Army Medic Making Violins While On Tour in Iraq
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I came across a really cool article about Sergeant Geoffrey Allison a medic in the Army. He is currently assigned to a one year tour of duty in Iraq. During his off time he works on building violins.
From scrap wood he built a small work bench that is wedged between his bunk and the wall. Before he was stationed in Iraq he bough enough wood to make two violins. In the three months that he has been stationed in Iraq he has completed both violins.
Fortunately he was able to order additional material to build more violins. Like he said, “I guess I have more free time than I realized”.
Learning the Craft
When Geoffrey Allison joined the army he was hoping to be stationed in Germany where he could apprentice under master violin maker and learn the craft and art. However, the Army on the other hand decided that they needed him in Korea.
Undaunted he purchased a set of violin making books and taught himself how to make violins. By studying drawings and pictures of old master violins to create his violins.
Catching the eye of a master craftsman
“When Hargrave, the renowned violin maker, heard from Allison in February he was skeptical. “I get calls from amateur makers all the time,” he says. “I usually turn them away.” But Allison’s story was irresistible. At his studio, Hargrave inspected Allison’s instruments and quizzed him on his technique. “I hardly met anyone who works as fast as Geoffrey, and I include myself,” he later wrote NEWSWEEK in ane-mail. “He has already achieved more than most makers could hope for.” Encouraged by the compliments, Allison intends to become a full-time violin maker when he retires from the military this year. “I’ll have a pension, so I can do this even if it means earning no money,” he says. With the growing demand for new violins, he may even turn a profit.”
-Newsweek
You can read more about Sergeant Geoffrey Allison and his violin making skills at The Stradivari of Ramadi
Making a living at making violins
Personally, spending some time with a master craftsman to perfect his technique he can take his violin making skills to a whole new level. At which point he won’t have to be all that concerned with finding clients to buy his violins from him. I suspect that he will have a long list of customers and years worth of work lined up.
I wish him all the best as he completes is Army career and embarks on his passion. As Steve Jobs mentioned in a commencement speak at Stanford, find your passion and then go do it.
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