Luthiers practice a craft that stems from the old schools of Italy, Germany, and France, but there are several schools for string instrument making in the United States.

Despite the ubiquity of Chinese-made violins, despite the decades of skill development that luthiers must go through before becoming a “big name” violin maker, and regardless of the intense tedium the craft requires, there are still people who want and eventually love to make fine violins, violas and cellos.

In fact, accomplished and aspiring violinists, cellists, bassists, and violists will always value bench-made string instruments. The good news is that there are several luthier schools in the US, so there’s a good chance that a hand-made violin will also be American-made.

Boston: North Bennet Street School

This is a three-year program in violin making, restoration, and repair, with an emphasis on hands-on work. The students build six violins and one viola in the course of their multi-year study. Annual tuition is $26,000, with an estimated materials cost of $1,000.

Chicago: Chicago Violin Making School

Also a hands-on three-year program, Conductor Emeritus Tschu Ho Lee (a graduate of the State Violin Making School in Mittenwald, Germany) oversees a faculty of co-conductors, a string instructor (who is also concertmaster of the Symphony of the Northwest Chicago) and a cello instructor. Tuition is $3,640 per term, with an additional $440 for a complete tool kit (if the student does not purchase one elsewhere).

Red Wing, Minnesota: Minnesota State College Southeast

Although it is about 46 miles from the Twin Cities, Red Wing is in the sphere of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The school is a community and technical college, and this program focuses entirely on violin repair. Students can attend as little as a week-long workshop or a full year-long program. No woodworking experience is required as violin repair is quite different. Tuition for in-state and out-of-state is the same at $167.29/semester credit; The program includes 34 credits of technical courses and five credits of general education to complete the diploma. Books, tools, and supplies total approximately $1,260.

Almost Isle, Wisconsin: The New World Violin Making School

Compared to the other schools, this institution (accepted by the Wisconsin Board of Educational Approval) includes instruction and hands-on experience in violin construction (construction 3), viola (one), and two that include violin, cello, or viola. The focus is on the construction of all instruments of the violin family based on classical and master models supported by hand tool techniques. Tuition is $2,975 for each of six or seven semesters ($17,925-$20,900).

Salt Lake City: Violin Making School of America

With an average student body of 25, the school boasts award-winning graduates from more than 19 countries; nearly 90% of graduates are employed in careers related to violin making. During a three-year student course, students create seven violins and one cello; some students substitute a viola for one of the violins. The faculty includes a woodworking director/instructor, a varnish/assembly/art class instructor, an adjunct woodworking instructor, and a violin teacher. Annual tuition is $11,880; Tool costs range from $1,500 to $2,000.

Elsewhere in North and Central America are the Center de Formation et de Consultation en Métiers d’Art in Quebec (Canada) and the Escuela de Lauderia (National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature) in Querétaro, Quintana Roo (City of Mexico).