Violin maker keeps family tradition alive_美文

Violin maker keeps family tradition alive

“Richard knows he can make violins, and he can do as good a job as his predecessors," says Dalton Potter, the company's president. "All he has to do is keeping doing it every day, getting better, getting better, and getting better.”

Potter sells and rents a wide range of instruments, from factory-produced violins to fine hand-made ones from around the world. Prices range from a few hundred dollars to $60,000. The company has six violin makers, called luthiers, including Potter himself.

“High-end violins are servicing people who are professionals that are playing in orchestras like the National Symphony, Washington Opera House Orchestra, Kennedy Center,” Potter says.

Serious music students are also interested in the high-end violins.

Marissa Murphy founded Washington Suzuki Strings, which offers violin classes. She bought her violin from Potter.

“A talented student, a committed student, can sound good on anything. Do we want to help that child that student by having a great instrument? Yes," says Murphy. "When a student is able to make a beautiful sound and beautiful tone and vibrates and rings and it makes them feel that, they fall in love with their sound.”

Maxham wants to craft those great instruments and contribute to the world of violins. “I hope to leave behind a legacy through the violins that I make."