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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Stained-glass window back in time for Easter services at Medford church Fun facts about the home of Medford brewpub being built by Standing Stone owners Mother and child killed in Butte Falls Highway crash identified Medford vineyard owner's companies made millions by skimming off subscription sales, AG alleges Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Mother and child killed in Butte Falls Highway crash identified Medford vineyard owner's companies made millions by skimming off subscription sales, AG alleges March a banner month for Medford car thieves Alleged Medford burglar eats resident's pizza Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for one year Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Education New SOU board hikes tuition 5 percent Southern Oregon Education Service District superintendent to retire in June Which comes first: The rocket or the egg? Medford School District one of most accident-prone in state Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Environment A sea-foam change Rogue Valley lions on their way to California Corps hopes to clear Lost Creek Lake of debris Beetles taking toll on Ashland pines Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 State News Man accused of arson in Albany high school cafeteria fire Old airport carpet finds new fame Klamath Basin irrigators look at another dry year Coal export terminal gets water-quality approval from Oregon Blaze destroys high school cafeteria Nation - World Obituaries Gary Dahl Death Notices Edward Thomas Reichenbach Frederick David Schatz James Francis Poole Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Coggins leads Challengers in romp Moore hurls OSU past No. 7 UCLA Barnes' shot lifts Warriors over Suns Stanford tops Miami for NIT crown Tigers pitcher Verlander heads to DL Varsity 541 College Sports Moore hurls OSU past No. 7 UCLA Stanford tops Miami for NIT crown Calipari citing more numbers than 'one-and-done' Wisconsin family tree has deep coaching roots UO’s Addison returns from knee injury Pro Sports Barnes' shot lifts Warriors over Suns Tigers pitcher Verlander heads to DL Djokovic, Isner triumph at Miami Open Ko ties Sorenstam's subpar record Cowboys’ latest moves point to Peterson Community Sports Business Latest Stories Business briefs Sustainable Valley fills two key roles Blog: Judge tells pilots to keep Allegiant airborne Standing Stone owners to open Medford brewpub and restaurant A study in fine-tuned artistry Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February Agriculture Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Opinion Latest Our View: Local water supplies are not unlimited Letters to the Editor, April 3 Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Matthew T. Mangino: Prison deaths on the rise Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Editorials Our View: Local water supplies are not unlimited Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: The tangled web at Medford's Northgate Centre Our View: Lawmakers ending a small annoyance in the law Other Views: Sage grouse listing would be unfortunate Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 3 Letters to the Editor, April 2 Letters to the Editor, April1 Letters to the Editor, March 31 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Columns Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Matthew T. Mangino: Prison deaths on the rise George Will: The rough math facing Ted Cruz Republicans are on the wrong side of history Kathleen Parker: Religious freedom is a two-way street Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Guest Opinion: Marijuana offers Oregon benefits, drawbacks Guest Opinion: How to end the influence of money in elections Guest Opinion: How schools teach U.S. history raises hackles Guest Opinion: Lifestyle Latest stories Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Looking Up: Springtime Big Dipper leaps for joy Fishing Report: Friday, April 3 'Stripped' hatchery steelhead eyed for release into Rogue Get Out: Friday, April 3 Food Community blog: Light lemon souffles are an easy Easter treat Page H. Onorato: Leftover ham and eggs make for some yummy dishes after Easter The journey from inspiration to written recipe Tammy Kelly: Lighten up traditional Easter desserts Kitchen Call: Goat cheese recipes worth bleating over Home and Garden Carol Link: Pruning rose plants, step by step How often should you paint the outside of your house? Carol Link: It’s time to get into shape for spring yard work Dear Monty: Relocation brings pay raise and challenges Garden Cameos: Planning for a fragrant garden year round Health Brent St. Germain: Feeling the burn again HealthStyle: Normal anxiety or anxiety disorder? Community blog: How to Get Rid of a Tension Headache St. Mary's student helps others with diabetes Community blog: Sleep Tight: Making Your Bed, Body and Mind Ready for Rest Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists New exhibits open at Schneider Museum of Art Tim & Myles Thompson play Paschal Winery Sweetwater String Band at Oberon's Tavern in Ashland Theater Auditions for youth musical set at Camelot Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' ‘A Dream of Red Pavilions’ at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Review: Education and its discontents Next Stage Repertory presents 'Educating Rita' at the Craterian Theater Music A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Tim & Myles Thompson play Paschal Winery Sweetwater String Band at Oberon's Tavern in Ashland Rising Stars raises $10,000 for LIFE Art ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ plays the Craterian Theater Community Events Easter egg hunts are a long-standing tradition in the Rogue Valley Get Up & Go: Friday, April 3 Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists New exhibits open at Schneider Museum of Art Get Up & Go, April 2 Dining Standing Stone owners to open Medford brewpub and restaurant Restaurant Inspections: March 29 Basque-inspired cuisine at Eleven in Ashland Parsing the meaning behind wine medals and scores Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 22 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Stained-glass window back in time for Easter services at Medford church ... Our View: Local water supplies are not unlimited ... Fishing Report: Friday, April 3 ... Stained-glass window back in time for Easter services at Medford church ... Our View: Local water supplies are not unlimited ... Fishing Report: Friday, April 3 ... CRAFTSMANSHIP A study in fine-tuned artistry Veteran violin maker opens new Medford shop By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 1, 2015 @ 12:01 am Jon Hill offers a glimpse of what goes into crafting a violin. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 1, 2015 @ 12:01 am » RELATED CONTENT --> Business Card Company: Hill Violin Shop Owner: John Hill Hours: By appointment, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday Telephone: 541-621-7091 Website: www.hillvio... » Read more X Business Card Company: Hill Violin Shop Owner: John Hill Hours: By appointment, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday Telephone: 541-621-7091 Website: www.hillviolin.com Open House: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, April 11. Selection of new and vintage violins, violas and cellos, including some by internationally acclaimed maker John Harrison of Redding, Calif. Contact Hill for invitation.       Channels: OR_Medford_Online   • John Hill violins » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> John Hill discovered long ago there was more than one way to make music. After exploring other options, Hill found his calling in making violins and other stringed instruments 17 years ago. After taking a break of sorts during 2013, he has re-emerged in a newly built studio and shop off Kings Highway in southwest Medford. A single-syllable, Hill-fashioned violin or viola may not evoke the romance of Stradivarius, but his creations are drawing rave reviews. A viola he fashioned won a tone award at an international competition in 2003, attesting to his artistry. There are 220 parts in every violin, 200 of which Hill fashions in his shop. He starts with five blocks of wood, often Alpine spruce or Bosnian maple from Europe. "Good wood is a violin maker's gold," he said, waving about a stick of $300 Bosnian maple. "I have used local woods, Sitka spruce and big leaf maple in a cello — and it came out very nice for the larger instruments. But for the smaller instruments, most makers agree European wood can't be beat." Any of the 30 to 40 elements in the instrument-making process can lend its influence to the instrument's final sound. "Each violin takes the same amount of time, and the more you do, the better idea you have of what the sound is going to be like," said Hill, whose bow slides proficiently over the strings. "I really don't know (for sure) what the sound is going to be like until I string it up and the interplay comes together." The critical juncture is crafting the bridge, held taut by the strings against the body. "It's all difficult, but that area is really challenging," Hill said. "It's the transducer. How it's carved, shaped and the choice of wood all come into play." Hill has produced a violin or viola about every two months during the majority of his 17 years as a violin maker. His creations average $6,500, with a high end of $10,000. A cello sold at a San Francisco shop a few months ago went for considerably more. "When I began, I had no idea how deep this well was going to be," Hill said. "I thought if I could make a really good violin, then I'd have a really good one to play. I had no idea I was getting into a lifetime study." Hill's journey to his present corresponds to the circuitous route he took in his profession. In his early 20s, guitars were his passion, and he sought to become a luthier. He got married, however, and became a firefighter. He's also a bit of an inventor. When he found that pillow slips on gurneys routinely came off, he developed a demobilizer to keep things in place. But he never lost his love for working with wood and playing music. After a decade of fighting fires in Arizona, he moved to the Northwest. "I wanted to get out of Phoenix," he said. "Urban sprawl wasn't a good fit for me." He relocated to Deming, Wash., near the Canadian border, then to Corvallis. At 35, he began working on violins during weekends with a friend living in the Coast Range west of Corvallis. With his interest piqued, Hill sought a mentor to launch a new career about the time he moved to the Rogue Valley in 2000. John Harrison, an internationally acclaimed, world-class violin maker from Redding, Calif., agreed to take him under his wing. Three years later, he set up shop in Phoenix, Oregon, buying, selling and renting stringed instruments, as well as doing repair and restoration work on instruments and bows. "That's how modern violin makers make a living," he said. "Making an instrument is the glory of the work, but it's restoration work that pays the bills." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31, and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/ Economic Edge.   By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 1, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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