a Black, female violin-maker. I would love to create a small community of my peers. That representation is so important.” Watch this BBC video and read this Nashville Scene article to learn more.